2005 November

Coffee & Chat

Kids Competition - BAPG Calendar 2006 - Reminder

Kids Computer Club ? needs more helpers!

Parents Meeting 19th October

Future Meetings and Events

Coffee & Chat

Starting Friday 4th Nov. 11:00am we're starting something new. Many people find it difficult to come to the evening meetings due to their working hours or childcare problems, so we thought that we'd try a daytime meeting as well. This would be a chance to meet informally, share our experiences and maybe hear some new ideas. We thought we'd try it for a couple of months, and see if there's interest. First meeting will be at the Metrodome, Rigbys café behind the reception. (Please note the start time is 11:00am not 10:30am as was said at the last Parents Meeting). Back to top

Kids Competition - BAPG Calendar 2006 - Reminder

Don't forget the art competition that we're running, open to all children of BAPG parents. The closing date is end of October. It's a great chance to encourage those kids who many not normally enter competitions. Entries used on the calendar will win a prize, and as will all those taking part.
Please state name and address on the back of the picture, and send the entry to us: by post to BAPG c/o James Smith, 17 Black Horse Drive, Silkstone Common, Barnsley S75 4SD, or by email to InfoBAPG@aol.com. The winning entries will be announced at the November Parents Meeting. Please note that we plan to show the child's name next to their picture on the calendar. If you would prefer the picture to be used anonymously, please indicate on the back of the entry. Good luck! Back to top

Kids Computer Club ? needs more helpers!

The Club is going really well so we're expanding to 8 places from November. Kids love it and seem very keen to keep coming back - they play games together across a network and work on their own website. The costs of the club (room, computers and refreshments) are covered by BAPG with support from Priory Campus.
But we really need some more adult helpers to make sure the kids are okay and supported. Currently we have two parents involved, though they can't always come every month. We feel we need a minimum of two adults present. So we need more help!
If you volunteered you wouldn't be committing to help every month - indeed the more volunteers we have then we could do a rota to spread the effort. No computer knowledge is needed - just a willingness to show interest in what the kids are doing. As with others similar kids clubs, we would ask volunteers to allow us to have a CRB check run.
We have places free for November club. Please book in advance (by email/call James). We just need to make sure that there will be a computer free for your child when they arrive! Back to top

Parents Meeting 19th October

The meeting agreed to a Welfare Rights liaison post on the Steering Committee. This is following the kind offer of help from BMBC Welfare Rights who came to speak at the September Parents Meeting:
· Welfare Rights would become an associate member of BAPG;
· They would be invited to attend BAPG Steering Committee meetings (though unable to vote as an associate member); and welcome to attend Parent Meetings;
· They would provide advise and support to the Steering Committee to help run the group's activities;
· And offer a direct Welfare Rights point of contact for BAPG parents for welfare issues, queries about benefits, etc.
Sue Oliver from Welfare Rights would be our liaison. She can be contacted on 01226 772 357 or by susanoliver@barnsley.gov.uk.
Our guest speaker this month was Melanie Booth, National Co-ordinator for the NAS EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus programmes. The talk generated a good discussion amongst the parents, including some who had already been on EarlyBird and some who were considering it. The comments from those parents who had taken part were all very positive, saying how it had helped them better understand their child.
The key points on EarlyBird were: it's aimed at parents/carers of pre-school children who have been diagnosed or who are undergoing diagnosis for an ASD; there are two places per family which they can use as they want; the programme helps in the analysis of behaviour, look at why the child is doing it, and how to manage it; the course uses video feedback, which parents find a powerful and helpful tool (to observe and comment on their own interaction, learn how to improve); the course is free, but a voluntary donation of £25 is invited; normally parents refer themselves on to the courses and this is a very low drop out rate!
EarlyBird Plus is aimed at 4 to 8yrs and is similar structure but also covers siblings, social stories etc. Each family has places for two parent/carers and a professional (e.g. teacher). There was a lot of comment agreeing about the benefits of a consistent approach being used at home and school. There is no video used in this older age-group. It involves 8 sessions and two home visits.
For parents whose children are diagnosed when older, the NAS run another programme called "help!". This course is run in each region according to demand (so if you're interested call the NAS, let them know that there's interest in Barnsley!).
If you would like more information we have leaflets or you can contact the NAS directly on 01226 779 218. Back to top

Future Meetings and Events

Friday 4th Nov.
Coffee and Chat, 11:00am onwards at Metrodome café (Rigby?s), on the upper level behind reception.

Friday 11th Nov.
Conference : Employment for all, 10:00am to 3:00pmLocation: West Wakefield Methodist Church, Thornes Road Wakefield WF2 8QR. Organised by: Special Abilities, a non-for profit social enterprise which supports disabled adults, children and their carers. Cost: Parents/Carers - £5.00; Professionals/Individuals - £10.00. Includes lunch. Further info: 01924 385977, or special-abilities-ltd@abilities.fsnet.co.uk

Tuesday 15th Nov.
Steering Committee Meeting, 1:30 to 2:30pm.Any 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!

Wednes. 16th Nov.
Parents Meeting, 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Guest Speaker - Fiona Hay, Speech and Language Therapist.Kids Computer Club, 6:15pm to 8:15pmRun by BAPG parents, the club is open to all children of BAPG parents. Activities include building a BAPG Kids website and playing multi-player computer games (within the club). It's free to use.The club is proving very popular, and at present we're limited to 8 places, so if you'd like to book a place for your child(ren) then please contact James (see below).

Saturday 19th Nov.
Funworld at Mapplewell, 4:00 to 5:30pmThe kids launch themselves into the play area for 1½ hr, barely looking back at the parents. We get a chance to sit back, have a coffee and take it easy for once! It's a great chance to talk with other parents about the problems (and successes!) we've been having. Where else can you find other parents you will actually understand some of the problems you've been dealing with?!

Saturday 26th Nov.
Seminar: Sexuality - Lynne Moxon, Educational Psychologist with a specialism in autism, Senior Lecturer in Autism, Northumbria University.Location: Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. Organised by: NAS Parent Seminars. Cost: £25 for professionals; £5 for each parent; free to individuals with ASD diagnosis. Further info: 0191 226 3614, marie.russell@nas.org.uk

Friday 2nd Dec.
Coffee and Chat, 11:00am - venue to be decided

Tuesday 6th Dec.
Steering Committee Meeting, 1:30 to 2:30pm.

Wednes. 7th Dec.
Parents Meeting, 6:30pm to 8:00pm Guest Speaker - Toni Harvey, Communication and Interaction Team at Barnsley Education Services.Kids Computer Club, 6:15pm to 8:15pm

Saturday 17th Dec.
Kids Xmas Bash, Funworld Mapplewell

Tuesday 10th Jan.
Steering Committee Meeting, 1:30 to 2:30pm.

Wednes. 18th Jan
Parents Meeting and Kids Computer Club

Friday 3rd Feb.
Conference: How does it feel?? Another way of thinking about Autism. To bring together people with personal and professional contact with people with ASD. Aim of promoting an open dialogue on how difficult it may feel when one comes up against autism.Location: Tavistock Centre, London. Organised by Autism Users Group of the Tavistock Clinic. Cost: £25. Further info: 020 8938 2548, events@tavi-port.org.

Saturday 11th Feb.
Seminar: Asperger Syndrome ? (1) Chris Mitchell's personal experiences of AS; (2) Speech and Language Therapists from specialist ASD service.Location: Hexham, Northumberland. Organised by: NAS Parent Seminars. Cost: £25 for professionals; £5 for each parent; free to individuals with ASD diagnosis. Further info: 0191 226 3614, marie.russell@nas.org.uk

Wednes. 15th Feb
Parents Meeting and Kids Computer Club

Sunday 5th Mar.
Seminar: Growing Up and Puberty - Geoff Evans, Senior Lecturer in Autism, Sheffield Hallam University.Location: Oldham, Greater Manchester. Organised by: NAS Parent Seminars. Cost: £25 for professionals; £5 for each parent; free to individuals with ASD diagnosis. Further info: 0161 998 7860, suziefranklin@nas.org.uk

Wednes. 15th Mar
Parents Meeting and Kids Computer Club

Wednes. 19th Apr
Parents Meeting and Kids Computer Club

NB. All BAPG meetings are held at Priory Campus, Lundwood unless otherwise stated. Back to top