FairyNormal

We went pic taking at the weekend. Here's a few : Looking Down Home Bargains Home Bargains From the bottom looking up The Moor

As a migraine sufferer myself I kmnow how awful abdominal migraines can be. The best bit of information I ever recieved was about how I took my medication. I was told my my GP that timing is ever important. As soon as I feel one coming on (left eye waters and goes a bit droopy and pain in back of neck) take my tablets immendiately with a cold drink, then have a luke warm drink (squash or tea) and something simple to eat like an oatcake or plain biscuit. This helps them to digest properly as during a migraine attack your digestive system shuts down. If you don't take the tablets in time or properly, they will just sit in your stomach and not get the chance to work properly. Believe me, it made all the difference. I hope your child manages to cope with this as it really is awful.

If it's not going to get wet, ordinary poster paint will do just fine. Me and my kids painted banners for the anti-war protests on plain white cotton with their ordinary kids paints.

Thanks Rich! I'll take a look and send my friend the link.

A good friend of mine's brother is on the verge of leaving school after taking his GCSE's this year. His situation is pretty complex in that he has no parents, lives in foster care (very happily I must add) and his sister lives at the other end of the country. He is autistic and has learning difficulties and has just been turned down for a place at Bents Green school for 6th form. Obviously, involvement from Social Services will end once he reaches a certain age and he can't remain with his foster parents forever. (they're not just going to kick him out though!) She is worried about what services etc there are available for someone like her brother upon leaving school. They have been told he can have a supported place at Sheffield College to improve his English and Maths, but as she rightly says, what's the point of that if he can't travel independantly, cook, pay his bills or live independantly? A place at Bents Green would help teach him important life skills but that's not going to happen now. What else is there available for young adults / school leavers with Autism and learning difficulties for the immediate future and beyond once social services involvemnt ceases? Many thanks !

We have 4 ratty boys Bob and Oscar both Back and white hooded age 14 months Stanley a Brown Rex with curly whiskers and reoccurring bald patches! age 5 months Norris a white and grey hooded age 5 months All four are totally gorgeous and hillarious!

I used to make picture frames and mirror frames from papier mache. Cheap mirrors or frames from poundshops, attatch to an outer frame of strong cardboard with parcel tape/masking tape and cover with papeir mache. You can add embellishments etc for some really nice frames. Just paint and varnish after for added strength. I have also just started making my own handmade papers from newspaper and junk mail! Great fun!

When I filled in my son's DLA forms (after being badgered into it by his docs!!) I was told to fill them in as an outsider looking in on the worst day possible. I think when you live with a condition or with a child with a condition, you almost get used to the things you need to do and how it compromises your life on a daily basis. To us it's just everyday life but I know friends of mine often ask me how I cope with it all. They see it from a different and more detatched perspective. If you can fill in your forms on that basis, you'll not go far wrong. I sat and cried after I read my son's back as it all sounded so terrible but every word was the truth. Having said that, his forms were never questioned and he was awarded it immediately. Good luck!

Just looked on the council website. This link should help you. As well as general info on SEN there is a link to a downloadable list of all special schools in the area. Hope that helps.

I suppose it depends on what age range you are looking at. At primary level I know of a few. There is Rowan School at Dore which is for children with Autistic spectrum disorder / communication problems, Mossbrook school also take children with ASD, Birley Carr has an integrated resource as does Nook Lane at Stannington. At senior level there is Bents Green and ?? (mind has gone blank here!!) If you contact the SEN department or even Childrens information Service they will be able to give you a full list.

Morning Joanne. The group meetings aren't really suitable for small children as we have speakers but maybe you could come to one of the more informal coffee mornings instead? It's the same group of people but less structured. Just a reminder that the group is meeting this morning if anyone is interested. Please see website for more details.

Thanks AndyK68! His gameboy charger works perfectly and you've now saved me a trip to town and some money! Mods you can close this thread if you like now!

Where can I buy a charger for a Nintendo DS today? This is the DS NOT the DS lite. Preferably in city centre or Hillsborough areas. Many thanks!

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to get a good reception with a freeview box in Stocksbridge? Also, do you need a special arial or do you just plug in and go? Many thanks!

It would be great to see you both at the next meeting. The group is really friendly and the best thing is that there is nothing you can say that will shock or be somthing that someone else hasn't already experienced. you'll be in good company! I know attending a new group can be pretty daunting so if anyone wants to meet up before hand just let me know ok!

Hey I am permanently dazed and confused so don't worry lol!

I tried to change my daughters name some years ago as her father had no contact for ages but wasn't allowed to do it as we had been married. I needed his permission and as I didn't know where he had moved to it was impossible. My daughter really wanted to change her name to the same as mine (I changed back after the divorce) so we just did it by common unsage. We wrote to everyone, doctors, child benefit etc and it was no problem.

I have the same problems. My son also has AS and Tourette's as well as ADHD so you can imagine the fun we have at times!! Trying to explain to some nasty chav that he isn't pulling faces at them or spitting at them that they are tics and not directed at them is pointless. As someone once said to me, those who understand need no explaination, those who do will never understand! How very true! Have you tried printing off some cards or small 'flyers' to give to people explaining that your son has ADHD and what it means? I say this because they are commonly used by people with Tourette Syndrome as a way of getting away from situations. You give the card to the person who has the problem with your/your child's behaviour, state that you are sorry if their behaviour offends them but they have Tourettes (or AHDD etc). You then walk away. As simple as that. It does tend to work pretty well as there is an embarrasment factor for the person receiveing the card so they tend to shut up! Hang in there! At keast your child isn't walking round shouting mast**bate!!

Ray of Hope is a support group for families of children with any kind of special needs that meets in the Hillsborough area of the city. Families in the group have children with ADHD, Aspergers / Autism, epilepsy, sensory difficulties, learning difficulties, Tourette Syndrome and OCD etc. We now have a website that has information on the group such as meeting dates/speakers and activities, a message board, a kids page and a links section. We'd love it if you took a look and see what the group has to offer. New members are always welcome! Ray of Hope

Yeah already there! They are underfunded and overstretched at the best of times and wating lists are terrible. There seems to be pretty good info for adult mental health services but very little for children. There is CAMHS and .......... well nothing else at all.

No no no no no!! We have 4 and my daughter has 3 pet rats. Never never never!!!!!

Can I ask if there is anything similar for families of children with mental health issues? In my experience, services are pretty poor and finding out about them is even worse.

Thanks Radman. I do have rather high levels of stress in my life! Not sure about ME though but thanks for the mention. I went to the GP on Monday who had his hand on the prescription pad the moment I walked through the door! I tired to explain it's not just a cold but the constant tiredness, shivering/feeling cold all the time etc but he just said it's a cold, nothing we can do. But he gave me a weeks course of antibiotics anyway!!???? I didn't want tablets! I said I was wondering of there could be any other underlying cause for me feeling so rough for so long but he didn't want to listen and couldn't wait to get me out the door. So, I guess I take the tablets and see.

Just had a bit of a re-read and realised that I never actually answered the OP. Yes they do exist. The causes? Aspergers is a neurological developmental disorder, cause unknown. Dyslexia? I imagine it is a similar explaination. Some people's brains are just wired up differently! I don't think anything 'caused' my son to be the way he is. Niether do I my daughter. It's just the way they are.

This will probably sound really sad but one of my all time favourite books is "Did I ever tell you how lucky you are?" by Dr Seuss. Linky If I'm ever feeling a bit fed up I get it out and have a read and it never fails to cheer me up. I love everything about it, the drawings, the ceatures and the way it tells me to be grateful for all of the things that I'm not!! Pure brilliance!