2005 January
Aspergers Book Library
Logo Competition
Website www.bapg.ik.com
Fun World, Mapplewell, Sat 5th Feb 2005
+++++++++ Parents Meeting on 8th December 2004 ++++++++
The Guest Speaker this month was Phil Sadler
Next Meeting - Wed 19th January, 6:30 to 8:00pm at Priory Campus Lundwood.
What topics are you interested in hearing about at future Parents Meetings?
Aspergers Book Library
More books have been donated and bought (we're into double figures now!). You can see what's available to borrow at the website or at the Parents Meeting (there's a table set out for the Library). Why not write a few words about a book you've read on Aspergers? It may help other parents in the group know whether the book would be right for them. Back to topLogo Competition
We've launched a competition for our kids to design a logo for BAPG. Please see the attached flyer. The prizes are still to be decided (i.e. donated!) so if you know of any organisations that might like to contribute something please ask them. Back to topWebsite www.bapg.ik.com
The website is now regularly updated. It'll probably be most be useful to us if it reflects the experiences of many parents. We all have expertise in what we've had to deal with so far but none of us knows everything. So if there's something you know about that you can see is missing, please write even a couple of sentences on it and send it in (see Contacts below). It will be useful to other parents in the group. Back to topFun World, Mapplewell, Sat 5th Feb 2005
We have a booked an exclusive use session at Fun World in Mapplewell for BAPG between 4:00pm to 5:15pm. It's open to all the children of BAPG parents and their friends. The cost is only £2.50 per child including a drink. Please note that parents remain responsible for the children they bring, i.e. BAPG is not able to provide child carers. It's a great chance for the kids to meet each other and have some fun, and an opportunity for the parents to chat. Back to top+++++++++ Parents Meeting on 8th December 2004 ++++++++
Key points/decisions of the meeting were:· We need to decide our priorities for the future Guest Speakers we'd like. We have a Dietician booked to speak in January, but beyond that the diary is free. Some ideas were generated in the meeting, but we wanted to involve the views of parents who couldn't attend the meeting. Please could you take a few minutes to complete and return the attached slip.
· The National Autistic Society has been in contact with us via the BAPG website. They've started referring interested parents of Aspergers kids to us from the EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus schemes that they run in Barnsley. The schemes provide training to families of kids diagnosed on the autistic spectrum up to age 8yrs. Please contact them on 01226 779 218 if you'd like more information. Back to top
The Guest Speaker this month was Phil Sadler
The Guest Speaker this month was Phil Sadler, Family Support Worker from Thorne House Services for Autism, based in Doncaster. The following notes include some suggestions from parents and not just points made by Phil:· Thorne House is a specialist organisation providing a range of services for those affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorders including residential accommodation, Domicillary Care, Family Support, Advice and Assessment, and Training;
· Thorne House has worked with the Doncaster Autistic Society to provide two after-school clubs for more and less able kids on the spectrum. This has worked particularly well for those kids who cope well throughout the school day but then have behaviour problems at home.
· In such cases it has been historically very difficult to get social worker support;
· Organisations like ours can make a significant difference in promoting the Aspergers cause and raising awareness with local organisations;
· Some similar groups in the region have successfully run conferences (with national or international recognised speakers) and invited a wide range of local professional (health, education, social services, police, policy makers etc.) and parents.
· Barnsley Social Services is currently funding only two adults with Aspergers who need a package of services to support them. Potentially many more need it - but usually achieving support has depended on the efforts of individual parents. Supporting action from groups such as ours helps.
· Sheffield now has three secondary schools with specialist Aspergers units (the first was at King Ecgberts). A Statement of Educational Needs is needed to get a place.
· Thorne House has made a bid to the Community Fund to fund a Family Support Worker to work specifically in Barnsley.
· "Charter for Autism" from an all-party interest group of MPs.
· To access Prof. Digby Tantum at Ryegate clinic in Sheffield you need a referal from a Consultant Psychiatrist, and even then there's a long waiting list.
· How can parents effectively engage schools in addressing the needs of Aspergers children? It's very difficult for individual parents to do this as they don't tend to be able to speak in terms which teachers relate to. It can really help to take someone in to support you at review meetings and ideally someone knowledgeable. The NAS Education Advocacy Help Line is very effective in providing advice and support. Their staff are highly trained. Also you can provide teachers with references to free information that they access, e.g. Tony Attwood's website provides guidance for teachers. Back to top
Next Meeting - Wed 19th January, 6:30 to 8:00pm at Priory Campus Lundwood.
The speaker will be Luke Beardon from the Autism Centre at Sheffield Hallam University to speak on social skills. This is a late change - the Dietician Speaker will now be coming in February.Based on the feedback we have, parents are looking to these meetings to both hear talks by specialists and have informal discussion with other parents. So for future meetings we're going to try the following running order:
6:30 Welcome & Steering Group Notices etc
6:40 Guest Speaker
7:20 Break for Coffee
7:30 Open Discussion
On the Guest Speaker's subject or wider. The Guest Speaker is welcome to stay.
8:00 Meeting Close
Break for those who need to leave, carry on discussion for those who want to stay. Back to top
What topics are you interested in hearing about at future Parents Meetings?
Please find below a list of possible speakers / topics for future Parents Meetings.Please could you tick the ones that you'd be interested in attending, or add others if appropriate, and then return this page to BAPG c/o James Smith, 17 Black Horse Drive, Silkstone Common, Barnsley S75 4SD.
[ ] Speech and Language Therapist, developing specific skills & communication
[ ] Paediatrician, on problems sometimes related to AS e.g. digestive or sleep
[ ] Benefits available to families with Aspergers kids
[ ] Medicines, their place in dealing with Aspergers
[ ] Jessica Kingsley, leading publisher of books on AS to run a book fair
[ ] NAS EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus.
[ ] other..................................................................
[ ] other..................................................................
[ ] other..................................................................
And also ................ please could you confirm your contact details by completing the following. This would be really helpful as some details change over time and, in particular, we only have partial details for parents who have joined during the year:
Name: ...................................................................................................
Address: ...................................................................................................
...................................................................................................
Postcode: ...................................................................................................
Telephone: ..................................................................................................
Email: ...................................................................................................
Child's Name: .............................................................................................
Thankyou ! Back to top