private salt or not?

[Phoenix4725]

Ds will be coming under school salt and we have it in his statement but its one visit a term and twice weekly of his salt program.Did try to argue with the Lea butthat was all the salt asked for in her statement.

So am considering getting private salt in so she can see ds regulry and can work together. Also when time come time for review she can give me better idear of what ds needs.

Ds is 4 and is non verbal with verbal and oral dyspraxia , also GDD

Can anyone recommend one in the Essex area

[moondog]

I can't recommend personally but this is the official website for independent SALTs.

Have a look by geographical area and look for someone interested /specialising in augmentative/alternative communication as he will probably need an additional means of communication (eg PECS, signing, Rebus, Bliss).

Sorry, as you know, NHS SALT provision is crap. So few of us and such enormous caseloads.

[Phoenix4725]

yep im not blaming salt we had far from it she fought to even give what she did they wanted drop him to yearly as in the mangers words well were not going fix this one.

He is signing already and combining 2 signs ie big dog little dog

[feelingbetter]

Phoenix - did you find that millionnaire after all ?
It's shit you're having to look privately for yet another service your DS is entitled to

[Phoenix4725]

nope not found one if know one send him my way lol
might help if mad as hater as soon will be with my family lol

yep funny ss said use dla like it stretches to cover all this and more

[Phoenix4725]

oh and make that 3 word signing now i mentioned about friends care being broke ds then turned round and signed to his brother the intial P for friends name car then broke

[Phoenix4725]

thank you for link moondog

[TotalChaos]

glad he's doing so well with the signing now phoenix! I found my v. good private SALT via the link Moondog gave, but she's in Chester, so no use to you. Agree with Moondog about checking out their areas of interest, with a view to getting someone who's v. experienced in dealing with kids with similar issues to your DS.

[moondog]

Pleasure Phoenix.
That's good to know TC!

[TotalChaos]

Moondog - I don't know if you will remember this, but I posted on SN when DS was just under 3 about his echolalia, and my problems with NHS waiting list - and you recommended he be seen ASAP, if need be by private salt, and linked to that website. I think this was absolutely lifechanging advice, and will always be very grateful, as without private salt, I really feel DS would have made far less progress . (also would thank blossomhill and a former poster for gently helping me face facts in offsite chats)

[moondog]

Yes, I do remember TC, and I am really very glad you found the advice so helpful.

Never forget though that it is your efforts as a mother that have probably made the most difference. I am very bothered by modern tendency to place so much faith in overworked professionals, who will also never be able to put in the time and effort that you (we) as parents can.

I like the parable of the Little Red Hen, its main message being this; if you want something done, do it yourself.

[TotalChaos]

Moondog - oh yes, obviously the primary effort was made by me - DS saw private SALT about 6 times in 18 months - in particularly I pretty much worked out for myself how to deal with a child with a whopping receptive delay - BUT - without that professional advice I would have been completely unwilling to touch PECs, and would frankly have seen it as a backwards step - and it was PECs that got DS speaking at sentence length.

[moondog]

That's great. A lot of people worry about things like PECS and signing impeding language but we know it actually helps tp bring it on. It's like a bridge to the other side of an impassable river for some kids.

I'd love to have someone like you in my briefcase to pull out to persuade reluctant parents. I think use of parents to help other parents is massively under exploited. At the end of the day, however well meaning one is as a SALT, ultimately you are a badge wearing clipboard touting HCP. Parents often need to hear it from other parents.

I try to avoid talking about my own experiences as the parent of a language disordered child with other parents as it blurs boundaries but sometimes I would love to say 'I know exactly how you feel'

[Phoenix4725]

sigh tried everyone on that list within 30 miles or so and they either wont travel , cant cope with the severe verbal and oral dyspraxia or the learning diffculties or experiance in looking at alternative communication or any of the combination

[Phoenix4725]

bumping see if moondog or total chaos got any idears have increased circle to 60 miles but nothing seems ik must live in back endof beyond

[TotalChaos]

sorry you've had no luck with that site.

there might be someone at the London Children's Practice www.londonchildrenspractice.com/

or might be worth e-mailing Nancy Kaufman to see if she can suggest anyone (she also offers a service for $80 where she watches a video of your child, and gives you advice by e-mail or telephone). www.kidspeech.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=393&Itemid=562

is it likely you'll get any answers soon about possible palate issues?

[Phoenix4725]

we have been refered to a Mr sommerlad who works at chelmsford and great ormonds street but no idea how long wait will be tried chasing today will try again tomorow
Just seems ds is stuck etween rock and hard place

I am doing all I can but need more guidenace was hopefull about Nuffields actually cried when they said sorry we cant help .He wants to communicate so desperatley and just seems so much stacked agaisnt him even spoke to ican about him and they after getting repors have said we arevery sorry but no

[sc13]

Bumping again - sorry no ideas here

[moondog]

Phoenix, I'm so sorry.
Have you contacted the children's charity (for those with comm. problems) AFASIC for some guidance?

Have you raised this with Parent Partnership?
The Community Health Council?

Your SALT dept. have a legal obligation to help you. Is SALT on your statement (if you have one?)

[moondog]

I'd also write to the salt in question (copying in to her boss ot make sure she actions it) asking for a meeting so that you can lay out your hopes and aims and she can do the smae and hopefully reach a happy medium.

[Phoenix4725]

yes it is on ds statement but the salt we had before asked for one term visit and twice weekly doing program an dcourse Lea went with that .I been doing it daily and he is still struggling to make any noise.

Now waiting to see who his salt will be as hes unde school team .Yes spoke to afasi waiting on call back as they are stumped where we go next am seriously considering a move if could find speech unit that wouldtake him .

Does anyone know where else othe rthan nuffields that i can try get referal to for help and advice

[moondog]

Forgive me if we have already discussed this but what are you after-speech or some form of additional communication?

For some children, the pursuit of speech is not possible or only possible with the sort of very highly skilled and incredibly intensive intervention than an LEA will not offer as a matter of course.

You are aware of this I take it?

[Phoenix4725]

Not sure moondog, think I am getting to point where realise that speech is not going to be possiables ,there is just to many issues for ds the salt he has been having has admitted that shes only see one other child this severe

But then dont want to give up on it either just in case .Realise Lea are not going to give the input hence my looking for private salt but am wondering if I am asking the impossable since nuffield cant help and maybe time to start fighting for alternative communication

[Phoenix4725]

Have looked at aba but for ds it not tthat he does not want to communicate infact the oppsite.He is very sociablewith maktonand non verbal gestures

[moondog]

I'd be looking at PECS then or signing or a communication aid.

SaintlyDameMrsTurnip has an excellent blog. Have you checked it out? There is a review of a fantastic iPhone application which is going to seriously revolutionalise A/AC in terms of cost and accessibility. Ask her for a link. Loads of other useful stuff on it too.

[Phoenix4725]

Thank you moondog

ds is using pecs and sentence strips i went on the course after reading recommendations on here was money well spent.

yep think its time to make them look at communication aids roll on September round 2,will ask saintly