BIBIC - tell me what you know......

[theheadgirl]

...my DD3 is 7 years old, and has a dx of Downs and ASD. I'm told she's atypical for both these conditions, but I take that with a pinch of salt, as I'm sure there's a huge range in both of them. She's currently at a special school for SLD.
Now, I keep coming across BIBIC via other posters on this board, but no health/education professionals, nor any other parents in this part of the country (south Yorks) have ever mentioned it to me.
What I'd like to know is how did you come across BIBIC, and was it of any value to your family?
Thanks, theheadgirl

[theheadgirl]

bump

[needmorecoffee]

BIBIC and Brainwave are based down in somerset and offer very similar things. Basically they assess your child physically and cognitively and design a programme for you to carry out at home.
W went to Brainwave as it was slightly cheaper. Others have been to BIBIC.

[theheadgirl]

When I'd seen BIBIC mentioned on threads here, I'd assumed (because of their name) that they were for children who'd had a "brain injury" leading for example to CP. But the website says otherwise. Did you find it useful NMC? It wouldn't be out of the question for me, I have a sister in Wiltshire.....

[needmorecoffee]

I felt listenend too at Brainwave and finally given something positive to do with dd to help her cognitive development.

[lourobert]

We go to Brainwave and love it love it love...!!! Veryhelpful and full of fab ideas. They come to Portmsouth and teach my sons nursery staff his routine plus they loan us all kinds of equiptment(and nursery too!) they hold family fun days throughout the year

[needmorecoffee]

I didn't know they did family fun days at Brainwave. I'll have to go when they do.

[theheadgirl]

Thanks NMC and Lourobert... I'm feeling a little deflated these days about DD3's development after this
And feel guilty because I love her and she's a joy really..... I'm sure you know what I mean
I just wonder if a fresh perspective from somewhere like these places might help.
Also bump in case anyone knows of anywhere further north?

[lourobert]

NMc the next one is Feb 17th ans I think it is to be held in Berkshire,i better check that???? they are great fun days and always arrnage some fantastic activites. there are regional co-ordinators that arrange ones for their specific areas.

Brainwave I think is run from other places other than somerset but that will need to be checked. i can understand what you mean THG as everytime I come back from Brainwave i feel so excited as weve been given new ideas to try. Certainly helps to have a fresh pair of eyes that will have differnt ideas for your child

[Peachy]

I know a fair bit- visitred them in a work capcacity years ago and have put 2 kids in since! I used to work for HomeStart in bridgwater, so it was very much there on top of us, and as so many famillies used it I went along a few times to see what it was about- and then when the boys were dx'd......

Both BIBIC and Vrainwave are good, they started out as the same thing then a director (IIRC) left and took one down a slightly different evolutionary path, ewwhich is how you get where you are today.

Personally I would say (based on nowt but the famillies i know of) CP / physiocal- Brainwave; ASD's / SLD's / DS BIBIC

The idea is basically a holistic appraoch, no diagnosis nedd- we were there Monday last, spent 2 days beinga ssessed, supported and taught a new program for ds3. Do ascribe some of his bigger improvements to them actually. nd when we were getting nowhere with a dx for ds1, they kept us sane.

I don't know about funding for Brainwave, with BIBIC they have a Bursary and that paid for ds3's forst trip (via children in need) and now we pay £35 a month, some people get more- thats how much we offered to pay.

I ahve the info pack on e-mail if you want me to send it to you, just CAt or e-mail me. And the first BIBIC interview (phone) is free so always worth ago at elst imo, about an hours chat to see what theyc an offer

[lourobert]

i know Brainwave has a waiting list at present

[needmorecoffee]

Brainwave also has a bursery and will pay for everything if you need it. We applied to the Caudwell Trust (most hideous forms in the whole world, actually worse than the DLA. I emded up screwing them up in tears and DH smoothed them out and posted them for me. Gawd knows what they whought!) and they paid for the whole thing so Brainwave didn't have too.
Think we waited about 6 months from first phone call.

[theheadgirl]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I will CAT you Peachy for the info pack.

[lourobert]

NMC if you would lke the details of the next brainwave fun day...its in wiltshire on the 17th feb! Send me your email and I will send you all the info.

[needmorecoffee]

we ain't gotta car yet and probably wont by then. Do they ever do them in Bridewater?

[Peachy]

I've never seen a Brainwave one, only a BIBIC one y(in the summer sometime) but they amy just br bad ata dvertising them locally?

theheadgirl- didnt get the cat, feel free to try peaches and cream 04 @ bt internet . com