Hectorshouse

Well done Helen for hanging in there, I have been following this and wait like you to see if they will finally do something. I think you are absolutely right this will have a direct affect on things, thank you for keeping us posted. Best of luck, HHxx

... thats a really interesting point MIN ... HHxx

That was a really interesting and somewhat humorous thread ... well done to the hosts for trying to help out. It has made me think though ... I find odd numbers 'messy' thats the only way to describe them, but I can ignore them, although some odd numbers arent 'messy' 5 is ok as its 10 divided by 2 7 and 9 are just awkward and mix them with 1 and 3 and its just 'messy' I have a thing about symetry and balance, which the long suffering one has to put up with .. only a little obsessive I suppose ... And as I speak the TV volume is set on 15 I can't do 16 or or 17 or 18 etc but 20 is ok ... OH MY GOD ... how barking am I? The more I think about it the more things I have to have in sequences ... HH crawling away head in hand in disbelief ...

I like your style phas ... am going to makro tomorrow, so will have a little lookey in there ... HHxx

Thanks guys, I suppose I do forget about me sometimes, but I don't really feel I did this, yep maybe I found the school and have persisted in getting the right provision, but T has been the one whose done all the hard work. It just goes to show in the right environment our children can and do flourish, I never gave up on T but I have seen so many so called professionals give up on him and consider him an inconvenience (at best). I have high hopes for my young man, there is not a day that goes by when he doesn't surprise me in some way, and he is growing up fast now which is quite hard as now I'm having to learn to let go a bit as well. I just wish there were more SENCO's like ours, she doesn't understand what it is that they do differently, as she honestly believes that everyone should be doing what they are and doesn't understand why they aren't (Exeter schools in mind here, considering the problems getting a placement for T). All I know is that they see ASD children from a very different perspective, and understand and respect the fact that the majority cannot be forced into the square peg that is mainstream education, differentiation is key and where T is they have fully taken that on board. HHxx

Yep MIN same area .. have been in touch with the NAS branch in Cornwall, there are some really good people there and although not an advocate of NAS myself the group was superb I have an email addy if you want it. HHxx

Phas thanks for that, I can just see my SEN officer now on stage phone in hand, the audience of parents saying 'we need a statement' and her saying 'oh no you don't' ... parents saying 'what about the criteria?' her saying 'what criteria?' us saying 'your criteria' her saying 'its in redraft' ... and us saying 'why is it cold?' LEA panto season is on hand ... and by the looks of how many parents have been contacting there councils asking this question at the moment, I think its only going to get worse. I will keep hassling them though, I am drafting a letter to the schools forum and the DIR asking them when they propose to finalise the redraft. Yep and about that blanket policy .... exactly!!! directly against the DfES instructions ... I'm thinking if I could get some of what she told me in writing I could be on to another interesting newspaper story ... HHxx

Lavender Oil .... swear by it, in the bath or in a dish in the room, works really well for T as well, many a meltdown calmed by a lavender oil bath. HHxx

Thank you everyone, I have a very happy T, its been a good day so far, have managed to sort my money problems out today which is a huge weight off my mind, got a week off work next week and T is just doing so fab its great. HHxx

A year ago T was only able to go to school part-time, was considered abusive, truculent, manipulative, violent etc ... etc ... Now he is full time and doing so well that I wanted to share his home school diary comments for today ... T had a brilliant morning. He worked really well in drama in a group of four boys. They came up with a great storyline and worked brilliantly as a team. Period 2 was maths with Mr B, again T had a good lesson really on task and focused. Lesson 3 T's favourite editing the English Project (video he directed, filmed, and mostly wrote) with the technician, as a result we had a full lesson to revise for the Science test - T decided he wanted to try it. T did some revision for his Science test in period 4. The test was taken with the use of a reader and a scribe in a private room, so T was well supported. He attempted 70% of the test which is very good. He was a bit agitated and stressed after the test but he was then given half an hour to relax and get over this. He can be really proud of himself today as he has tried really hard. Now thats what I call communication, understanding and support, he has a fab TA and a fab SENCO, its amazing the difference in such a short space of time, in June last year Cornwall were basically telling me he was unteachable ... PAH!!!!! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it Cornwall LEA ... I'm thinking of photocopying the book and posting it to old SENCO witch ... Anyway a very big well done to my T, and he has made his mummy really really proud HHxx

Nellie, I see where your coming from, and theirs a part of me that is hoping this is the case, but when she passed her comments on the refusal to give statements to children with dyslexia/specific learning disability I became confused and smelt a rat ... On the IPSEA website they have published the fact that they took DCC to task over this very thing 'refusal to assess or statement' http://www.ipsea.org.uk/devon05.htm The SEN officers comments are in direct opposition of the LEA's response to IPSEA, I'm thinking another email to IPSEA is in order ... HHxx

Rang the CSET office again today to ask if they had managed to send me copies of the criteria as per my request before christmas, no-one funnily enough remembered my request .... 1 hour later get a call from SEN officer (the one I normally can't get in touch with at all due to her gate keeper) telling me that the criteria is currently being redrafted. I then asked if I could have a copy of the old criteria as this would have to be what applies until the redraft has been ratified ... silence on the phone ... then she tells me that they don't use the criteria at all anymore due to the redraft ... what they do use I am unable to ascertain ... she did advise me that Devon are no longer issuing statements for children with Dyslexia or specific learning disabilities ... ok now I'm really confused ... I asked her about Dyspraxia and Asperger's, to which she replied that yes they are still issuing statements for these, but not for the verbal form of Dyspraxia ... hmmm hmmmm all sounds like a load of old codswallop to me .... How can you not have a criteria yet still use one for assessment purposes ... is it me am I being dim .. but none of this adds up ... and she wasn't able to give me any idea when the redraft would be complete. HHxx

MIN this happened to us as well ... everything was recommendations and nothing ever materialised, keep at them I wish I had and now in a new borough trying to sort it out again. HHxx

Had a brief response from my MP yesterday, obviously just back from his xmas hols ... Dear Ms W Thank you for your email of 14th December 2005 in response to the reply to my letter that I had recieved from the Director of Education. I was interested to hear your further comments and I have again written to Dr N to ask for his further comments. As soon as I receive any further information I will contact you again. With very best wishes. ...... hmmmmm, ok ...... a bog standard reply letter, but ... atleast he has again written to the DIR, I like to see a copy of what he wrote to him, do you think that is a reasonable request? So I wait with baited breath to see how Dr N is going to respond this time HHxx

Just a quick line to say Hi and that I hope you all had a good christmas somehow or other, and that 2006 brings you all happiness and love. I won't be around for a bit, as I have several dreaded things to do that I have been putting off, christmas being my latest excuse or just being or here ... Anyway, need to do the DLA form (again) T's Annual Review paperwork - date for this is 10 January ... ooppsss and a heap load of personal research into the inner wranglings of DCC SEN with a focus of ASD provision. Have a good one everyone, I'm working till 2.30 am new years eve so I will raise a large J D & Coke to you all. HHxx

Bothered, hello and welcome you have come to the best place around for advice of this type, and the support here is excellent ... Phasmid has as ever said anything I could think of, and when you answer his questions we will all be able to chip in with anything that we can. Definitely call IPSEA etc ... as well. I know that it probably sounds hollow, but we do all really know what your going through, the fact that you have stuck at it so much as well only demonstrates your determination as a parent. Respect and welcome, HHxx

Elefan ... I thought that at first as well, double doh!!

Thanks for that needed a laugh and have now copied it and sent it to all my friends who do do this very thing ... Happy Christmas, HHxx

Nix, this is a copy of the draft, I had to finalise it at that stage as I was moving counties, it is not as specified as I would like it, but it is loads better than the original one, which was about as much use as a chocolate teapot and only for 15 hours a week LSA support, with so much vagueness in it. This one is clearer and has a lot more information in it, it has meant that when I moved county T was able to stay at the top level of support and now has tranport as well. Although from reading T's statement it is still questionable whether his needs could be met in a mainstream environment, but at the moment we are lucky enough to have found one that has ooddles of ASD knowledge and experience. The need to specify and quantify is highly dependent upon the school and/or what stage of education your at, T's last school were so unbelievable cr*p which caused so many problems, this is why we went through reassessment and pushed for a better statement. Having said that though I would like some of it more quantified and there are things that I will be bringing up in his AR in January ... in effect then this is still a working document to be amended accordingly ... watch this space. But having the top level of support means that T has had far better access to education than he ever did before ... HHxx

I would like to thank you all for being the people that you are, since discovering Krism (which I know is now very passe and almost very last year as its now asd-forum) I have found some really good friends albeit in the cyber world, but the support and advice has been fantastic. I have felt welcomed and unjudged, I have learnt as much as I have been able to share. When I was in doubt you have been here, when I have been down you have been here, you have shared my victories as well as my tears. Christmas has been a very difficult time in our house since my husband died, 8 years ago on the 18th, a definite life changing moment, and then T's dx another life changing moment. A lot has happened in that time, I have learnt soooo much and felt sooo much. It is now a happier time, I have a wonderful and long suffering partner who has to suffer our mad ways but does it with dignity and the support of his best friend Stella Artois at times, but he is still here after 5 very hard years. T has come through an extremely difficult time in cornwall and now seems to be rediscovering his identity and not being ashamed or down on himself for his differences, quirky is good and with us behind him he will do mighty fine. His big brov has had his moments, but everything I could've ever wanted him to be, compassionate, responsible and aware of his own identity and proud to be who he is. All in all, thank you for the support and wisdom that you have shared here, understanding my own AS has made my life easier, you are all very special people, and we all do a tremendous job of being the best that we can (oh god full on cliche mode) but I think you get my drift. Respect and the utmost best wishes for Christmas and 2006. Good luck, and huge love, HHxx

Sorry nix been at work, try this link and it should take you straight to the draft statement on my blog ... http://www.asdfriendly.org/blogs/hectorshouse/?p=18 I'm not sure what serco is but senco is special education needs co-ordinator every school has to have have one, or a responsible person for special education ... have you spoke to yours and what do they suggest? HHxx

Hi DAS these might be of interest to your girlfriend ... http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/ http://aspietalk.co.uk/ Hope that helps a bit, HHxx Also she could come on here if she wanted, there are many of us on here as well I'm sure she would be welcomed.

Gave up on the website yesterday, so rang the them direct, after getting passed around a bit, and lots of mumbling while someone had their had over the phone and finally someone knew what I was talking about ... guess what ... its not published on their website ... surprise surpise, and they are just in the process of redrafting it, they will send me a copy after christmas, they also asked what criteria I wanted .. I asked for everything that is related to T i.e. Asperger's Dyslexia Dyspraxia ... and am waiting to see what comes through the post ... also had to use my maiden name, since my press coverage I get little assistance if I use my other name .... HHxx

They cannot refuse to put 1:1, and they are using the dependant hook as an emotional blackmail point. T has full 1:1 this actually increases his independence, because without it he could not access most of what he does without having a meltdown or extreme anxious episode, also he needs the guidance of someone who can listen when he can't etc etc ... have a look at my bloggy as it has a copy of T's draft statement, which will give you an idea of a better but still not brilliant one, don't let any LEA bully you ... have you asked for the LEA's assessment criteria? HHxx

Thanks for this Nellie, there is some really useful stuff in this paper, made good sunday reading. HHxx