hiya

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Posted by
loubielou

on 20th July 2010

at 09:26

Hiya,

am new to this site and a lil nervous!

i am 30yrs old, and have 2 boys both on the spectrum, my eldest is five and has high functioning autism, my youngest is 3 and has asd, and is non verbal. and i have aspergers!

thanks for reading this,

xxxxxxxxxxx

Posted by
NickyB

on 20th July 2010

at 09:52

Hello loubielou and welcome :)

I am mum to 2 boys - the youngest is 7 and has high-functioning Autism.
I hope you enjoy having a look around the community. If you need any help with using the forums, please just ask, or have a look at the section on How to use the Community

How are your two getting on at school/nursery? My boy has had a difficult few years at mainstream (although the school couldn't have done any more) and is starting in an ASD unit in September.

Nicky - Community Champion

Posted by
damo73

on 20th July 2010

at 10:08

Hello,

I have a diagnosis of Asperger's and my son is also on the spectrum ('non-verbal' - although he does speak etc.). I am a single dad, although his mum has him over the weekends and for time in the holidays etc. I am also doing doctoral research into autism and education. There are a few of us here who are on the spectrum. It is nice to see more joining the community.

Damian - Community Champion

Posted by
Elena - former Community Manager

on 20th July 2010

at 10:26

Hello there, loubielou! Welcome to the community, we're glad to have you here!

If you need any help with all of this, do let us know. We have a mentor programme (http://www.talkaboutautism.org.uk/find-a-mentor) which might be of interest to you, where we connect newer members with older members so that you can get past that initial nervousness and make some new friends.

Let us know if there's anything you're looking for, or which we can help with. I look forward to seeing you around!

Elena

Posted by
loubielou

on 20th July 2010

at 10:29

hiya, thanks for responding to my post!

Nickyb, my eldest is in mainstream school, he changed school in march, as we moved and also he was really struggling, i was getting called in almost everyday coz he'd done something to someone, he has settled well at his new school, the only thing is this school think theres nothing wrong with him! apart from hes more "grumpy" than the other kids! but at home he can be a total nitemare! its so frustrating that they cant see the problem or are choosing to ignore it! my youngest is in nursery, and is loving it! he gets on really well with the staff, although he prefers to play alone than with the other kids, and struggles with the group activites, he is non verbal, he says a handful of words but not clear words but i believe thats his choice! as i have heard him say things when he thinks hes alone! he starts speech theray next week! have to say i am not holding my breath! lol

damo73, its hard being a single parent, i was on my own with my boys for 2 years before i meet my now husband, and he has been a star, and treats the boys like his own, as their dad has decided to bow out now the goings got rough! but they have adjusted so well and we are all really settled now, which has been a struggle,

thank u both xxxxxx

Posted by
Mel C

on 20th July 2010

at 17:51

Welcome Loubielou,

I`m a new member myself and am learning so much from everybody.

I am mum to 3 children, 2 girls 13 and 10 and Luke who`s 2 tommorrow. My youngest daughter has special needs (not autism) and Luke is more than likely autistic but isnt diagnosed yet.

I too was a single mum to my 2 girls for a couple of years before meeting Lukes dad, it was tough but so much better for us all in the long term. My girls luckily still see their dad at weekends.

Anyway, welcome again

Mel x

Posted by
Josie Barnshaw

on 20th July 2010

at 18:57

Hi LoubieLou

Welcome to the group :) Your name takes me back to my childhood when I watched Andy Pandy and LoubyLou on Watch with Mother (giving away my advancing years here!!). Anyway, I too am a single parent (divorced eight years ago) with three teenage kids, the youngest (Tom) is 15 with a diagnosis of Aspergers. I have the same situation with the school as you where they dont recognise his difficulties and of course he takes his frustrations out on us at home (although not as much now as when he was younger).

Look forward to hearing more about your family and if you want to ask anything specific please do so, we would be only too happy to bombard you with our experiences and the things that worked for us. :)

Josie - Community Champion

Posted by
loubielou

on 21st July 2010

at 17:00

my user name comes from andy pandy, and i remember it 2, it was a pet name my dad used to call me!

did the school ever listen? i have a feeling the problems will start to show more once he leave reception and its much more work and less play! but we'll see wot happens.

i hated school, and never fitted in at all, which didnt make sense then but now i know i am an aspie everything makes alot more sense! i was an average student, but left the school system as soon as possible!

xxx

Posted by
damo73

on 21st July 2010

at 19:13

Hello again,

I would describe my school life as 'torture' - yet I love studying and have found ways to survive at University, yet some of these are more amicable than others. It would be nice to talk to you some time about your experiences (I am doing a PhD looking at the autistic 'voice' regarding education - amongst other things!).

Damian - Community Champion

Posted by
loubielou

on 22nd July 2010

at 15:08

any questions u have i will try and answer them as best i can

Posted by
damo73

on 22nd July 2010

at 15:46

Hello loubielou,

I think we may be able to set something up over this forum....(Elena...?)

Basically, the 'interview' is about your own experiences of education and learning (you could also do more questions as a parent). There are no right or wrong answers to the questions, as I am trying to find what others think (I already know what I think at the mo - lol!). You can refuse to answer any questions you don't like + withdraw from it etc. (although I hope it will be a good experience for you - sometimes it is good to have a rant). Remember that it is a public forum, and that I may be using it for research purposes - so you may end up being quoted in a journal article or my PhD! After the interview, if you don't want me to use it, I won't. Also, please don't mention names of schools, teachers etc. + don't post anything that you don't mind others seeing.

All the best,

Damian - Community Champion

p.s. If we do set this up - I'd have to ask others not to interrupt.

hiya

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