2005 August

Kids Computer Group Website

Funworld

Picnic in the Park

Constitution and Steering Committee

Remaking Learning Special?

Adult Aspergers Group

NAS and ASBOs

Free Cinema Tickets

Parents Meeting held on 20 July 2005 ? Discussion

Future Meetings and Events

Kids Computer Group Website

As well as having great fun playing games at the Computer Club, some of the kids have decided to put together their own website! It can be found at www.bakg.ik.com. Well done to them! It's all their own work, and they hope to develop it more in the future. (If anyone would care to leave a message in the website guest book, I'm sure they appreciate it!). So if there are any budding young web designers out there, please come along to the next Kids Computer Club! Back to top

Funworld

Our next visit to Funworld is 30th July - for more details please see below. Back to top

Picnic in the Park

Seems like a good idea(?). Food and a chance for the kids to let off some steam. We can't go wrong (well weather willing!). Venue to be decided, but please note the date, 21st August, for your diaries. Back to top

Constitution and Steering Committee

We now have a constitution - the draft circulated with last month's newsletter was approved at the Parents Meeting 20th July without any changes. We will now use this for our next grant application.

Also, some steering committee roles are needed for the grant application. So, as per the constitution rules the steering committee elected James Smith as Chairperson and June Stone-Riley as Treasurer. Back to top

Remaking Learning Special?

BMBC residents may have received a large booklet entitled "Remaking Learning - Leading Change for Success". Clearly this is an important time in planning the future of education in Barnsley. The booklet sets out visions for each stage of education but these do not include specific reference to children with special needs. There is a reference to an "inclusion" strategy but it is without any specific commitments or explanations of what it is going to implement.

BAPG hasn't done any campaigning yet, we've always thought about it as something to do at some point in the future. However, this new education strategy will impact on the provision available for AS children for many years to come. At very least perhaps BAPG should ask BMBC to include BAPG in its consultation process. We'd greatly value your views and/or assistance - please contact any member of the steering committee if you have a comment. Perhaps we can talk about this at the August Parents Meeting. Back to top

Adult Aspergers Group

The purpose of BAPG is to support parents of school-age children with AS. However, as far as we know there is no group in Barnsley set up for adults with AS. There are moves afoot to change this! The idea is to create a social and support group for 16yrs+ and adults. If your son or daughter might be interested then please contact Kevin Phillips on 07743 498378, kevecc@hotmail.com or James Fairbanks on 01226 284699. Incidentally, is it right that there are no other Aspergers or Autism support groups in Barnsley. If you know of one then please contact any of the steering committee, we should make contact with them. Back to top

NAS and ASBOs

We received the following from the NAS and included it in case it affects anyone and they'd like to respond.

"The National Autistic Society (NAS) is the leading charity for people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the UK. The NAS exists to champion the rights and interests of all people with autism.

The NAS has a long standing interest in the Government's approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and lobbied the Government during the passage of the Anti-Social Behaviour legislation. We are now trying to monitor the use of Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs).

We believe it is very important that we accurately represent the experience of individuals. For this reason, we are asking people to get in touch if they have an ASD and have been threatened or issued with an ASBO or if they know someone with an ASD who has been threatened or issued with an ASBO.

There is a form [attached] for you to fill in and send back to us, either by email or post, if you do have any information. We would be grateful if you could pass copies of this form on to anyone you think might have some information." Back to top

Free Cinema Tickets

Did you know? You can get free cinema tickets for a person to accompany someone in receipt of DLA! Check out www.ceacard.co.uk or 0151 348 8020 Back to top

Parents Meeting held on 20 July 2005 ? Discussion

Instead of a Guest Speaker this month we had a discussion led by Andrew Charters and Ruth Coppard on teaching AS adolescents about personal hygiene and sex education. There were lots of experiences shared (problems encountered and things tried). The main points were:

· It is extremely difficult (impossible?) to define a set of rules for an AS child/teenager to follow for when they become interested in the opposite sex. We want to protect them from inappropriate actions (which will get them into serious trouble) and help them to have successful relationships.
· Perhaps our best hope is give them a few, very clear rules and then ask them to tell us if something happens which they didn?t know how to handle.
· Be aware (in detail) of how sex education will be handled in PSHE lessons, so that you can build on it.
· Before secondary school is a good time to speak with children about this ? because they will hear a lot about once they get there (from other kids)! Back to top

Future Meetings and Events

Funworld Saturday, 30th July 4:00 to 5:30pm.It's open to all the children of BAPG parents and their friends. The cost is only £2.50 per child. The normal height restrictions don't apply for this private event. Please note that parents remain responsible for the children they bring.
Parents Meeting Wednesday 17th August, 6:30 to 8:00pm.Open discussion: Topics may include Education in Barnsley, and whatever else anyone wants to bring up.. Library ? Don?t forget our library of books on Aspergers. You make like to come along a few minutes earlier to get a chance to browse.
Kids Computer Club There won?t be a Kids Computer Club in August as Nigel is holiday.
Picnic in the Park Sunday 21st August, afternoon.Venue to be decided.
Steering Group Meeting Tuesday, 13th September, 9:30 to 11:00am.Any BAPG parent is welcome to come along! If you?d like to raise an issue please feel free to contact any of the Steering Group first otherwise see you there!
Parents Meeting Wednesday 21st September, 6:15pm to 8:15pm Guest Speakers from Welfare Rights Service. Advice on the various benefits available to AS parents, and how to apply for them.
Kids Computer Club Wednesday 21st September, 6:15pm to 8:15pmRun by BAPG parents, the club is open to all children of BAPG parents. Initial planned activities include building a BAPG Kids website and playing multi-player computer games (within the club).It?s free to use. BAPG is paying for the hire of the room and computers.The club is proving very popular, and at present we?re limited to 6 places, so if you?d like to book a place for your child(ren) then please contact James (see below).
Parents Meeting Wednesday 19th October, 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Kids Computer Club Wednesday 19th October, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
Parents Meeting Wednesday 16th November, 6:30pm to 8:00pmGuest Speaker ? Fiona Hay, Speech and Language Therapist
Kids Computer Club Wednesday 16th November, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
Parents Meeting Wednesday 7th December, 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Kids Computer Club Wednesday 7th December, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
NB. All Meetings are held at Priory Campus, Lundwood unless otherwise stated. Back to top