For JimJams

[JaysMum]

Noticed in some of your posts you have been to BIBIC. Just wondered what your thoughts on the place were?

We went there in Sept this year and have mixed feelings.

[Jimjams]

I thought it was very good for sensory stuff. DS1 has lots of tactile problems and it made a big difference to those. For example he couldn't wear belts or hats before we went and within 6 weeks of starting the programme he could. We went back for a second visit but then I felt it was less useful for us. The sensory programme didn't need to be changed much and continues to help ds1, but he needs much more teaching and language intervention than BIBIC can provide. So for sensory stuff I think it is excellent, other stuff less so. Although I think its also a good place to go if you are having problems getting a diagnosis etc as their reports can really help access services. Helped us with our argument for the need for SALT to be in parts 2 and 3 of the statement for example.

[JaysMum]

The diet side was good for us, sensory excellent - can nowcut J's nails without two of us pinning him down!!!. The reports they gave us have really helped with statementing problems. We paid extra for the EP report - really has been the most useful report we had done.
School however refused to even read the reports because they were not done by the authorities!!!

Have got our reassessment in May 05. Outreach visit in Dec. Not sure though if we will go back again as they can't really help us much more.

JaysMum

[maddiemo]

Hello JaysMum. We have been to BIBIC and came away with mixed feelings. We are due for reassessment early next year but are unsure about going back as sorting out childcare and finding somewhere to stay makes it very expensive. We wonder if the money would be better spent on local private SALT.
We found the sensory stuff useful. The school [sen unit} have read all the reports and have got a lot from it.
I think in my case I wanted answers that they couldn't give. My son has autism but it is his language difficulties not behaviour which prevent him from being a mainstream child. I don't think we clicked in any way with the SALT and ds fell asleep during the session, which in his case means he is feeling stressed, but she seemed to think it showed that he was relaxed. My ds is very very passive and they seemed a bit perplexed by him.

[JaysMum]

Do you not stay in the BIBIC bungalow? It's only £25 per night and is a lot chaeper than the B&B's locally.
I know what you mean about the SALT - she was a bit offish with us because she asked us what we thought his problems could be and we told her that we knew J had SPD. She then questioned this and eventually after a long and heated discussion agreed that J did have SPD - the whole hour with her was spent discussing the SPD and no help was offered because there was not enough time.
Sensory stuff was well worth it though.

[Jimjams]

There are 2 different SALTS at BIBIC...... The one we saw was pretty good and did the first accurate assessment of his receptive language level (this was before we had employed his private SALT).

[maddiemo]

We could not stay at the bungalow. There are six of us,plus sister and boyfriend who came to babysit the other children.
Jimjams There may have been a change of SALT since you were last there. I am sure the one we saw had not been there very long.

[pixel]

I'm intrigued by you all mentioning 'sensory stuff' as we have been having problems with this(assume you mean being over-sensitive in some areas and craving deep pressure in others). Ds has his first school review next week and we were planning to bring it up then to see if they had any suggestions. It is a special school so we thought they might have access to that sort of information but weren't really sure if there was any treatment/therapy that could help or not.

The nail cutting sounds familiar! We have the same problems also with hair cutting/brushing and teeth cleaning. Just making those things easier would make a huge difference. Sorry to butt in on your discussion but what does BIBIC stand for and where is it?

[JaysMum]

British Institute for Brain Injured Children based in Puriton, Somerset. Suggest reading The Out of Synch Child - really good book about sensory intigration dysfunction. Some good advice in there about how sensory probs affect children and good tips to help with probs.
Maddiemo - the bungalow sleeps eight and is £50 per night for all of you. Family room has three singles and a fold out bed or cot. Then there are two rooms with two single beds.

The SALT we saw had not been at BIBIC long. She used to be the SALT in our area before she left NHS and went private. We live not far from BIBIC. I am pretty sure she is the only one they have working there now.

[Jimjams]

Oh I know the SALT you mean I think. She started after our first visit. I think you must live pretty near me then Jaysmum.

[JaysMum]

Hi JimJams,
We live in North Devon.

SALT worked for DCC.