Anyone heard of 'happy hands' (asd) ???

[genieinabottle]

Need some advice

DS is restless at carpet time teacher says (worse in the afternoon).
Apparently he keeps touching or laying accross the other children, or getting up to fiddle with toys.

I wrote in his communication book that carpet time was already a difficult time for DS when he was at nursery.
Instead of thinking of a strategy to address this, teacher wrote back that he does this because of tiredness and any other 5 y old would do this when tired.

Ok, i put my hands up. Yes DS is worse with his behaviours when he is tired as would any other child.
But surely touching and laying accross other kids isn't due to tiredness but sounds more like it's due to him having difficulties with social boundaries and the fiddling with toys could be sensory because of the social side of carpet time that he finds difficult.

I really don't think teacher understands him and asd.

I have heard of 'happy hands' but unsure what it entails. What it is it? Would this type of strategy help with what i describe above?

Thanks

Also EP is going in soon to observe but i 've been told no need to attend for me (don't know what to think about that tbh), and we'll have another meeting later with EP to discuss things.

Would you insist that you want to attend when she does the obs or shall i leave it?

I don'tthink your beingthere while the EP is observing would be very helpful would it? Wouldn't your presence change your Ds behaviour?

I have never sat in on their observation time or testing.

Actually I suspect both you and the teacher are right. DS1s behaviours are more acute when he is tired. He is also capeable of being naughty in a waythat may be an exageartion of his stims or behaviours.
The teacher may have observed that your DS 'can' control himself better when not tired so his behaviours can be worked on - rather than being acute stims where he just can't help himself.

Does that make sense.

I am just trying to make the point that the teachers observations don't mean he does not get asd

We use 'kind hands/gentle hands' when DS is pinching himself to remind him to stop. Is that what you mean?

sorry DS1 is habit as I have two Dss

Thanks.
I'm not sure about what happy hands is exactly. I think it is something they use in school to help children with this type of behaviours 'touching others' so they learn to keep their hands to themselves.

I saw it on here on a topic ages ago, but can't fing it now.

The reason why i'm annoyed with teacher is so far whenever there is been an issue that they have told me about with DS, they always go on about tiredness (which i agree with , DS 's behaviours are worse when he is tired or ill or stressed) but they don't seem to do anything to address it because it's just tiredness in their eyes which it isn't.

genie

I would certainly insist that you meet the EP after your son has been observed, no real point going in during the observation as DS may well behave differently if you are present.

The EP going into see your son is a good thing; this person's report is vitally important when it comes to the hoary old issue of statementing and may even recommend that a statement is sought by you (these people are in the employ of the LEA though and may not actually state that outright).

I would think that there are problems with social boundaries and sensory issues rather than them putting it down to general tiredness in the afternoon. Does not sound like teacher is all that clued up on ASD either.

Have you looked at the NAS's website, this may have useful ideas on sensory issues.

BTW how does your son behave when he comes in from school?.

He is awful.
Either he will want to watch his dvd or go on the wii and do nothing else and screams when he has to stop, then starts wandering and humming. Or he will just wander around and has a tantrum every 5 mins over this and that and nothing.

I told senco about this and also teacher but they have said back that many parents report iritabilty due to tiredness after their child starts school.

one thing I have used with a child not ASD but ADHD is blue tack as this centres the need for touching onto 1 thing.

Another is these which I have used with children with ASD does the same kind of thing as blue tack really. Here:[http://www.mytangle.co.uk/]

Ring autism outreach. It would be a massive red flag for the teacher to ignore their advice. They will go into the school

Hi genie,

Would agree with the counsel that colditz has given here.

I would predict now that he is going to continue to have a tough time this school year and you will keep getting the run around from school:(. Your son therefore having a statement will help him and by turn yourself.

Never forget genie that you are his only real advocate here.

I think he is having problems when he gets home primarily because he is internalising all the frustrations of his school day. You as his mum get the brunt of the frustrations as well.

I don't sit in on the observations/testing unless the prof requests it (ds2's OT always asks me to attend).
But i Always INSIST on 5 mins with the EP or whoever immediatly after the assessment to get verbal feedback pending the report which can sometimes take a while.
Its amazing how many times we've been able to sort out minor problems or clarify things before they are put in reports etc.
Also may give you the opportunity to tell the EP the areas he struggles with most at home & may focus their mind a little IYKWIM.

Don't forget, yawning stretching etc can also be a sign of anxiety & certainly for my ds he uses it as a strategy to avoid a situation eh is not comfortable with.