Point me in the right direction please

[raffle]

My friend has just had her DS diagnosed with GDD. Any helpful websites, charities etc that anybody can recommend? Our DS has ASD and all my books, resources etc are geared around this. Not sure how useful they would be to her.

Thanks (and I'll obviously recommend this lovely board and you lovely lot!)

Hi,

Our DS 2.8 is dx with GDD, ASD.
I don't have lots of advice but there are couple of books I found very useful.

Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Resource of Play Ideas for Parents and Carers Lots of good tips here, most of the stuff you do instinctively as a parent but this just builds on it.

The other book is The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders . We are doing a verbal behaviour program, its early days but we are positive that it will help ds.

Can I ask how old is your friends DS?

Hi Dev, we have tons of books and resources for ASD but my friend's boy has just been Dix with GDD on it's own. He is 3 and 4 months. Do you think our ASD stuff will be useful to her? Met with her today and she's really down, just want to point her in the right direction for some info/help/support :( thanks for book titles, may investigate them myself!

Hi Raffle, is the dx predominantly for neurological delay or physical as well. If its is neurological, I would recommend the laughing, learning and playing book as a good starting point and then build on it using the verbal behaviour program book.
I would also consider a formal VB/ABA program if she can afford it, which I what we are doing. If you see an earlier post by bulletproof, when to stop ABA/VB her DS was dx with GDD and started VB last year and well the post says it all really.
The book explains really well the principles of the program and with examples so it might be helpful for her to start off with. The main thing is to be consistent in whatever approach you are taking. Sorry I am waffling on a bit here, but I hope it makes sense. Got to go and feed the baby.

I can just imagine how she must feel. unfortunately this is the only place where I have found any useful info, hopefully someone else might know more about this and can point you in the right direction.

The Hanen book 'it takes 2 to talk' is GDD geared where as the More than Words one is ASD slanted. Mostly useful for speech and communication

There are good resources on downs syndrome website e.g. action photos and flash cards

Thanks girls, will pass on your recommendations and websites. She will be pleased with anything to go on to be honest. Portage starting soon for her and DS so hopefully she will start feeling more positive then. Cheers ladies.

I'll be back tomorrow with some ideas - too late for me now.

raffle don't forget the gents..

When you have a child with multiple needs you don't see it as being a fault per se, it's just the way they are. As a parent you love first, think later. In terms of 'getting your head round the diagnosis' try an organisation like Parents for Inclusion. They are very parent focused and will understand where you are coming from. At this early stage it is so easy to get swept into the statementing, medical and legal stuff which can be overwhelming.

Next I would suggest local support groups as it can be a lonely business with a child with multiple needs. Most local authorities have childrens centres with well supported toddler and baby groups, we were able to go to a group early on and it really helped. Having professionals modelling good communication with your little one is invaluable.

And that brings me on to communication. Most of the books recommended above came out after it was too late with my dd, but I do believe the key is to break everything down into tiny stages. Development happens slower and key processes that most children attain naturally have to be really worked on with a DD child and it's important that this happens as early as possible and in the correct order.

My EP described it as a traffic flow - Developmental delay is a roadblock and it is very easy to take a bypass around the blockage but it is important that a child with DD gets every help to get through the blocks in the correct order. When they start finding their own route it can be at the expense of an important developmental stage.