Is anyone involved with an ASD outreach team in MS?

[PlainOldPeachy]

Had an invite today to a coffee morning to meet the ASD Outreach Teacher and Assistant

So I guess I can assume this is now being brought in for ds1!

Am a bit as any help is a positive but wondered if anyone has any experience?

hi, my dd and i are involved with autism outreach although slightly different as she is in a special school but same principles apply i would have thought. our out reach worker visits dd in school at regular intervals to make sure her educational and everyday needs are being met, she also advises staff and runs courses for parents and school staff, shes not affraid to shout up and step on toes if she has to and will accompany me and dh to statement reviews or any other meetings if we want her to which can be valuable as my brain turns to mush in such places, the most valuable part of her job is that she is always on the end of the phone if we need anything even silly things and will come to the house just for a chat its quite nice to have someone who really understands what we are going through and will fight our corner if she has to!

We were involved last year. The lady involved was the single most influential person I have dealt with. She picked up the phone and shouted at people to get things sorted. She wrote a huge long report for our statement which was far better than any of the other professionals produced, and yes we got 1:1 support from it.

I agree that explore any help that is offered - most will be crap but occasionally you meet a gem.

Wow- we have a statement but it has become apparent that it is not only woefully inadequate but likely that LEA would like to withdraw it as he is catching up on literacy (and not coping at all in any other way).

DS1 was taken off Paeds lists as they don't keep kids on the higher end of the spectrum registered, so we have ahd no access to any help (SS support limited to LF kids as well it seems).

Might be a help!

Thank you.

agree that it is a very good idea to get a positive relationship with the outreach team: they also helped me at a crucial time for my ASD DS in mainstream school (in my borough at least, they are ahead of the school in the LEA pecking order and so can bang heads). Go along, be positive and open and maybe they will remember you at a crucial time when you need them. I guess it's networking really

J has been involved in 3 different ASD teams - one from a private school which was pointless as they came once and never returned, and then one from the local Inclusion Team and one from a local ASD project (who cross over to home support too) who are both brilliant teams and really back me up with what the school should be doing and TELL the school that!

Hope it's useful!

Just pulled them up on internet-

talk about bringing in the heavies! Get the feeling we might be on to something here!

Good! You deserve it...as does he!

Am also interested that the provision they are coming from is one that pulls in 11+ kids; we were told he might need Sn at that age but thought that there was nothing suitable in the locality- Wonder if its the first step?

Doubly intriguing, esp. as ds3 got his snu place today, will look forward to Wednesday with interest...

Is that the same as the autism advisory service and visiting teacher? they go into my boys' school but they've never invited me for a coffee.

Ah well they've heard about my legendary caffeine intake LOL (though with 2 asd and a baby its hardly a surprise!)

Mind tonight its NT ds2 who is playing up! Wonders will never cease....

I know what you mean, I am considering just getting myself hooked up to a drip and having the bloody stuff intraveinously!

Ours is good, but we don't see her often enough. She knows what she's talking about though, and is currently trying to get school to send all the 1:1 TAs on the Earlybird Plus course.

No coffee invites for me either though

I must be the hard core LOL

Coffee, info and vallium