oh I do wish people realised how easy they have it

[2shoes]

just a bit of a moan, to get it out of my head.

just read a thread where people seem unable to cope with toddlers.oh wtf would they do in our shoes for a week
my BIL And SIL have jetted of with there 2 nt teen sons for a holiday, I mean a real holiday, not the type I will have in a week or so, where I just move to a different location and work twice as hard.......

moan over, green eyed monster back in it's box

It never ceases to surprise me that ds1 does something really really odd - that an 11 year old would never do - and they assume he's just being naughty. I have come to the conclusion that there are just a lot of very ignorant people out there.

:D I agree, mine's approaching 16 now, so they see it as evidence of drug-induced frenzy rather than naughtiness.
Ignorance is one thing, being cloth-eared and unwilling to learn is the unforgivable bit.

interestingly, we were on the bus yesterday and a woman with SN was shouting questions at everyone..she kept shouting to me about DD: "is she handicapped"...so she realised!!

Sounds like we have that to look forward to goblin!

Fanjo - I took ds1 out in his 'please be patient I have autism' badge this week. The one person who noticed and said 'your son is autistic' was my friend's dd who we bumped into (and who is also autistic). I doubt anyone else noticed.

we were in a cafe the other evening and DD was waving and flapping at a little boy who seemed very taken by her and was smiling over. When they got up to leave we noticed he had SN and difficulty walking. He came over and just touched DD on the arm, it was very sweet.

My ds was kicked out of the library last week (didn't want to sit for story time (we were just dropping some books back) & instead wanted to play with huge number of really cool toys they had there (baby clinic day)). He was joined in the being kicked out by the most gorgeous boy with DS - they were playing really well together too

I would complain to the council, that is disability discrimination, and illegal.

derkinsdame I love your idea for the t-shirt

What annoys me actually isn't just the judgement you get even if people don't realise your dc has sn - it's the bloody judgement full stop. So frigging what if a child bites into a bag of sugar?? It just shows how most people really do have nothing to worry about.

Our "holiday" this year is possibly 3 days in Kent (if the weather's ok), staying at my mum's where we'll have to go round as usual ds-proofing everything (and this time for crawling dd too). Every time we go there I still get the 'surprised-oh-it-didn't-occur-to-me' look that we have to do this, just to rub in the fact that ds is not normal.

riven that is truly, truly crap

we have Fanjo - quoted the DDA & demanded they make reasonable adaptions. They are 'investigating'. The librarian is a bitch.

That's just awful, phlebas

I did crazily have half an idea to book a holiday for next year. I gave up really quickly after checking out some disability friendly places (Thomas Centre, Centre Parcs) and realising that the accommodation is just not DS2 friendly. DS1 would probably be reasonably OK with the open plan aspect, but having free access to the kettle, oven etc would just be a nightmare with DS2 who loves slamming the oven and fridge doors, given a chance and has a habit of tipping out anything containing liquids that he can get his hands on.

We actually got a chance to take DS1 to the cinema for the first time ever, this week, since our local Children's Network were giving out Toy Story 3 tickets. Big mistake. He came home from school on Friday with a gift of some Toy Story stickers and was ranting about how he hates Toy Story. He worked himself up into more and more of a frenzy about it, over the weekend. DH ended up cancelling the tickets and his day off work and I did a ceremonial recycling of the leaflet about the showing.

We miss out on the local summer play groups and the weekly story time and craft times at the library because I just can't do it with both of the kids. DS1 would enjoy it if I could take him alone, but DS2 would have no interest and keep trying to run out of the room. Both boys need 1:1 in the familiar and secure environment of school and I can only just manage the 1:2 at home, sometimes, never mind in a highly stimulating, insecure public place.

So most days, it's just life, but school holidays bring home how much it sucks because our lives are just so small.

hi autumnsmum here love this thread reminds me of the time my ds as got his head stuck in some railings in devon because he saw a shiny machine , he got so much attention he halted a morris dance display!

Ouryve -

If it's any help the kitchen areas at Center Parcs villas can be closed off with a baby gate - I had similar concerns so we took one with us.

Spinkle: Someone I know says to people who make rude comments about her passing queues in theme parks:

'I tell you what, your son/daughter can have autism and my child can be normal and then you can have my special pass and i'll go stand in the longest queue in this park AND LIKE IT.'

Usually shuts them up.

just went to museum with dd, she ran into lift both ways to push buttons, despite me holding her. Woman getting out waited til getting out and said 'just a minute please' as a dig,woman with buggy on way down said 'can we get out please' in nippy voice with eyerolling at my 'rude' child. Her friend had seen me having to help dd on the stairs too. I suspect they are just narky sows generally though.

just went to museum with dd, she ran into lift both ways to push buttons, despite me holding her. Woman getting out waited til getting out and said 'just a minute please' as a dig,woman with buggy on way down said 'can we get out please' in nippy voice with eyerolling at my 'rude' child. Her friend had seen me having to help dd on the stairs too. I suspect they are just narky sows generally though. Then we were just in a queue to buy her a pen and she was crying,the man behind was sighing noisily at us. What a day!

God, does anyone else think we should buy an island, so we can live there in peace without all the judgy-mcjudgy types? Or banish them there so they can be re-educated?!

Seriously, if I had more cash, I would buy a few holiday homes and let them only to families of kids with SN. They would be bedecked with all safety equipment, and a sensory room in each. I am sure we would be booked out for years!

want to go there now! Dd was crying in buggy,teenage boy said 'jeezo' i said 'jeezo yourself' then said 'little sh*t' to myself (bad example for dd but i'd had it) .a woman thought i was saying it to dd for crying and gasped and tutted!

want to go there now! Dd was crying in buggy,teenage boy said 'jeezo' i said 'jeezo yourself' then said 'little sh*t' to myself (bad example for dd but i'd had it) .a woman thought i was saying it to dd for crying and gasped and tutted!

oops,my phone keeps posting!

oooh, that's good to know, Spinkle. We were definitely wanting to get to one at some point, anyhow, maybe when DS2 is old enough to really appreciate it there.

For now, we'll just be paying regular visits to my parents' down on the East Yorkshire coast and thinking ourselves lucky that we live near the coast, anyhow!

We find it great there because we can go and do biking, swimming, walking, playing pretty much whenever we want - our ds needs to be kept busy. It's worth checking the villa layouts though, in case they change things.

Eloise - love love love that. Will def. remember that for when (or indeed if) we feel brave enough to tackle Legoland.

Regarding the snarls off people in queues, this shame induceing response never fails...

'if you really think it's worth having a child who needs constant care 24hrs a day, 365 days a year for the rest of their lives just so you can save a few hours queueing then you're wrong.

Job done.

If anyone is in the South East, Thames Valley Adventure playground in Taplow, Berks is good. It's not Legoland, but it's a good day out if you want to avoid stares as it's all for disabled children and their siblings. Most of the children who go seem to be severely disabled. High fences all the way round and locked entrance. No escape, no Norms. Brilliant

The Yard in Edinburgh is like that too, it's fantastic!!

donkeyderby - 'no Norms' love it!!

Unfortunately we are miles away from both Berkshire and Edinburgh (my fave city)