mama79

It is not only the budget cuts to be blamed. Southwark used to provide better care. Now the managers have simplified the service to the point it doesn't make any sense. They don't feel the importance to assess, the main thing they do is staff meetings and courses and rarely get to work with kids. How much sience is in the sentense "There is nothing we can do now. She's just not ready to develop. She will get there when she's ready"? By the way, Southwark has spent around ?16000 for rebranding. The fullstop is now gone. Priorites!

Well, my personal experience is shockingly bad. I go to see an OT with my child, he doesn't observe her. He then produces a couple of pages of basic advise that I can get from the internet.. 9 months after another referral- just one contact with nursery without any targets or advise.. I talking about people that don't know the difference between low muscle tone and gross motor skills. Avoid Avoid AVOID

I think the system within Sunshine house's OT is: If the case is easy and they CAN be bothered to work, they will. Then they can claim some sucess. If someone has enough issues but the team decides NOT to work with them, they simply put this person in the "not disabled enough" category, as if this is a reason to neglect a person with needs?? Maybe just a clever trick to save cash for the LA When "a disabled enough person" tries to access the service, the answer would be that they are understaffed, underpaid and they don't do ongoing therapy. Perhaps this is an excuse that they are actually underqualified OR they believe that helping that person is money gone to waste. OT done by qualified people DOES work, DOES change people's lifes and shouldn't be denied to anybody.

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Hi there. What is your experience with Southwark OT team? Are you happy with the assessments they do and the care they offer? Is anyone receiving ongoing therapy for their ASD child or trying to win some provision from them? Also have you tried to ask for sensory integration therapy? I'd appreciate any info about problems/positive experience,outcomes from tribunals (if anyone has won any provision or lost their appeal) Thanks.

Hi. I'm concidering ABA for my daughter (3,5y autistic). So far I've met 3 consultants-some came across really well, some not at all.. I'd appreciate any advice on companies, therapists,fees,what/who to avoid, success stories (or not),contacts.. Thanks.

Hi Jooles. Mother's day wasn't great for me as the attention was directed to my mother-in-law who just recovered from a surgery (and doing great) but demanding all the attention. As always... Never mind, hope your day was special. I am currently contacting and viewing as many schools and nurseries as possible. Today I went as far as Fulham. I just find all this depressing and exhausting. I know it can't be all bad for everybody but I am just losing hope in people and institutions.. How old is your little one? You are more than welcome to come over for coffee - bebz does nursery mornings only. It is easier to talk without her around if you wanna meet up somewhere else. Just give me a day or two notice Milena 07590468698

How old is your kid, if you don't mind me asking? I wander if Alexa's development can just take off one day.. For now, I can say she is as she was 12-18months ago. The more I learn and try to use some strategies at home the less she seems to be interested. Socially she struggles a lot. Her nursery is full but she is so used to not mixing with the kids that she doesn't have any need to approach or play along any other kids elsewhere. I am so confused.. I thought gentle, mora natural way with her is the best, following her lead.. But that takes us nowhere as she is so limitted in what she does and not willing to concentrate. I am now thinking that ABA could be for her. So "called dog training" was never sth I thought I would ever concider, but I just can't see what else I can try..

Good to know,thank you. I will organise a visit there asap. We are coming around the idea to put most of our income in ABA and private SALT. I am still not the biggest fan of ABA but I can't see other way to prepare her for big school. At 2.5y she was at the level of 12-18mo and now barely any better. When I raised my worries that my kid doesn't get enough hours (12 for a whole year as I mentioned before), our NHS therapist was arrogant enough to suggest we were given lots of strategies to use at home (2 minutes stacking blocks and a basic baby puzzle during her sessions I guess would arm anyone with all the knowledge we could hope for!)

She is 3y2m old. It is very difficult to find a new nursery. Most of the local ones do only full days (she can't cope for more than 4-6h per day). The well trained/experienced ones have endless waiting lists and woudn't make any exeptions for her (surely that's their talant wasted?!). Our closest private school also wouldn't consired her-they are very selective what kids they wanna work with and I guess they want to keep their "elite" kids undisturbed. All private SALT we have contacted so far charge around ?50 per hour. Not to mention the ?150 per hour ABA consultant that visited us and was very keen to get our business.. Oh, and let's also mention that on the first day of my (totally basic) parents course the therapist rushed to mention their private practice. NHS jobs are a great platform to get cients, hey?? Do only kids from rich families stand a chance!?? Southwark have done nothing much so far.. And our daughter is slowly slipping away..

Hi. My daughter is just over 3 and newly diagnosed with autism. Sadly, it took a whole year and I kind of knew it way before she was 2. Crack on with your kid's development at home to start with. 2.4 is quite young, so much can be done!! It will come down to your efforts in the end. I am also desperate to find a suitable nursery but am losing hope with all the waiting lists, etc. It is now getting clear how much of my child's potential has been wasted for the past year at her current nursery.. Get in touch if you need anything

Thanks. We got some help from them to finally get her diagnosed but not much else available. Southwark unfortunatelly seems to think that 12 hours of SALT for the whole 2015 will be just about enough for my little one...

Can anyone recommend a nursery or preschool that HAS experience with autism? Any info on local schools, playgroups or parents of autistic children groups! Desperate parents here!!