Special needs role call :)

[Blossomhill]

I hope you don't mind but there have been so many new people and I thought it would just be nice to remind ourselves of who is who

Well I'll start with I am a 30yr old SAHM, been married 3 years (although together 9) and I have 1 ds (aged 7) who is nt but going through a bit of a teenage phase at the moment. I then have dd is 5 (6 in August), she has a high level pragmatic disorder which effects her ability to have conversations and socialise (although she does try really hard). Dd is currently doing very well in a speech and language unit attached to a mainstream school.
We have just recently come back from Bibic and it was such an amazing experience and we learnt so, so much about dd. More in 3 days with them than the whole 4 years through the normal channels!

Hi! I am new too, 31, married (happily - except when he won't let me warm my feet on his bum at night. Meenie!) We have 2 beautiful boys, our eldest is 6 next month, he is autistic and also has erbs palsy (paralysis of arm due to nerve damage as a result of birth trauma - after his head was delivered, his shoulders got wedged and neither forceps nor ventuse could shift him! The midwife ended up, basically, pulling his head! He was not breathing or anything when delivered and had to be rushed to be resusitated. Much grusome detail and much trauma which I won't offload). Youngest son is 4, he is also autistic. But autism isnt the important thing about them, they are perfectly normal, happy, wonderful little boys who just happen to need a bit of different help from most other kids. I'm sure you all feel similarly about your kids! I do, however, moan freely, so dont say I never warned you.....................

Hi, I'm 36 and a SAHM, after running a pub for many years.I'll never do that again, picked up too many bad habits!
My ds, who has just turned 5 has AS. He has come on really well since starting reception at mainstream school, although he does have an exceptional teacher. Mind you, we've just spent the weekend caravanning and he was a real nightmare, really hard work.
I've been living with my partner, ds's dad for just over 6 years, pregnant within 6 months. I'm convinced he also has AS, so it's double trouble.

Hi,

I'm 37 (will hit 38 in a couple of months time) and have been married to my wonderful DH for nearly 10 years. We got married on Maui.

We have a son who is now 6. He was diagnosed with developmental delay (actual cause unknown but my guess is perinatal/genetic) along with speech and language delay at two and a half years of age.

Both his teacher and LSA say he is doing well in school, he has a Statement in place for his needs. I fought hard for his statement and it saddens me that so many have to fight long and hard to get the help in terms of education (to name just one need) their children need and deserve.

I wish you well, some of you in particular make me feel very humble. Although we have had some tough experiences I have come off lightly in comparison.

Hi All!

I'm Kerry, 26 (nearly 27), married to dh (35) for nearly 4 years. We have 2 gorgeous boys. Connor (NT) will be 4 next month and Jamie who is 10 months on Friday. Jamie was dx as FTT in december 2004. After many tests in feb this year, Jamie was finally refered to Birmingham childrens hospital to see the cardiologist. He was found to have a hypoplastic aortic arch and coarctation of the aorta. He underwent open heart surgery on 11th April. His recovery is going well, but he will remain on 3 kinds of meds for his BP for a long time to come. I am not sure that you would call Jamie special needs as such, although he does need extra care for the time being!

Hi, I'm an SAHM with 2 boys age 6 and 3. I lurk here, because, though DS1 doesn't seem to have anything identifiable, he's just a bit intense and difficult - lots of ADHD-like/dyspraxic-like/sensory integration type thingies, but nothing severe enough for there to be any real problem, I guess. For example, yesterday he had a complete meltdown over nailcutting which culminated in him breaking his wooden desk. I have him on an additive free diet,which has calmed him down a lot and alleviated a lot of his physical symptoms, so I only usually post if I think I can offer advice on that kind of approach.

Hi all
I've been lurking but summoned up courage to post something y'day

I'm 46, married to D [12 years] and a SAHM since last Sept - used to work as a radiographer prior to having our son and then a TA in a large Primary School after he started school but, with no family for support, found myself on the slippery slope of depression (again) and so gave up work. I'm doing an online degree at the moment and looking after J, our son. I live in S Yorkshire but am a southerner originally.

I have one son (stopped at one cos he didn't sleep though until 3 and a half and then only cos' he had flu - back to 'normal' after a week - 2-3 hours max - on Melatonin now - a life saver!)

J was threatened with exclusion from nursery due to his behaviour and finally dignosed with ADHD just before he went into reception. He was started on Ritalin and at first it was fantastic - like a different child - then it became apparent that there was obviously something else - so we then went down the developmental dyspraxia route in the middle of Y1 - lots of input from a specialist teacher [and ourselves every night!] made a difference but ....

At the end of Y1 the head and SENCo mentioned autism - but he wasn't considered 'bad enough' to be seen by the EP. we finally saw a lovely [new]consultant paed at our local hospital - he spent one and a half hours with us at the first visit. Diagnosis - HFA. Not much of a shock as I'd been researching and thought AS/autism was on the cards.

That was two and a half years ago - J is now nearly 9 and struggling in school - despite having an IQ of 140 and reading and maths ability of a teenager - he drifts off in lessons - doesn't know what to do and gets upset ... other children are getting him into trouble and he has a total inability to socialise - children from his class who live in our road duck down as they go past our window as they don't want him to see them and play with them

We have been to one SEN Tribunal to get an assessment for him - lost that as the school turned round and said that they'd put 25 hours of support in the classroom for him - news to us - it took three months and the threat of getting a solicitor on the case before the school would confirm this in writing and give us a timetable for him.

He has finally been assessed and the draft statement is being rewritten now after we argued up the support from 10 to 15 hours. We are going to have the new statement finalised and then appeal on the matter of SALT - which is how I found mumsnet via google - the independent SALT says J needs intensive SALT and has a severe pragmatic disorder - the local NHS say he 'may benefit from a SULP programme but we have no plans to run one in the near future so J wil be discharged from the service' We have just had a meeting with the NHS SALT manager and they are going to reassess him ...

I have a suspicion that my husband has AS [my mother has said this as well and also the local vicar] but he nearly went ballistic when I brought up the subject so we don't mention it now... but it is hard work. [tears]

Sorry for the long essay but it's good to get it off my chest.

Hi I'm another 'oldie' - 47. Married to dh (53) for 24 years. We have ds (17) definitely somewhere on the autistic spectrum but never diagnosed. At age 9 we consulted an EP who highlighted some areas of concern, and we then transferred him to a prep school. His teachers there met his needs so well there seemed little point in pressing for diagnosis. He has continued to flourish at senior school. We are now beginning to look post-school ie gap year? university? which is exciting but scary too. Dd (12) is NT and delightful but hard work in a totally opposite way to DS. Pretty sure DH is also on autistic spectrum but he may not agree. We run a pub - but I hate working in it and have always tried to put the children first. That has led to some tense moments between dh and me which hasn't helped ds.
I have learned SOOOOO much from MN - wish I had had it years ago when ds was younger. But better late than never! I have huge respect for all the MNers who do such a fabulous job with their families whatever their needs.

apologies foor late entry with my bit, but just bak from hols. DD is 10 yrs, born at 29 wks, Ds is 4 - born at 27 wks. Dd is totally fine, except for a major attitude problem and thinks she's 16!

Ds has left hemiplegic cerebral palsy and wears an Afo. Am in the middle of nightmare situation at the mo as a 'lump' has appeared on his left heel and physion thinks the heel bone may have displaced. Never a dull moment in an SN Parent's life eh?

Live just outside Brighton and work part time for a travel co.

Well, I didn't post on here when Blossomhill started the thread, because I was thinking about announcing my departure...but now I HAVE announced my departure, I thought I'd better post on here so you know who I am if I start answering other people's posts!

I've got a DS1 who will be six in July and who has a diagnosis of high-functioning autism. He's doing very well indeed in mainstream school now and is, most of the time, a charmer, and I don't at the moment consider that he really has "special" needs, which is why I would regard myself as a bit of a fraud if I carried on posting on this board.

I've also got a DS2 and DS3 who will be four and one in August. DS2 was born with talipes; now very successfully treated using the Ponseti method.

I've been married for ten years to my DH, but have known him since I was 20. I'll be 40 on 1 June . I work four days a week.

Sorry, just bumping this up cos i keep losing it and my printer isn't working at the moment!

Hi, used to post here more often but haven't been around much recently.

I have dd1 age 6 (NT), who is very lively, and dd2 age 4, who has severe learning difficulties/global developmental delay and attends a special school nursery 3 days a week. She is due to start reception year there in September. She isn't yet walking and is non-verbal, but is making a lot of progress with her gross motor skills at the moment She is also a very low weight (about 25 lbs) which causes me no end of worry (but no one else seems very bothered).

I am now a single mum as separated from my husband of 10 years in March. Seem to be coping OK so far....

Hi, I'm 29 and live with DP and DS in London/Surrey area. DP and I have been together for about 7 years, and will probably get married one day - when we get round to it. I'm a SAHM, but hopefully will go back to work part time when DS starts at nursery. DS has speach and language (and possibly other) delays and we are waiting for him to be assessed and start SALT.

Hi I'm 37, live in Glasgow and have 3 children. Oldest son is 8 and very handsome and very clever! My daughter is 6 and very beautiful and ver clever. My youngest son is 5 and is also very handsome and very clever (and also has DS).
He is walking and talking (still with some signs) and starts school in August.
He lights up our life and fills our lives with love and laughter. Thanks to all who have given me advice in the last couple of weeks(relatively new to site)

hello! i' m new to this board but have read a lot brilliant info from here. I'M 34 YRS, live with DH, DS who is 9 and NT. DD is 6, non verbal has autism and adhd. Also a baby now 5 months. There is never a dull moment in our house. DD is currenly attending a special school and using PECS, quite slow going. basically it's one step forward and two step back.I've worked my whole life even after DD was diagnosed with her severe auitsm, i'm seriously thinking of chucking it all(job) in to dedicate more time to DD and the baby of course.