It's mentioned a lot, but what is portage?

[5inthebed]

seriously, never heard of portage untilI came onto the SN board.

What is it, and should I be getting it for my ds2 who has autism?

It's a pre-school home-visiting service - basically someone comes to your home once a week normally and spends time playing with your child, they often bring special toys and stuff too. If you get someone good it is really lovely, as an opportunity for the parent to talk to someone who 'gets it' if you see what I mean. In my area your child needs to be developmentally delayed in one or more area- for example my dd has cerebral palsy and has delays with both fine and gross motor skills. As far as I know there are other children on the Autistic spectrum who do get Portage in our area so it would be worth asking about it - the only warning would be that it is a very long wait - we were referred this time last year and only started Portage in November!

HBOB sums it up really.
We were referred by DSs paed in October and expect to be seen at about Easter time. DS will be in nursery by then, but hey-ho. We are lucky to get it.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think you can self-refer. have a look at the national portage association website here

You can self-refer, definitely. :nod: They come out and do their own assessments. Bug them till you get a response - I mailed the head office to refer, got a "we have your mail" response and assumed we were on a waiting list. We weren't (admin cock up on their part I think) and wasted 6 months before paeds referred her separately and we got on the waiting list properly.

Locally it has to be a delay in 2 or more areas to qualify but I think local policies vary with how oversubscribed they are.

sadly here in essex thers no portage available

I'd love for someone to come do that with my son! I wonder why I was never offered it, as I know a few people from sons last group got it
Isnt it crap how much we arent told! I had a hospital appointment last month with sons new doctor, and he was shocked I hadnt been assigned a social worker. Awaiting to be assigned one now! Maybe they arrange portage?

Thanks FB, I'll check that website later when my little "darlings" are in bed

Where we used to live it was called 'the pre school special needs play service' but was the same thing.