Back from Wonderful BIBIC

[Merlot]

Just a quick update, as feeling a bit exhausted from our 3 hour journey back from BIBIC. As most of you know, ds2 (19 mths) has no dx yet, but is globally delayed, so we took him to BIBIC to see whether they could give us any hints and tips.

Well we had a great time at BIBIC - it really was worthwhile .

Dh is a complete convert. Took him there practically kicking and screaming (not joking, we had a huge row in the car down there) and now he's good pointing', good posting', `good everythinging..... to his hearts content . He is also going hammer and tongs at the Makaton to catch up with me!

If it did nothing else it allowed us to have 3 days pure concentration on ds2 and his needs (and for dh to realize how complex they are), but it was so much more than that....

They were professional, totally supporting, loving....and ds2 was completely at home with them.

The integrated approach is fantastic and really makes you feel like your being listened too - none of that saying the same stuff over and over again. They also obviously have time to read your questionnaires before hand as they refer back time and time again - unlike what seems to happen at our hospital, where you're lucky if they can find your notes let alone read them up front!

The diet stuff was awesome - I'm never drinking coke again, let alone either of my ds's!!

Thanks so much all of you that recommended it - it has given me real focus

Thanks for the tip about the Soda bread Jayzmummy - was beginning to think yeast free stuff didnt exist!!

Thanks Jayzmummy, that's my problem solved then.

Btw, I know Merlot got a cancellation but how long do you generally have to wait for the assessment after the phone interview?

Pages - I spoke to them last week and they said at the moment waiting list is about 2-3 months. It can go up to about 5 or 6 though.

We were one of the unlucky ones and had to wait 7 months for our assessment....but I know that BIBIC were going through some managerial changes at the time....now they aim to have a waiting list of no more than 4 months.....if you ask to be put on the cancellation list then you can be seen a lot sooner.

Hi Merlot, haven't had time to read the whole thread but from the title it sounds like it was good. So pleased it went well.

Yes, we did get a cancellation, but interestingly we weren't rang up at the last minute or anything like that... What happened was, was that they offered us an appointment in about 3 months time and I then asked how the cancellation system worked...they then said `well, we have a space in 3 weeks time, but maybe that will be too soon??' You know the rest...I jumped at the appointment

Thanks Davros - yes it was great

In lots of ways, now is going to be the hard bit - fitting the schedule in and making it part of our daily routine

Just a little update:-

Our SALT came today (she had initially been distinctly wary about BIBIC) and when I told her that they had been very complimentary about her and showed her all the stuff I had come back with she was very impressed. I really do think that its not knowing who/what BIBIC is, that makes these professionals so distrusting in the first place. Hopefully she will give them some good press now and spread the word

Merlot.....might be of some interest to your SALT and to anyone else who is in contact with your little one....BIBIC organise seminars where they have some excellent speakers who offer a fantastic insight to the needs of the children that they assess.

Our home tutor often attends and she has said that they are the most informative training days she has ever attended.

If you contact BIBIC they will send you a list of training days and some leaflets that you can pass out... " I picked this up and wondered if it might be of use to you"...I did this with J's old LSA and she went on the training day specially designed for supporting ASD children within the classroom....sadly she attended AFTER we had removed J from mainstream, but she approached me not long after returning and said she now understood what she had been doing wrong in relation to her approach towards J!!!! Bit late for J, but not for any other ASD children she comes in contact with!

Glad it went well. I've just had a phonecall from them about sn provision in my area!

Thanks for the tips about waiting times/cancellations everyone. Now I am aware of it I can't wait to go, and DS has recently become really interested in what I am saying/doing/open to being taught things, so now is the perfect time... HITC, have you booked yet?