Parents of children with disablities or additional needs
What is your username? Sparklinglime
How many children do you have? Four
How old are they? 16, 14, 12 and 9
Are they boys or girls? Boy, girl, boy (with special needs, autistic tendancies) and a boy
How long have you been a single parent? Since March 2004
We have had quite a few parents introduce themselves and mention that they have children with disabilites or additional needs.
I have added your introduction to this forum so that you can meet and chat with others in similar positions, hopefully providing support and friendship with the added similarity of coping with parenting alone.
I look forward to hearing from you :)
Hi
Congratulations to your daughter for achieving her Duke of Ed bronze - you must be so proud!
Hi
Well done Carter - you must be so proud of him.
Every step is such an achievement.
My 13 year old son, according to the Educational Psychologist, has aspurger's/autism. The child psychologist doesn't agree, as my son can ride a bike, so it do have "experts" who disagree. My son has seen the Educational Psychologist though since he was in Reception Class, so I like to think that perhaps he knows my son a little bit by now....
It can be really hard work when you have a child with additional needs and you are parenting alone, but every achievement feels like a massive triumph, doesn't it?
My youngest has "mild but significant learning difficulties" and I appreciate that this is very different to being on the autistic spectrum, but I did want to encourage people and say that after a lot of hard work by the school (and me!) he is now in middle sets for everything and looks likely to get some GCSEs. He learned to ride a bike and tie shoelaces by the time he was about 12 and a half. My proudest moment was when he took a leading part in the school play, having memorised his lines and sung a solo!
That's great that your son is doing so well, Vickie, I am sure it is with a lot of patient input from you....and I know what a fantastic support you are to your son, Sparkling. :)
My son still can't do shoe-laces. I should perservere more!
I struggle to find velcro shoes and trainers for school - I know when he hikes with the Scouts there will be someone to re-tie a boot lace, I just don't think there will be such understanding people in high school!!
He can do really well in tests in school, and acheived 89% in one test in Geography, and then 32% in the next one :shock: What can you do? He has the ability...
We have progressed to slip-on school shoes now. Re lace-tying, we had been trying to do it since he was five.What worked in the end was to do it on a much bigger scale i.e. a cord round a chair-back with me doing it alongside on another chair back.
That is such a good idea!! I'll try that.
Slip-on shoes don't work with him. He's so abusive to shoes!
Boys will be boys ;) (and just in the interest of balance, girls will be girls too ;) )
Hi Gemma
Oh I have not heard of galactocemia, could you tell us more about that and how it affects your boy?
hello nikki
Thanks for posting, How are you coping? Children with additional needs can be extra-exhausting! I do believe that there are many children who have some characteristics of the autistic spectrum but don't get a definite diagnosis if it is on the "milder" side
Hi zane
thanks so much for explaining that to me (and everyone!) So you will have to be extremely careful of everything your boy eats...what a worry for you. I see youa r etrying to find more information about the other conditions. You may find it helpful to look at this website http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/services/gu_introduction.php
Hi nikki
Thanks for this, you may well be able to help other parents as well as get some support yourself. I know the term "autism" covers a large range of conditions and behaviours and I wonder if this is why it seems so difficult to be specific about diagnosis? Anyone whose child is affected by this may find the following website helpful: http://www.nas.org.uk/
I just wanted to add the website http://www.addiss.co.uk/
It is The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service.
They provide people-friendly information and resources about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to anyone who needs assistance - parents, sufferers, teachers or health professionals. Whatever you're looking for in ADHD, they'll do their best to help.
They also have a helpline number, where the operators are very helpful.
Just incase...
My son has aspurger's - as per educational psychologist, child psychologist doesn't agree though.
He does qualify for middle rate DLA - he has issues with personal care too. I receive Carer's allowance.
To be honest, concerns with my son - who's 13 - will make working in the future quite challenging.
I completed the form on the advice of the DSS. The GP said he was happy to support me **faint** with the claim, but his input was not needed.
He could have had this from when he was very young, but when it's your child you just accept the way they are. I cried the day he was awarded it, as to me he's fine. I do notice things more now he's older though.
hello j4ever
There are quite a few members of the site whose children have diabilities and additional needs and I hope some of them will post on this thread :)
hi j4ever
I have four children, almost 18, 15, 13 and 10. My thirteen year old has autism/aspurbers. Very different situation, I know, but yes, it is a strain.
I am a member of a parents forum for children with additional needs, and most of us are now lone-parents - both mothers and fathers.
I can only guess how difficult this is for you.
The people here are brilliant, and hopefully we can offer some support and laughter.
Hi j4ever
I don't mean to be patronising here, but are you a member of SCOPE? http://www.scope.org.uk/ or Contact a Family? http://www.cafamily.org.uk
I am sure that you do know of them, just wanted to be sure?! :)
How severe is their disability? Are they able to dress themselves? An old friend of mine's son, had cerebal palsy and was able to do very little, I can't even begin to imagine how hard it would be with twins AND other children too, you must be a brick?!
Hi, i am sylvia, in my 40's, i have girls of 26, 16, son who is just 13 (three days ago,) i have been alone since 05, after walking away from 17yr marriage, best thing i did was walk away, my son has multiple disabilities, i am also disabled, and we are hoping to move very soon, we live in east mids,