Would anyone be interested in a meet?

[thederkinsdame]

I've read several posts recently where people have spoken about the isolation and loneliness of parenting child/ren with SEN and feeling like you don't belong. Would anyone be interested in setting up some regional groups for adults to meet up, say once a month, for a coffee, or a drink and a chat with parents in the same boat? It would be a good way of letting off steam and sharing tips and knowledge and having a bloody good moan if need be!

I'm a bit protective about what I post on here in terms of personal info that could identify me - e.g. where I live, but would be happy to do through TTR if anyone else is keen.

bullet Where in Shropshire are you?

Minty What does DD have?

Another latecomer here! I'm in Fife so would be interested in the South Scotland meet :)

Nappyaddict, Shrewsbury.

Can you get to Wolverhampton? That's about an hour by bus for me. What does your child have? DS is 4.1 with Autism.

Sorry, I've only just seen this. Haven't been around for a few weeks.

Actually, I don't think anyone met last year, it all kind of fizzled out. I'd suggest that if folk want to meet in different regions, someone volunteers to be a 'regional organiser' for each and we can sort our meets out. At some point, I'd love to do a country-wide meet for us all, but have no idea where we should hold it/how we would organise!

I'm happy to do Surrey/Sussex :-)

I'm happy to do West Midlands

Yes, I can get to Wolverhampton train station easily, but not confident with the bus system there. Have got two lads, both with ASD and have Aspergers myself.

The train station is right next to the bus station so I could meet you there and if we need to get a bus anywhere go together. How old are your boys? When were you diagnosed with Aspergers?

Ds1 is 7, Ds2 will be 5 next month. I was diagnosed with Aspergers at 31.

How did they do that? I heard it was pretty hard to diagnose adults with it because they often develop a lot of coping mechanisms and defences to hide it or try to overcome their difficulties.

DS is starting school September he may get on with DS2. Is DS2 going to special or mainstream school?

Ds2 will be starting school in September as well and will be going to a special school. I'm afraid he mostly ignores other children, sole exception being Ds1, so I hope your ds2 won't be upset at that. Ds1 is more social, but needs help and encouragement a lot of the time.
I was very lucky with getting a diagnosis, think I got it because it still impacts on me very much in everyday life. Will explain more in a bit. I am very happy with my life, have people including my DH who understand me and like me for who I am and how I am, so that helps a lot.

DS probably won't notice! How are they in places like soft play areas/parks?

They love them. As long as there is only one exit then that option will be fine.
Ds1 is very verbal, but has difficulties with understanding and with his use of language. Still lots of echolalia for example, plus hyperfocusing on what he wants to talk about, struggling with understanding what he's heard, very low understanding of abstract concepts. Couple of examples in the last few days:

Me: "Ok, we don't have as far to walk because we're going to take a short cut."

Ds1: "What do short cut mean?"

Me: "It's a special route that gets you from one place to another very quickly."

Ds1: "Oh. Well why it remove your skin?"

Today:

Ds1: "What is a city?"

Me: "It's a very big town."

Ds1: "And it called 'town walls'?"

Town Walls is the name of one of our streets.

Ds2 is almost completely non verbal, but very good at getting what he wants across in other means.

My DS sounds like your DS1. Is he at special school too?

He is.

Hi I could do Surrey or London

would be fab to do a meet up

Am in Telford, Shropshire. Tend to lurk here rather than post, am only just starting to discover what ds does/doesn't have and often feel wrong posting here as he is mostly 'just' a quirky boy. But would love to meet up if possible.

I would still like to.
I have only ever met Riven. (Which was great)

LRB978 Where in Telford are you? I have family in Dawley, Shawbirch and Ellerdine. Would you be able to get to Wolverhampton train station?

Another late entry here.....

LONDON (N and S)
fluffypumpkins
starryeyed
TheDevilwearsPrimark
badkitty
PheasantPlucker
laumiere
overtheb ar
mamabell
chopstheduck

South (Hampshire & Sussex)
thederkinsdame
barmymummy
captainplump
mysonben

South west & S Wales (Wiltshire, Dorset, Avon, S Wales)
DEBS40
Marne
jasdox
jo5677
Peachy

East(Suffolk, Beds and Herts)

jackny
chuckeyegg
StarlightMcKenzie
anonandilikeit
round the bend4

North (Tyne & Wear, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Merseyside)

eslay
totalchaos
tipsycat
trace2
Devientenigma
Wasuup
TessOfTheDinnerbells

S. Scotland
Glittery
thederkinsdame (visits!)

Northern Ireland
mumofthreemonkeys

West Midlands

nappyaddict

Thanks and enjoy meeting up!

TDD

nappyaddict, am in Brookside. Can easily get to Wolves train station - have car, will travel (as long as the petrol prices don't go too high), but it depends which day you are looking at meeting up, as I work Monday-Thursday.

bullet Can you do Fridays?

What school does DS go to LRB My cousin used to live in Brookside on Blakemore I think it was called.

Nappyaddict, Fridays are fine until school, obviously.

nappyaddict not going to put it on here, cos it will make me really identifiable to anyone looking (although people who know me in RL can probably work out who I am if they really wanted to anyway) but is mainstream, and they are really helping ds, as well as helping me search for answers to all of his quirks (even when I don't realise I am asking the questions).

I can guarantee whatever road your cousin used it live on, it would begin with a B , however there is one called Blakemore, just don't ask me where on Brookside it is [confuzzled]

Hi have not been around for last couple of weeks, but I am in Potters Bar and would love to meet at Paradise Park if anyone is up for it (5 year old with asd)