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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

Bobath Centre London

38 replies

lou33 · 22/09/2003 13:52

Has anyone been ? I just had a phone call from their Children's Funding Manager, who has said Rory can start next Monday on a 2 week assessment! Can't wait, but has anyone got any tips or hints? Tia.

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fio2 · 22/09/2003 14:11

No havent got any experience but Good LuckSmile

Original poster
lou33 · 29/09/2003 17:00

We had our first session at the Bobath today, it was great!! The physio said her aim for the end of the two weeks is to get ds standing unaided if only for a few seconds! Am so excited about this. She also talked about walkers for him, ones that make him use his legs rather than his arms, so he can get out in the garden and around the house with his sibs, instead of watching enviously from the doorway while they cavort about outside. We tried a couple out, a pony something and another one I can't remember, and I could see how much freedom he could have in them. Hopefully tomorrow is just as good.

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Davros · 29/09/2003 17:04

lou33, wonderful news. I've always heard very good things about the Bobath Centre and method. I don't live far from there so lots of people I know with children with CP have been there and always speak highly of it. It sounds so positive

fio2 · 29/09/2003 17:11

Wow lou, that would be really great if they could get him standing unaided wouldnt it!Smile Glad it is being so positive for you allSmile Keep us posted!

chatee · 29/09/2003 17:28

wow lou,i bet you are as high as a kite and have a very tired little boy this evening-it's great to hear good news, good luck for the rest of the week-keep us informed
by the way thanks for the message last week, i have been really sicky and could hardly manage to cope some days with dd(thank goodness for cbeebies-i know bad mother but i will make it up to her!!!)so had very little chance to post on MN but did try and read every so often.

tamum · 29/09/2003 18:01

Oh lou33, what fantastic timing! I really hope it gives him the confidence boost he needed after last week. Bless him, and you.

GRMUM · 29/09/2003 19:32

Great news lou33 i'm sure he'll really come on at the bobath centre.Its the best.

Original poster
lou33 · 29/09/2003 19:32

Rgabks all, he's so tired he's been asleep over an hour already! This is a boy who usually nods off 8.30 -9.00! Bet he wakes and is up all night now .

Had I known about you Davros we would have landed upon you for a cup of tea, we were half an hour early!

Glad to see you back Chatee even if only briefly. Morning sickness is the pits isn't it? I'm a Nick Jr person myself and I am not pg so have no excuse . Ds loves Kipper and Maisy so much though, how could i possibly deprive him?

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Original poster
lou33 · 29/09/2003 19:33

Sorry am typing in the dark due to ds sleeping. That should read "thanks", not the gabble I spouted.

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Davros · 29/09/2003 21:42

lou33, I thought it was another of those abbreviations that I don't understand! Let me know when you next visit Bobath and we can try to arrange cuppa

MABS · 29/09/2003 21:56

fab news Lou - delighted for you both.

Original poster
lou33 · 29/09/2003 22:02

Lol Davros, well I am there tomorrow and friday with dh and ds2, then every day next week!

Mabs really nice of you to post when you have so much on your plate atm.

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Davros · 30/09/2003 21:08

lou33, wow that's a lot of visits, I'm very impressed. Well, let me know if you find yourself with any time on your hands. Do you have to travel far and do they provide lunch etc?

Original poster
lou33 · 01/10/2003 09:13

I'm travelling from Surrey Davros. They have a kitchen for tea and biscuits but they don't provide anything else. Don't know if you are interested, but as you live nearby you might be, today they are having an open day. That's why we are not on our way there right now.

Yesterday started off badly, because ds was adamant that he wasn't going back. He had a nice time but enough was enough thanks very much, lol. So when we got there he played in reception for a bit, but wouldn't try the walker the pt had left out. When it came to pt time he started crying, refusing to do anything, just saying he wanted me to cuddle him. This was overcome by the bribe of tubby custard if he did his stuff (from the ot who was there too), and after that he was an angel! He worked really hard, and was asleep in the car within about 5 minutes.

I would love to see you , but realistically I don't think it is going to be possible. As soon as we finish at the Bobath we have to dash back to Surrey to make sure we can pick up the rest of the brood from school on time. Sorry .

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ThomCat · 01/10/2003 10:34

That's great Lou - as Tamum said the timing is great. Let us know how you get on.
Lots of love...

fio2 · 01/10/2003 10:43

Glad its going okay louSmile

Davros · 01/10/2003 10:43

Oh well lou33, its a nice idea to meet but with all our commitments prolly not poss. Maybe we should try a Mumnset meet up for SN? Hope it all goes well, it does sound very good. Typical not wanting to co-operate on the second visit. I think my son often thinks, "OK, I've done that" and doesn't think he will be doing whatever it is again, even though I try to tell him as best I can. He had a stinking second term when he started school. THe first term was great and I think that he thought that was it! He's a crafty devil and thought he'd just stay at home from then on. He loves it there now

fio2 · 01/10/2003 10:44

That would be a good idea Davros but we're all over the placeSmile

Original poster
lou33 · 01/10/2003 11:07

I just felt for the pt tbh. She had just spent the session before with a child screaming their whole way through it, and she was looking forward to a jolly one she said, lol. At least he settled down though. He loved it when they took a picture of him in a standing frame, posed very well!

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fio2 · 01/10/2003 11:11

Oh lou sounds lovelySmile If its any consolation I think the pts are used to it. At my dd's nursery they all cry in corus when they spot one of themWink

Original poster
lou33 · 06/10/2003 16:38

Well he's been doing really well. No tears at all today or Friday. He looks so pleased with himself when they have him standing between various objects, passing marbles from one side to the other, and he had a go in the walking frame without complaining today (even if I had to encourage him by walking backwards with a spoonful of fromage frais on display!). The only cloud was that dh asked the pt 2 questions and got a bit upset by the replies. The first one was to whether ds would get good balance, to which she replied no, and she also said he wouldn't ever be able to run. Dh was really upset about it and had to leave the room. It hadn't occured to him this might not happen. We have always aimed at getting him walking, so he assumed if he walks he will run. He loves ds so much it almost physically wounds him when he hears these things. I know these things get less important as kids turn into adults, but when you are a child being able to run about is part of the fun you have with friends isn't it?

And I have hurt my knee after a night of dancing, and just spent since last night trying to remove a ring I found on the same night. The hospital couldn't get it off, and my finger was black and blue and swollen. Dh just manged to cut it with bolt croppers about half an hour ago, as we were deciding to go to the firestation! Big long scratches up my finger and it's all bruised, but luckily ok!

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chatee · 06/10/2003 16:52

lou,
great to hear your news about ds and how he is doing-i know how your dh must be feeling as at the weekend my dd asked whether she could go to dancing class with her friends????what do you say to your child????i was nearly in tears and just said to her that maybe one day when she was bigger
then just to rub salt into my wounds(i had asked the physio the previous week to look at dd's feet and a small pressure point on her navicular)physio said it was ok but then this week immediately phoned the orthotics dept and demanded an emergency appt(dh took her this morning at 08.30am)and told me not to let her wear her splints over the weekend!!!so dd and i have been in solitary confinement for the weekend-never mind plenty of chance to catch up on quality play and an afternoon siesta together
it never rains it always pours doesn't it honey!!
hope you're finger is ok and take care of yourselves-all of you lol chatee and co.xxx

fio2 · 06/10/2003 17:52

Glad things are going well for your boy lou - its great that hes enjoying itSmile Bribing him with fromage frais..tut,tutWink

Sorry you and your dh have had a bad day otherwise. I hope your ds will prove them wrong and run for englandSmile

Original poster
lou33 · 10/10/2003 16:36

Well it's all done. Am shattered by the journey every day but was so worth it! The local pt and ot came to the centre yesterday. We all sat in on the session and they agreed with everything the Bobath said, and we will be getting : a new standing frame, a walking frame, a seating insert for his highchair, a potty, some special needs bowls to enable ds to eat more easily, a big sausage shaped thingy to do more appropriate stretching exercises on. We bought a foam wedge and a kimono belt to help him continue his progress in the immediate future. I'm stunned that we are getting all this stuff with no hassle. Am I dreaming do you think? Will I wake up in a cold sweat later on? They also equipped us with a video tape of ds doing the exercises, and will be sending us a written report complete with pictures of his gorgeous self in various pieces of equipment he needs.

I feel so positive after seeing them. Would highly recommend anyone else with a cp child to try and get referred there. Or else paying privately is between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds (gulp) for 2 weeks.

The only problem we will have is finding space to fit his bits in!

AND HE STOOD AGAINST SOMETHING UNSUPPORTED FOR A FEW SECONDS!!!!!!!!!

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tamum · 10/10/2003 16:56

Brilliant news lou33. I really hope it's helped him psychologically aswell, and he won't feel so despairing. Well done to you for getting through it all, too. It sounds like a marvellous place!