Aspergers/Autism/Sensory Integration Chatter #2

[Lulu]

Just a quick one -

had the parent info session at the school last night - I'm thrilled to pieces again.
They have a program run by 2 volunteer parents (1 is a teacher there too) called the Movement Program. Both parents have sensory kids and one has a parent who was very involved as an OT.
They have developed this program to integrate the primitive reflexes and replace them with postural reflexes - these movements help integrate the sensory system and therefore the sensory responses

The teacher noticed over the years the preps (due to their age, sensory or not) had trouble tracking things with their eyes and this was making reading etc UNFUN and a source of frustration. They both brought together their knowledge and understanding of sensory integration/the nervous systems and how we learn, researched their head off and within 3 weeks of starting the program this year found a noticeable difference with the children!

In another year or so they are looking at broadening the program to include other schools etc. Amazing stuff and I've volunteered to help next year.

Cried on the way home though, sheer relief.

[~Saram~]

Lulu - yep had a school in Mt Isa doing a similar program and it was FANTASTIC!!! Made a big difference to all the kids and from prep to grade 3 did it. I was so dissapointed to find it wasn't operating in all schools already. Great to hear your parent info night went well!!!

Maz - hope your having a better day today! Xan is the same with Ari! It's so sad cause she just loves him to death. I really hope she can hang in there and not give up on him cause he really does love her and when he is having a good day they play so well together. Unfortunately she is only 2 1/2 and he is hitting and punching a lot so what does she do back... eeek trying to keep them seperated at the moment

Christy - woohoo on the good trip to the shops! I still keep DS in the trolly most times - looks ridiculous but I seriously don't care. He reads or plays DS and I get the shopping done faster

[christy]

Hi girls!!! I just got home from work, I just have to say thank you for caring I'm tired, smelly and exhausted but I know you know what a big deal it was to take M to the shops this week..... HUGE.

[Lulu]

I just got back from shopping then, and on the way out I thought WOW - Matilda went through this and did so well!
I was nearly curled up on the floor in the fetal position myself and it reminded me what an amazing job she did xoxoxo

[mrsmac]

I hope its OK to join you guys?
I am about to embark on the journey to find a diagnosis for Riley. We are going to see an OT who specialises in sensory problems who has been recc. by a number of people including the Early intervention teacher at school and Christy!

I am in some ways relieved to think that there is a reason for his behaviour and that it isn't because he is spoilt and badly behaved but teary and sad that he isn't perfect/normal all of those words which we think our children "should" be. I know he is still my beautiful little man but its taking a bit of time for me to process.

I hope that makes sense and I don't seem like a horrible person.

[Lulu]

Oh girly - welcome!

This is the bestest place to come in and ask those questions about those funny little quirks, meltdowns or fears. I get far more out of this thread than my OT most days!

[christy]

of course you are welcome!!! I have used this thread to feel normal on most days... and as our two seem to act normal around each other its good to know we have the support when we aren't together.

For those that aren't on my facebook... Matilda is having surgery tomorrow. She's having a GA and collegen injected into her bladder wall. We "should" be home tomorrow night, I'm not holding my breath though...

[lestyrox]

Hi all, sorry i've been MIA...life has been crazy and busy busy busy!

my big news is that we finally got a diagnosis for Ethan! I am so relieved and truth be told a little sad as well because i guess it makes it real IYKWIM..but mostly relieved.
Well the the appointment started off bad...we only moved here 3 weeks ago so i got lost on the way to the dr.s office...i was nearly in tears, we'd waited so long to have the appointment and i was freaking out that we'd miss it...not to worry though the receptionist was lovely and we ended up getting there a little late. I took along a huge folder full of OT, speechy and dr. reports on ethan as well as info on all his quirks, milsetones and the ones he didnt reach, etc etc dating from birth till now and the effort paid off because the paed read through it, watched ethan for a while (who was bouncing of the walls, destroying my wallet etc etc) and gave us a diagnosis on the spot he said in most cases he gets a second opinion but not in our case... apparently Ethan was pretty text book autistic if there is such a thing. I even asked him where on the scale he thinks ethan sits and he told me not to call it a 'spectrum' as that leaves doubt in the mind...he looked me in the eyes and said 'Celeste, your son is autistic' its funny because i went into the appointment expecting to have to push for the diagnosis but apparently Ethan is so text book i didn't need to...its a little sad you know, i guess there's that part of me that wanted the paed to say 'oh he's autistic but he's really high functioning and he'll be fine..' but then i guess i don't need him to say that, i know what Ethan is capable of and i know he's making small improvements all the time. I don't know what the future hold but i have faith and i have so much hope for my little man

Anyway so now i'm trying to get my head around all the funding and stuff... the paed is sending me a copy of the diagnosis so i can fill out the paper work for the advisory program but what do i do about centrelink?? Apparently there is a carers payment? I had a look on the centrelink website and it says that the paed who diagnosed Ethan needs to fill out a Carer Allowance – Medical Report (For a child under 16 years) so do i have to ask him to do that? If someone can shine some light on that it would be very much appreciate

how is everyone coping with the silly season?

[Lulu]

Hey lesty and yay for diagnosis!
Call Clink and they will send you a big packet to fill in. There will be a separate form for the paed to do. It's mainly tick boxes etc. It's up to you to give it to the paed, follow it up and hand it back in.

xoxoxo

[mrsmac]

It must be a relief and a difficult thing at the same time lesty. I know even as I booked the OT for Riley today that I want to go there and have her tell me that I am overreacting and that there is nothing wrong (denial anyone LOL)

Riley has been much more settled lately with less melt downs as we have been much calmer with him and I have been avoiding situations which set him off. He and christy's Matilda had a great time together last week although she was more interested in his big sister LOL It was so relaxing to be with someone who wsn't going to judge me if he had a melt down naturally he was an angel LOL So was Matilda- together they make some sort of zen where all is good, we may start bottling it LOL

[Lulu]

Just a quick one -

had the parent info session at the school last night - I'm thrilled to pieces again.
They have a program run by 2 volunteer parents (1 is a teacher there too) called the Movement Program. Both parents have sensory kids and one has a parent who was very involved as an OT.
They have developed this program to integrate the primitive reflexes and replace them with postural reflexes - these movements help integrate the sensory system and therefore the sensory responses

The teacher noticed over the years the preps (due to their age, sensory or not) had trouble tracking things with their eyes and this was making reading etc UNFUN and a source of frustration. They both brought together their knowledge and understanding of sensory integration/the nervous systems and how we learn, researched their head off and within 3 weeks of starting the program this year found a noticeable difference with the children!

In another year or so they are looking at broadening the program to include other schools etc. Amazing stuff and I've volunteered to help next year.

Cried on the way home though, sheer relief.

There is another post I did on it xoxoxo

[maz]

hi its me again

sorry ive been awol.....life has gotten hectic and well by the end of the school holidays I had a boy pinging and hanging to go back
Big thing this week - we lost our first tooth.....screaming in the process of doing it but once it was out he is fasinated to say the least. So now we have alot of mirror looking and noises BUT last night we found him trying to pull out another tooth that isnt even loose yet ...the fixtation has started!

Another SN child at school yesterday punched him in the head....Thank god he told me because the communication book ive worked so hard to get organised didnt come home I am so annoyed to say the least! They want me to 'behave' so to speak and yet something as important as letting me know about this via the book is a pft. Its not that im worried about the other child hitting W, thats not my point its that they didnt send home the dame book. The principal atleast rang jed (he's been told not to ring me any more). So now I sit here waiting for them to call me back so I can ask for the book back tonight.
He made me a card for my bfday yesterday and wrote happy 21st in it he also knows im going in for my op tomorrow and i hope that he isnt to bad for me not being there

HOpe everyone is good as can be, going back to catch up on what ive missed out on