Medusa

Not on the NHS, I don't think. Unless things have changed dramatically (which I very much doubt, in view of government cuts) I would have low expectations of SALT. The bar is set very low (ie children with obvious speech issues/delay may well still meet basic criteria) and certain things, eg lisps, are not addressed at all. Caveat: I speak from slightly bitter experience. My grievance is with the service that individual SALTs are funded to provide, obviously, nothing more personal than that.

Yes, for a while. My teenagers are ready to blow up Virgin's HQ.

singalto, can I pick up some leaflets please? I have said I'll take some to the Lordship Lane vets.

Or maybe even a proper meet-up once every month or every other month? I have quite a lot of resources I am happy to lend out: lots of books, some social communication cards, a DVD.

ASD isn't always picked up on early. What used to be called Asperger's Syndrome (now included in the general term 'ASD')can be quite subtle, esp in younger, bright children. All of my children have ASD to varying degrees, but even the most impaired of them went through six years of nursery & then primary school without a single teacher raising any concerns. It can feel crushing to get a diagnosis. Sometimes it feel as though you go through a process of grieving for the child you thought you would have and then coming to terms with the child you *do* have. It's nothing to do with love, in my experience, but about readjusting your expectations. I think diagnosis can be helpful in opening doors to greater levels of understanding and support, particularly when your child has probably got years of schooling ahead of them. My most autistic child (now 15) gets a high level of support at school, not so much academically because he is very able, but in dealing with the anxiety that goes hand in hand with autism. This is invaluable. Feel free to message me if you want to talk more. I'm always happy to chat/meet up with other parents of ASD children.

I used a wrap sling (a Wilkinet) on my smallest from when he was not much over 4lb. My instinct was for him to be positioned upright for easiest breathing when he was so titchy.

Peckham Rye Park playground needs a total overhaul. There are so many innovative, inspiring playgrounds out there. It would be fantastic to have one here in SE22 Nappy Valley.

Dulwich Youth Orchestra has a junior string section. Their courses are mornings-only, so not too tiring for younger children, and there are always lots of children of that age in it. She might like it a lot. Take a look at their website, maybe? http://www.dyodulwich.com Edited to add: in the past I have sent both my flute-playing sons to DYO and they are very shy, but found it to be welcoming, friendly and not overly pressured.

I only learned an instrument briefly as a child so my perspective is that of a parent of two children who play. During the first couple of years I left both of them to their own devices in terms of practice. I made it clear that the idea was to practise at least five days out of seven but I didn't push the issue. Once they both reached higher grades (ie five upwards) and started doing lots of orchestras and other courses, I set out the principle that I was more than happy to support them and pay for it all as long as they fulfilled their part, which was to practise regularly. It is STILL a source of battle a lot of the time, esp now they are approaching GCSEs, afflicted by teenage lethargy & ennuie and playing at a level that requires longer practice sessions. I regularly suggest that they might like to give up if they dislike practising so much, but this leads to pitiful squeaking and protests. As long as they practise *enough* to progress adequately, even if not to fulfill their absolute potential,they will carry on, but I wouldn't dream of forcing them to continue. Music takes up a chunk of their spare time, of which they have far less at fourteen than when they first started learning at nine or ten, and they need to feel that they have choice, I think. My bottom line is that I believe music should be a joyful thing, not a chore to be endured or yet another badge to have atitched onto your 'well-rounded education uniform'. It's quite easy to get sucked into a rather draconian approach, particularly if you have musically-talented children, but I am not at all convinced that it does more good than harm.

I was walking through old Camberwell cemetery today, reading inscriptions, idly wondering what my children will put on my tombstone. Please, please, please, let it be 'The gay mafia lies here'.

Help-Ma-Boab Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Just tuned into the first couple minutes of > Eastenders. Is Dot gay? Yes. She's been having an affair with Cora Cross for years. And Jamie and Ben are at it, as are Roxy and Shabnam, Lola and the young woman who works in the pub, and obviously Sharon and Linda. Re Phil: after he was buried alive (which happens *all the time in London*) he had a sexual epiphany and started a relationship with Mick from the pub. Mick's wife doesn't know yet, though.

Come on, people, be fair. Tarot is absolutely right. Take Eastenders: there's Phil and Sharon, Roxy and Aleks, Charlie and Ronnie, Mick and Linda, Ian and Jane, Buster and Shirley,Shabnam and Kush...all the heterosexual singletons...oh, and there's Tina and Sonia. Yup. Absolutely SWARMING with gay characters.

I was looking this morning for an update on their facebook. Nothing at all. I'm surprised they are making so little effort to keep prospective customers up to speed.

I have children with ASD, two of whom play instruments (flute and piano). I'm not sure which instrument would best suit a child with fine motor difficulties, but both of my kids' teachers are fantastic and teach various instruments. I'm happy to pass on their numbers if you PM me.

I have three children with ASD. We have had rabbits, guineapigs and hamsters, as well as cats and a dog. The dog was a nightmare. The cats are best by far. Re rodents: AS boy no 2 had a hamster whom he adored but he is still mourning it after its death months ago. Their lifespan is so short for children and their waking hours not conducive to getting kids to bed on time! Rats rock, but need to be cleaned out an awful lot if you don't want eau de ratbum everywhere. Guineapigs are okay if they are handled enough to make them very tame but not as engaging as rabbits, I don't think. Rabbits. Well. We've had a few. Foxes got one. One escaped. They need to be handled a lot or they become feral and antsy. Some are brilliant, others dull. If you go down the rabbit route, let me know. I have a huge two-storey rabbit hutch in need of minor repair to the floor (but used uo until a fortnight ago) with an all-weather cover, bottle, food bowl, etc. Ps Rabbits are easy to litter train if you bring them inside. Mine went from 0-95% litter-trained within a week or so.

Yes. Low pressure on Overhill Road.

The art shop in Dulwich Village seels Newclay, which is great for children.

Houmous with cucumber/sluces tomatoes/sliced red pepper. Veggie mainstay.

Yes, I'd second what Pickle has said. This is who has been teaching my son: http://gunelmirzayeva.com/index.html

There are more easily affordable teachers out there. My son's teacher charges ?15/30 mins. I don't know whether she's qualified, but she got him through his first grade with flying colours in a year. I wish there was more subsidised music education. I wish it were available to all children at school and seen as an essential part of a broader education.

I have messaged you.

Also interested.

I have a small collection of children with AS. Two are at Forest Hill School and one at Charter. Happy to fill you in on my experience of the issues, including statementing. I'll PM you when I have some time later today.

This group runs all sorts of activities: http://www.signalonline.org.uk/membership_form.html I haven't made it along myself yet, but my friend is involved with it and it comes recommended.

I don't have that one, but have another by the same authors called Sibling Rivalry, Sibling Love. You're welcome to borrow that. I have one or two other books on the same theme. Me, I have triplets whose relationships over the years have varied from the idyllic (up to age 10) to the fraught (currently, at 13). I'll try to come up with something vaguely useful to add later.