I'm Pi**ed off!

[TPeers]

Hi TPeers,
Does Pip have an IEP -

What, please, is an IEP?

And to answer the question I assume not as I haven't a clue what one is!

[Two_Sheds]

IEP = Individual Education Plan. They are tailored to the individual but go roughly along with the main class. It will have some tweaks eg. maybe less work, maybe typing on PC if handwriting is difficult. here's a link: TeacherNet, A to Z of School Leadership temp - Individual Education Plan (IEP)

[TPeers]

Ok, thanks! Err... I think that Woodcote are planing one.... They said when I went in to talk that they would 'adjust the timetable for her as necessary' but I rather think that nothing will happen until September!

[TPeers]

Ummm.... would the fact that the pre-school have assigned a member of staff to 'shadow' Pip be relevant? The lady in question is always on tap to guide Pip and deal with any interaction problems while she is there.

Like taking a swing at a 'friend' last week.... lovely!

[SueA]

Hi Terry,
Just caught up with this thread & I wish you all the best in getting Pippa all the help she needs. It's amazing isn't that so many people on here have relevant experience or can offer help in some way or another, another big plus to belonging to the 'Grapevine'! I'm sure you'll cope & Pip will flourish if you're persistent & patient.

[squashysu]

Sorry if I have offended any one...it was not my intention....most people I talk to know nothing of ASD so I use the "Normal - Rain man" bit when I am trying to explain it to them. Most people think that all Autistics are at the Low Functioning end of the Specrum.

My boy is in there, but on a good day you wouldn't know....on a bad day...everyone knows. And a good day can go bad very easerly.

So we have to explain to mums, teachers, youth workers, family and friends the boundarys.

Hiya Nog, no offence taken at all, sorry to make you feel that way.

My son just gets the "naughty" card thrown at him, day in and day out!!!! Especially during a major meltdown in Tesco I was punched and kicked to my hearts content!!! and even glasses thrown and they just looked at me. I dont need to shout at my child, just understand him.........

People dont think of the Higher Functioning/Asperger children as ASD, i agree they just think of the "Rain Man" child, mind you at least that gave some people knowledge of Autism and it is becoming widely known now, in case of just thrown in a cupboard!.

Take care x

[squashysu]

Ummm.... would the fact that the pre-school have assigned a member of staff to 'shadow' Pip be relevant? The lady in question is always on tap to guide Pip and deal with any interaction problems while she is there.

Like taking a swing at a 'friend' last week.... lovely!

Hi Tpeers

My son takes a swing at anyone, he doesnt mind who!!!! lol!! not fussy, i have to laugh or else i would cry.

Yes the IEP, well playgroup should do one and this is required, not just a diagnosis of ASD would get you a statement.

More questions for you, sorry!! Does Pip talk? is verbal at all? if not it could be a target in her IEP to help with social interaction, ie: teacher plays a game with 2 other children and pip, encouraging Pip to ask for the card she needs ie: lotto or bingo. This is a really small target and so any IEP should be at Pip's young age (can you tell I work with Early Years!!). If Pip cant count to 5, one maybe to work just to counting to 3 and sorting colours with the aid of a teacher, the teacher initiating the game and helping her, all IEP's should be twice yearly, they need to be reviewed and agreed and signed by yourself and the teacher. (i will say teacher even though its playgroup, sorry thats just because of my work).

If you need any inside knowledge just PM me anytime, its not only my life, but my job as well. I do IEP's and set targets all the time. My one piece of advise would be to go to the Nursery, ask about having good transition and getting Pip to go and view the school more, with a lot of ASD children, change can be an anxious time, perhaps they can give you a booklet for the summer hols with photos of school and the things that Pip would like in school and also pics of the teachers.

Make an appointment at school and ask to see the SENCO, explain to her that you are at the start of this journey and need some help, as no IEP's in place and no knowledge about statements!! In your county there should be Parent Partnership (PP), they are a free service for parents with children who have SN and can really help a lot, should be able to find them by googling your LEA and searching for PP.

Also, have you thought about DLA and also, if you personally (not Hubby) earn less than £95 per week then you could claim Carers Allowance (you must receive DLA, middle or higher rate care), this is for your child because they need more care than another other.

Sorry i could go on and on!!!!! Please feel free to PM me xx

Take care

Su

[NOG]

Arr Supermarkets.....had to leave a trolly of food at the counter on a Saturday morning..30 odd tills Me and Sam then aged 4 and he decides to Do the bloke in the next queue cos he looked in our trolly. oh what fun.

It ended up with the whole shop silent and looking at me fighting a 4 year old who is abusing large a bloke in the next queue.....

Sainsburys South Norwood have never had the guts to go back.

[NOG]

On the good side do any of your ASD children understand Jokes?

We have managed to get Sam to understand some now....its funny when you tell him a new one. Because sometimes it can take a few days for him to work it out then out of the blue he is in fits of laughter....You can be driving and without warning its clicked and you get "Because horses have long faces" and 20 mins of un-controllable laughter.

Makes it all worth wild.....of the flip side if he dosent understand you get 10000 questions on why is it ment to be funny.

[squashysu]

Arr Supermarkets.....had to leave a trolly of food at the counter on a Saturday morning..30 odd tills Me and Sam then aged 4 and he decides to Do the bloke in the next queue cos he looked in our trolly. oh what fun.

It ended up with the whole shop silent and looking at me fighting a 4 year old who is abusing large a bloke in the next queue.....

Sainsburys South Norwood have never had the guts to go back.

Tesco, Dunstable - think i may be barred now!! I put a letter in the local rag about how appalling we were treated and stared at by the staff due to their lack of understanding and also thanks to the other customers who helped by helping me pack and push my trolley to the car (whilst i was being beaten!!)

my end quote in my letter was "Perhaps the Manager of Tesco would like to donate some of their gross profits to Autism Beds, because "Every Little Helps" - big compliments to me in the paper the following week ha ha !

As for the jokes, well Charlie can now tell me a joke, but he still doesnt get it lol! he is getting better now, as he gets older, but still takes everything literally and always will, my other half is Aspergers as well, so sometimes the small talk is non-existant and everyone thinks my OH and son are rude - lol!! Dont blame them sometimes, wish i could be!!

I think all of us have Autistic traits, i know i have, being a Virgo even my greenhouse is tidy!!!!

[TPeers]

More questions for you, sorry!! Does Pip talk? is verbal at all?

Yes, some - improving steadily with one-to-one therapy. Will probably slow down again now as hayfever season is on us and I have a feeling she goes dull of hearing across the entire summer.

If Pip cant count to 5

Only 5! Try into the 30's accurately and reasonable at single digit addition and subtraction - will take a fair stab at 2 and 3 times tables up to x5.

all IEP's should be twice yearly,

Thanks - I was trying to get that info today and blood out of a stone would be simple after the conversation I had!

they need to be reviewed and agreed and signed by yourself and the teacher. (i will say teacher even though its playgroup, sorry thats just because of my work).

Got told pre-schools don't do IEP's, they do Next Steps and we need to start the whole process once she reaches school - it can't be done at pre-school - which sounds like so much bull!

If you need any inside knowledge just PM me anytime, its not only my life, but my job as well. I do IEP's and set targets all the time.

Thank you - I might well contact you.

My one piece of advise would be to go to the Nursery, ask about having good transition and getting Pip to go and view the school more, with a lot of ASD children, change can be an anxious time, perhaps they can give you a booklet for the summer hols with photos of school and the things that Pip would like in school and also pics of the teachers.

Now here I have an advantage - I know a lot of the staff at the school personally and they already know Pip, plus she is excited at going to ''big' school where Hazel went'. I have been promised transition assistance - but it would apear that that means I have to push to get it as the LEA want me to talk to the school and get them to assign someone. Pass the buck!

Make an appointment at school and ask to see the SENCO, explain to her that you are at the start of this journey and need some help, as no IEP's in place and no knowledge about statements!!

Done that.

In your county there should be Parent Partnership (PP), they are a free service for parents with children who have SN and can really help a lot, should be able to find them by googling your LEA and searching for PP.

I'll have a look but Croydon's website is a nightmare!

Also, have you thought about DLA and also, if you personally (not Hubby) earn less than £95 per week then you could claim Carers Allowance (you must receive DLA, middle or higher rate care), this is for your child because they need more care than another other.

What is a DLA please?

These and other confusing subjects!

Thanks!

Terry

[mrs dog]

Ah bless, well when you need to rant a bit you know what this is for and you go for it. I hope everything gets easier for you.

[TPeers]

Oh woops! Did the frustration show!

[squashysu]

DLA - is Disabled Living Allowance have a look on the DWP site, if your child needs care over and above a "normal" (hate that word) child then you could receive DLA, BUT the form is a nightmare and you need to put the worse case scenario on every section:

ie: my son sees no danger - he needs someone with him 24/7 as he will walk in the road!!

he doesnt sleep well - he will still wet the bed and doesnt sleep until 11pm (true!!) and then when he wakes in the night, he can be awake for 2 hours, every night - but now i have Melatonin, so we may get some sleep!!!!!! This may be 4 out of 7 nights, but i will put 7 because it could well be!!!

Request the form and if you need some help, please ask, the CAB or contact a family will also help with this info, they will write to the paed and request info, your child is entitled, but you may feel that they are not, just PM me as people dont like to discuss this openly. Also with carers allowance, like i said earlier!

Charlie is great on numbers as well, but still cant read, so i am hoping he fails his SATS miserably (not that he would know!!) so that he can get some serious help with this now!!
Good news that the nursery are hopefully there for you both, dont get fobbed off by the pre-school, they can do IEP's - go to the website i sent you, there is so much free advice its great.

One other thing, transition, this will be down to you and school not the LEA, but dont let them fob you off that your child needs 1:1 immediately, because she may not, she may need guidance and all the staff can do that, she has to be included because as the law states "every child matters" (you can google that as well), it takes up to 6 months legally to get a statement, but if IEP's etc are not put in place you wont even get an assessment, so the process is a long one,

If you need anything as I said, just ask, anytime x

[NOG]

I agree we all have ASD in some form or other......

Sam from 3/4 would go to bed at 11pm---wait till we were asleep then get up and watch tv till 4-5am then go to bed and be up at 7.30 bright as a button.

We only clicked when he started talking about physics and he had been watching OU programs all night.