Aspergers/ASD support thread

GlasweJen

Does anyone here use weighted blankets? I've had one for years and my sister wants one for my niece (ADHD and HFA) who has problems sleeping but she's looking for a recommendation for a reputable place to buy one? We got mine years ago from a supplier who no longer exists.

Savvy_Sue

I did a google and found instructions on making one here, including the following

Tips & Warnings

• Please consult your primary health care provider or an occupational therapist before offering your child a weighted blanket. They can help you determine the amount of need and appropriate usage of this type of tool.

but there also appeared to be a Mumsnet discussion which might help with buying one and also has some warnings and stresses the need for professional advice.

GlasweJen

The occy therapist has already said that sister is ok to try weights if she wants but they don't supply them, she did tell us what weight the blanket should contain though.

starnight_2

Weeelllll - after fighting for 3 years we've got a final diagnosis, Asperger's.

So I bought DS All Cat's Have Asperger's Syndrome (great book), trying to think how to approach DS I told him the title. To which he says "That's what I've got." Me - "How did you now?" DS - "You said I did."

Now I have never talked to DS about this but he has been in the car when my mum said something about DS and aspergers one day, well he has remembered and it hasn't bothered him a bit. So much for worrying about what he would say! :rotfl:

DS is now being referred to ASD intervention team and Ed Psych.

kazzieg

Just want to say my son who is 15 got diagnosed with aspergers/autism in July, is off with 40 other teenagers skiing this weekend for 7 days in france.
He is not severe aspergers but when things do get on top of him he gets away from the situation and calms down.
He has said that he will try to do his best without causing any trouble whilst he is away.
School have been brilliant about this, they have done a risk assesment and he has a designated teacher should he need to talk to anybody about anything on the trip. They even asked him if he wanted a specific diet but he said no he doesn't want to stand out from the othesr he just wants to be normal for the week.

He has been away for school trips before but only for 3 days at a time. Plus his sister went away to uni this year, so I am gonna have a free house for a week.

I am so proud of him wanting to do this, Pretty sure I will miss him more than he will miss me!!

cazscoob

My son has a weighted blanket and he also has the use of bear hug vests which do help slightly but you really need to catch him before he gets to the point of no return. Charlies blanket was kindly funded by a lovely friend and is from sensory direct, it was very expensive but as it has pictures of tractors, trucks and cars it makes him more likely to use it. OCT had said they would lend us one but yet again it was one of the many things that never materialised along with the body armour which we are now being told we have to buy ourselves!

Charlie is nearly 3 and he has episodes where he can calm himself down, at his special nursery chrismas party it all got a bit too much so he poured his drink over himself and then sat away from everyone until he felt he was ready. I must add this doesnt happen very often and with so much going on over christmas he has had so many bad days that cannot be controlled, his head is black and blue from headbutting things and his arms have teethmarks all over them (inc me and others in the family)

He is to join the mainstream nursery in a few weeks and the thought if it fills me with dread, where he is just now is full of physically and mentally disabled children where he has no conflict and can get on with whatever he likes. The nursery here is a different story and there will be no funding for him to have 1 to 1. I will be taking him but we have so much support and help from where he is just now im a little scared of being left with nothing and him being asked to leave the nursery. His speech is still not very good and lack of communication makes him angry and cause no end of problems, we are learning to sign but again its of no use as the nursery do not use it! any advice/tips etc would be appriciated as im not sure what to do or where to go next?

GlasweJen

cazcoob,
sign is pretty intuitive for the sort of things your wee one would be communicating so the nursery have no excuse for not communicating with him.

cazscoob

do you think they would teach the staff or have a support worker in with him that could sign? My little girl is 2 in Feb and her speech is way ahead of Charlies to give an example of how far behind he is.

Savvy_Sue

I think you have to spell out what his needs are, what help he gets atm, and ask how they plan to meet those needs. do they think you've had him in special needs provision for the fun of it?

newmee

my thoughts are with you all. Having worked for many years with adults with ASD I know how very stressful Christmas can be for them, all that change in routine, environment, moods and behaviours around you and mostly a complete lack of grasping the 'concept' of what it's all about.
You're all amazing. :A
Happy New Year to you all.