New to home schooling

Hi Jinty, 

Thanks for letting people know and really sorry to hear about the family issues and health problems you've been facing. Whilst it's obviously frustrating for people when services are on a break I'm sure everyone is very thankful for the work you, and all the other branch organisers, do as volunteers. 

Thanks again for the update :)

Hi

Have noticed a few comments about the East Ayrshire branch. Just to let folks know that it is up and running again - had to take a bit of a break as family issues/health problems became overpowering. I don't know if everyone realises that we are volunteers and run the groups along side supporting our family members who have autism.

The issues that affect other families affected by autism also affect us! So, if anyone is looking for support/branch meetings then contact me through the branch  phone number or by email.

Thanks

Hi cupcake,

quick update for you East Ayrshire said no to hosting the course (theres a shock! lol).

I went to a meet up last night had to travel about 45mins to get there but it was worth it to meet other people who understood. Hope you and your family are well.

Take care

Sam

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Hi cupcake,

how are you? hope everything is going as well as it can do.

Just to update you I heard back from East Ayrshire Council yesterday after two emails regarding training and support in the area. Basicaly we know its a problem thanks, was the general tone of the email from them. They have invited me to join a sub group of the mental health team that focuses on autism issues. I will join and see where that takes me. She also said that someone from social work would contact me regarding my sons and the families needs. Which they can but hello!!! I just told you what my needs were I need training and support!!!. Very frustrating responce but at least they did respond. Going to take a little while to word my reply.

Nothing more from our local branch of NAS I think they just are not runing anymore because ive never met the lady and have checked and rechecked my emails to her and I havnt said anything that could possible of offended anyone to suggest that I wouldnt be wanted at the group, so my conclusion has to be that the support group hear isnt running that often at all or just not running at all.

To end on happy news I may have been able to get on another course in a different area, I have been in contact with a realy helpfull and lovley lady who has put me on a reserve list for her course for parents of teenagers with AS which will be just brilliant for me. Its supposed to be just for her local area, but im on the list incase its not full so that I can go to it, as its better to have someone outside the area go than have an empty space. I find out in a cupple of weeks. Im so gratefull to her even if I cant go in the end. Its great to come across some helpfull people when you feeling a bit down.  So fingers crossed.

Sam

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Hi cupcake

agin sorry forgot to answer you question about jets, Yes my son went there years ago it realy helped him he can now swim enough that i feel ok letting him into the pool with his siblings with out me there. Of course it helps that he is tall so can reach the bottom everywhere.

Thanks for input jim , i hope you meant it was ok to post about sites like meetup, massive appologies if thats not what you meant.

sam

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Hi cupcake,

lol! I know. I have joined "meetup" its a site about aranging to meet people with similar interests etc so i put on mine that i wanted to meet up with people to do with ASD parent groups etc we couls start our own east ayrshire group lol!. I have joined a glasgow based group of people (just because that was the closest to me as there was none in East Ayrshire) and you can arrange through that site to meet up. Perhaps you could have a look at that site too??? of course massive warnings to anyone reading this not to go to any meet ups arranged on the internet alone or without people knowing where you are going to be etc

Also Sanders posted about the carers centre doing support groups, I didnt know this but am going to look into it and will go along to one of thoese meetings too.

Enjoy the library trip, im so pleased the home schooling is going well. Will post on here if the council get back with any info.

take care

sam

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Sorry Cupcake, we really can only provide a public service through the website at the moment. In this case that's really frustrating but we have to provide an equal service for everyone.

However, just like the branch we're happy for people to discuss any services they may find helpful no matter who they are run by.

Hi Sam F,

I was just thinking this morning that I should really be checking the site again!  Thank you for your messages!  They have given me lots to think about and lots of things to follow up.  I e-mailed the local support group too and like you have heard nothing!  Have you heard about the Jets?  I don't know if we're allowed to mention that?  It's a swimming class at the Galleon for special needs.  It sounds fantastic and I've signed my son up for it. 

I would definitely be interested in classes run by the council on that.  I feel like I'm learning more and more every day!  Home schooling has changed direction completely in a week as I'm discovering that Aspergers kids learn differently too.  Our son is already sooooo much happier in himself which is fab!

Anyway, just a quick wee message as we're off to the library for a wee visit.

 There MUST be a way we can communicate privately????

Cupcake x

hi cupcake,

Just a quick post to let you know I have not heard back anymore from the local branch and have now contacted East Ayrshire Council directly with a cheecky request to see if they would consider holding a training event for parents as I have noticed through desperatly looking for advice and support that some councils offer more support than others. So i went with the theory of if you dont ask you dont get! lol!

Hope you are ok.

Sam

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Hi cupcake,

Dont worry about how often you can get on here to check posts sometimes im on everyday and sometimes not for a cupple of weeks it just depends on how life is going.

It is very much a learning curve but then i think it is with all kids being a mum is tough! Where my son is 16 I will try and let you know how we handled different things see if it helps at all. Probably not coz these kids are all different!! and what worked one week didnt the next! lol!! On the note of what do you discipline for and what you dont, it a personal choice. I decided that I would still disipline my eldest for everything that you would any other child just in a different manner hoping that he would understand eventualy as it takes a lot longer for him to grasp full understanding as it does my other kids although he is educationaly speaking very clever.. We did this because at the end of the day its not an excuse for bad behaviour and the goal I have always had is for him to become as independant as possible. Unfortunatly no one out in the big wide world will make alowances for him so we feel the need to teach him as much as possible. But I know that we are lucky in a way with his other problems that limits his capabilities for getting in trouble lol!! and every child is different which is why I said it has to be a personal choice whats best for you and your family. Especialy where you are with him full time, My son goes to college for only 2 and a half days a week and Im finding that hard to cope with! lol! dont know how you do it!!

With his socialization skills have you thought about any clubs, My boys all go to the Boys Brigade even though we are not religious, I chose the BB's because it is more structured than the scouts , more routined and because I knew other parents of a child with very bad  ADHD that had been through the BB's and it helped him and the leaders were very understanding. Michael was 7 when he started and still goes, he is now working on his Queens Badge and I think the sence of achievment he gets from the BB's is great as they reward effort just as much as they do results.

God just read that back and it reads like a lecture! will be so much easier face to face and then its a two way chat. Anyway hope it helps in some way.

take care,

sam

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I have been meaning to check my posts for the last few days and just haven't had a chance.  Thank you Sandra for the information and just like you Sam F I will contact the local branch too and that seems like a great place to meet up!  How about we both wear the same coloured flower -Lol!!!

I feel so much like we are the start of such a steep learning curve!  The home schooling this week has been hard going although I do think we have learnt a lot!  Socially though we feel like our son has regressed massively since taking him out of school and we are quite worried about this!  I always thought I would be worried about being out and about when we were home schooling; that folks would think he was skiving.  Today I needn't have worried as his behaviour was so off the wall (more so than normal) that you could tell people realised he had difficulties!  We are at the point of wondering what you discipline and what you don't! 

I feel emotionally knackered! 

Will look up the local network now.

Cupcake x

Hi cupcake,

Well im a bit disapointed, I phoned up about the Help! courses as they seemed realy interesting to be told that they are not available in scotland. On a slightly more positive note I got a reply from our local branch about the support group saying she would let me know when the next meeting was available and check her emailing list to see if i was on it. However I have been told this before so will keep fingers crossed that I do get a date for the meeting soon.

Will keep trying

Sam

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Hi sandra,

Thanks for the info, I have emiled my local branch again this morning to see if I can get more details of any meetings coming up. I totaly understand the policies and protection in place on the site and do think its a good thing. Can I post details of the next meeting on here and then maybe cupcake could then come to that, I could where a flower in my hair LOL!!!!

cheers sam

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Hello Cupcake and SamF,

I'm very sorry but unfortunately we can't allow users to exchange personal contact details here. I hope you'll understand that we have this broad policy in place to protect any potentially vulnerable users and aren't able to be flexible on that in any circumstances at this time.

I am glad to see that you have already found your local NAS branch and would strongly recommend giving that another try. Details of branches in Scotland can be found here:

http://www.autism.org.uk/our-services/find-nas-services-in-your-area/local-branches/branches-in-scotland.aspx

You can also search for details of parent support groups in your local area using the Autism Services Directory which might be a good way of meeting families in similar situations:

http://www.autism.org.uk/en-gb/directory.aspx

In the meantime you can always chat here on the discussion forum which might be useful in itself.

Also, Cupcake, here's some website information on home education which may be of interest:

http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/education/primary-and-secondary-school/education-home-educating-your-child.aspx

Good luck with everything.

Sandra - mod

Hi cupcake,

No unfortunatly my understanding is that you cant put up that sort of info or PM but I am fairly new to this site. Hopefully someone else will join the thread and point us in the right direction to support groups in our area and how we could possibly meet up.

In the mean time im happy to chat here.

Its hard when you first get a diagnosis, it is a lot to take on board. I knew for ages before my sons diagnosis what it was likly to be but still geting it comfirmed was awful, but at the same time it was a huge help to my son he is a lot happy now.

sam

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Hi cupcake,

No unfortunatly my understanding is that you cant put up that sort of info or PM but I am fairly new to this site. Hopefully someone else will join the thread and point us in the right direction to support groups in our area and how we could possibly meet up.

In the mean time im happy to chat here.

Its hard when you first get a diagnosis, it is a lot to take on board. I knew for ages before my sons diagnosis what it was likly to be but still geting it comfirmed was awful, but at the same time it was a huge help to my son he is a lot happy now.

sam

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Hi Sam,

We just found out about our son's diagnosis the day before we went on holiday.  It is all just beginning to sink in and the enormity of how much of life it affects is beginning to sink in too!  I was wondering if there are support groups as I would really appreciate that and I think my son would too.  Can we put e-mail addresses on the forum? If so I could give you mine.  I've been on forums before where you can private message people - can you do that here?  I'm sure there must be a way because it would be great to meet up!

We are hoping ultimately to put our son back into mainstream schooling but he was really stressed going to school (in a quiet sort of a way) and we couldn't bear to see him going downhill so much.  We are still in very very early days of home schooling so we'll see...

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Hi cupcake,

I am also in East Ayrshire. I dont know how we could meet up as we cant put personal info on this site. I wonder if a moderator would be able to help. It would be nice to talk to someone local who deals with the same LEA and has the same issues. Do you go to any local support groups? I registered with the local branch of the NAS back in aug but the lady runing it was moving house at the time so didnt have a date for the next meeting and i havnt had any contact to say the group is restarting.

My eldest son who is 16 has recently been diagnoised and my youngest son is 11 year old and going through the process at the moment. I didnt home school my kids but i was in and out of the school a lot and accompanied him on trips etc. Are you thinking off putting your son back into the school system as you have a diagnosis now and might get more support for him.

Sam

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