Yesterday I read a very disturbing article regarding a UK Special School and there policies surrounding the safeguarding of the pupils in their care.
The article states that the school who cater for children with high functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome, had introduced a procedure which would allow a child to self harm in their care. Now, I don’t mean turning a blind eye to whats happening around them! I literally mean that teachers were instructed to hand the pupil a sterilised disposable razor blade and sterile wipes and then escort him to the toilets while they waited outside the door for the child to finish, checking on him every few minutes before finally cleaning up the wounds.
The school had introduced a new policy that would allow the child with a history of self harm to self harm in a “Safe” controlled environment. But luckily some teachers didn’t feel comfortable with the policy introduced by the more “Senior” staff which resulted in some having raised concerns with the designated officer at their local authority. The policy was therefore brought to a stop some 6 days after it had first been introduced. A full investigation is said to be underway with those involved possibly facing a professional conduct panel if the incident is thought to be deemed serious enough.
Yes, I’m a parent to a child with Aspergers Syndrome who attends a special school, but regardless of this fact, as a mother alone, I’d not be very happy knowing that my child was attending a school that practiced such procedures. I find it frighteningly worrying that this is what the school believed to be a responsible thing to do! Something said to be in the child’s best interest!
I also think that the staff who worked at the school took the right action. How was it fair to expect them to participate in such action? What if something went wrong and the teacher assisting the child was then brought up on charges.
I don’t like to judge, god only knows I get judged enough, but I do wonder while the parents didn’t protest to the policy. Maybe they did truly feel that this was in their child’s best interest. Maybe the fear of their child engaging in such activity alone was a fear much greater. It is said that the parents of thr child were thought to be aware of the new procedure, but having had many dealings with schools, “Aware” is not always as it may first seem.
Again this just goes to prove how the system is not supporting these children and their families as it should be. Was the child seeing anybody about the self harm and how was this being dealt with, what was their advice? Surly it was the first source of advice the school would seek. Therefore did medical professionals outside of the school feel the procedure to be appropriate? I just hope this child was even getting access to such support.
I ask, what do you think about as you read this? I’ve so far seen nothing but negative comments. Parents, like myself expressing their concern that this has been allowed to happen. I am yet to hear from someone who thinks the school got it right! Do you?
You can read the article in the Daily Mail where you will have access to the name and whereabouts of the school in question.
Again, please do share your thoughts here on the blog.
At the beginning of the year I wrote a two-part post covering all the stuff that had happened during 2010 (yes, seriously this took two post and most of it was nothing but bad happenings). So, looking back through 2011 and realising just what an amazing year’s blogging I’ve had, I just had to do it all again.
So here it is, the busiest year on the blog so far, A boy with Asperger’s 2011
January: Not the best month to be honest, we finally get that all important statement of special educational needs for Little man, only toilet paper would have been worth more. Nonetheless we fight to the depths of the earth and it’s amended later in the year and thankfully contains everything he needs thanks to those all important independent assessments & reports.
February: We finally get some good news, which I document in the post, “The end of a chapter” The mainstream school in-which Little man used to attend finally holds up their hands and we get that all important apology in writing, we therefore settle on the Disability discrimination case only weeks before the tribunal hearing. Another great high to February was the invite I received from Cadbury that saw me and a friend attend an excellent Adult only event (no not in that way) we actually tried to set world records doing normal household chores with a twist (making a bed, unravelling toilet rolls and more besides). This was also the month that I got to interview Colin an adult with Asperger’s who had a very interesting message for Mr Cameron.
March: This was a terrible month, the month that saw my eldest Little man (AKA, A boy with Aspergers) get punched in the stomach by a much older youth of eighteen, while playing at the park with a friend and his mother. Little man was just ten at the time and had said “The wrong thing” to a group of older kids, you can read the post “How could that hurt my little boy” for the full story. March was also the month I shared my concerns on the pending Green paper in the post “Aspirations or clever financial alterations”
April: I’m contacted by the lovely Anna Kennedy in regards to her ‘Autism and bullying’ campaign, as a result of this little man appears in an ITV news report which I wrote about in the post “Little man’s television debut” which was perfect timing, what with it being autism awareness month. I also highlight how appearing on the television went to his head a little resulting in him asking everyone and anyone “Do you know who I am”
May: It was this month I wrote one of my favourite post to date “I’m no Vicky Pallord” I also discover that I’m nominated for a Mad blog award shortlisted in two categories, “Most inspiring blog” & “Blogger of the year”
June: Brings with it a fresh start for the Little man when the local LEA crave in before yet another tribunal, agreeing his place at his independent special school for children with autism and aspergers. This was also a really exciting month in the world of blogging, I was featured in two local papers, making front page news in “The Southlondon press” with the Headline “Mum sets blogging standard” & I was also featured in the “Newshopper” both highlighting the news that I had become a finalist in the Mad blog awards 2011. I also got to attend my first ever Cybermummy (blogging conference) and with it the blog received it’s first ever sponsor Londontown.com who paid for me to stay in a beautiful hotel on the night of the conference.
Nonetheless, although the above is all fabulously exciting, June was also a very emotional & overwhelming month, what with Little man adapting to his new routine and little sleep, it resulted in me writing this very open and honest post “falling apart”
July: This was the month I started the Santa’s little helpers feature resulting in me working with some pretty spectacular brands, we were also invited to the multimedia screening of Mr Poppers penguins in London’s , Leicester Square. Alice-Sara brings her friend who are both excited by the odd celeb spot. In the middle of the month me and the children attend the Pandemonium festival in Northampton to celebrate the release of kung-fo panda 2 as VIP guest of Cadbury. The children get to test the new mini games, Harley becomes obsessed by the panda himself and we eat lunch next to the ambassador of china (Yer, I was praying that Little man didn’t treat the guy and his family to a demonstration of a meltdown, “Asperger’s style”)! Myself and Harley my youngest also attended the Boots bump to Baby event in London’s beautiful Haymarket hotel where Harley took a shine to the lovely Rachel Stevens and the boots clothing range (from the pic below who would think his only 18 months here). July is also the month I treat readers to an up-date on the amazing progress Little man is making at his new school.
August: A busy yet crazy month as I celebrate the publishing of my three page article in the SEN publication (please check it out by clicking HERE if you haven’t already). Myself, youngest Harley, sister and her daughter get invited to the tots event of the year, “The lollibob” where we go VIP and the kids have a blast meeting the likes of Bob the builder, Peppa pig and Ben and Holly from the Little Kingdom.
August was also the month that saw chaos unfold in the devastating London riots. I organised a Lewisham riot cleanup on twitter with the use of the hash tag #lewishamriotclean and from then on everything went a little mad, what with being interviewed for the BBC breakfast show by Gabby in the back of a taxi on the way to Lewisham following a sleepless night due to the sounds of rioters looting the supermarket directly across the road. Then as myself and Little man (yes, he cleaned Lewisham too) stood in Lewisham with a dust pan and brush waiting for fellow locals who I’d rounded up with the help of social media to join us, I’m shocked to discover the BBC are there to greet us. Yes, they interviewed me and followed my progress throughout the day, I later cringed watching myself on the 6pm news, in a report that seemed to go on for ever. My use of the quote “Lewisham is cleaner than usual” following the councils own operation seem to be something of a hit and spread across the papers and internet like wide fire! The images of Little man clearing up outside JD Sports still melt my heart and make me mighty proud.
August saw us working with some great brands, Micro Scooter & Meccano to name just a few. Little man also has great fun testing sensory toys this month and I try to raise awareness for child mental health by opening up and writing “Just a Little girl”
September: This is a month that holds some great memories for me, not only did myself and some of the other Mad blog award finalist find ourselves invited to TKMaxx London’s flagship store to choose evening dresses and accessories for the for the Mad blog awards ceremony but I also went on to win ‘Most inspiring blog 2011’ at the awards itself, which was held at the fabulous Talk-Talk experience centre in London’s Soho. Not only did I win, get to meet a host of other fab bloggers but I also experienced a great working relationship with my mad blog awards sponsor ‘OptiBac Probiotics‘.
October: was a month that saw the blog working with some pretty big brands such as Sainsburys & Argos, I make two local papers again having been interviewed by the SouthLondon Press and the Newshopper on winning a Mad blog award! Little man takes over the blog, (well, kind of, he finally says how he feels in his first interview, for the blog) where he talks about his Asperger’s, discrimination, bullying, feeling different and acceptance, click Here to read.
November: I’m delighted to become a judge at the BBC Christmas ideal home show for the face of Argos competition which was an amazing experience. I’m invited to lunch by Sainsbury’s at the BBC NEC Winter food show where I also get to watch a live Master chef cook off, I have a great time and meet some awesome people at Liberty’s London when I attend a charity event and I also start working with the wonderful ‘John Crane’ and ‘When I was a kid’ check out the post ‘Joining Forces‘!
December: The last month of ‘Santa’s Little helpers’ I therefore launch the ‘Santa’s Little helpers, the big christmas countdown’ we feature loads of fantastic competitions with awesome prizes up for grabs. I also get invited onboard P&O ferries to take a trip from Dover to Calais alongside the lovely “Romanian mum where we shop till we drop, and to end such a fabulous year’s blogging, I’m lucky enough to be invited by the fabulous Tots100, to it’s big Christmas party at Butlin’s Bognor Regis where myself, friend and children get to stay in the beautiful Ocean hotel, though Little man finds the change a bit hard to bear.
Wow, there it is, what a year!
There’s been some massive ups and as you can expect one or two downs (what do you expect, this isn’t a fairy tale you know!) But you have to admit, it’s a massive improvement from 2010 that sadly along with 2009 saw much stress and heartache, which just proves, you never know what’s lurking around the corner!
I really do hope that ‘A boy with Asperger’s’ has provide readers with smiles, laughs, entertainment, inspiration, awareness and more!
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all my amazing loyal readers
We love yer!
Early Tuesday morning I’m awoken by an excited Little man.
Oh, yes he knows what day it is… his been counting the days since Friday.
We walked into our local newsagents a little after 6:30 am. Little man darted over to the newspaper stand knocking over several boxes of unpacked crisp and a shop assistant filling the fridge. He was causing complete chaos at this very early hour!
“Mum, mum look, we are on the front page!”
The little guy was right! There on the front page of the local rag was a picture of myself and the Little man.
In big bold letters the headline read…
… “All about a boy… Blogging mum up for award”
full story on page 31
The man stood behind the counter gave me a smile and a wink as Little man placed his 50p on the counter. He stood tall and proud in the hope he was recognised!
“That’s a handsome young fella in the paper! Hang on a minute, he looks familiar” The shopkeeper joked!
Little man shouted so loud it’s likely he damaged the poor guy’s ear drum when replying, “That’s me with mum… can’t you see?”
“Oh yes… So it is”
Little man was displaying a huge grin, obviously enjoying his five minutes of fame!
The shopkeeper, a lovely elderly gentleman that I’ve known for some years, went on to say in a chirpy tone, “Well, as it’s you on the front cover… the papers on me today!”
Little man stood thinking, overcome with confusion. Completely baffled by the man’s comments he asked, “What do you mean? The newspaper isn’t on you… It’s on the counter!” He was shaking his head as to imply the shopkeeper was a tad stupid for making such a ridicules comment!
Now, let’s not forget that this is a little boy with Aspergers, who has a tendency to take things rather literally! So, I explained just what the shopkeeper had meant to which he politely thanked him for his generosity by stating he was ‘Safe’ (he has a mind like a sponge) before making his swift exit.
Little man had more excitement to come. The article in the ‘South London Press‘ was one of two Newspapers we would be featured in that week.
The Second paper, ‘The Newshopper’ was released the following day. Both papers were running the story about a Lewisham mother of three, who had made it to the finals of the ‘Mad blog awards’, a national blogging competition showcasing some of the best British blogs written by parents. Of course that ‘mother’ was me *smiling gracefully*
No, I won’t deny it! When I was sent the press release to edit and forward as I pleased, I didn’t expect much to come of it!
This blog is simply a documentation of our life alongside my own thoughts and opinions. As crazy as our life may seem to others, it’s a life that many parents of a child with autism will possibly relate too as the norm
You just don’t expect your blog to end up in the newspapers! Then again, you don’t expect to your blog to be in the running for a national award (especially in two categories)
I will often write a post and once complete I read it back and think to myself, “Seriously who wants to read this stuff?”
Gosh, I love how this blog has changed me. Its helped me to discover a lot about myself! If you had asked me three or so years back, “Do I enjoy writing?” My reply would have likely been… No! Seriously… My English teacher would have a heart attack if she read this. Ok my grammar isn’t top notch (sorry miss, I try) Yet I’ve discovered that putting down my feelings for the world to read is somewhat therapeutic! I’m expressing myself in a whole new way… And enjoying it! Ask me now if I love to write and my answer would be a whole lot different. Now that is something I never saw coming… Ever!
I’ve written this blog while in an array of psychological mind sets. There’s been tears (to many), laughter, sadness, anger, joy, exhaustion and excitement! Since becoming a finalist I’ve been lucky enough to encounter some awesome opportunities… Did I mention that I’m currently writing a piece for this months SEN magazine? *cheeky giggle*
With every congratulations whether it’s from the press, a friend, family member or fellow parent to a child with autism, I feel a great sense of achievement that this mum who is no means a super mum, has managed to get her voice heard when raising an issue that is not only close to her heart, but one that is also enormously important!
This is more then a blog award competition (don’t get me wrong, winning would be oh-so-fabulous & your votes are most welcome) What I’m trying to empathise is that although autism and aspergers has come a long way with the help of the media, there is still so much to say! All over the world children are being failed through not having their educational needs met, where adults are left unemployed… regardless of their skills.
I thank the ‘Mad blog awards’ for bringing about a powerful way to get heard while having a great amount of fun in the process! As for you guys… Thank you for getting me here by nominating the blog… All you need to do now is vote (cheeky)!!
To vote the blog, ‘A boy with Asperger’s’ as your most inspiring/inspirational mad blog 2011, visit the Mad voting page: Here
The article in the, ‘South London Press’ can be found: Here
My great mate Donna Jordan has wrote this fantastic guest post that contains some wonderful news.
ROCK ON PC BOLTON
PC Cliff Bolton (a Bexley policeman who’s part of the Blendon + Penhill Safer Neighbourhoods team) had a lucky escape today . . . . . . .because if I’d seen him today I’d have grabbed him,squeezed him hard + planted a big wet kiss on his mush !! Now I’m not in the habit of assaulting,sexually or otherwise, police officers (ok, I did once do a Jackie Chan slap,kick,punch on a female officer but she had just taken my lovely chocolate gateau off me because it was “evidence” . . . .but thats another story + since it all took place in a dream I once had it doesn’t count) but sometimes actions speak louder than words and “well done matey!” just wouldn’t cut it. The reason for this over display of gratitude + affection ? Well I’ve never felt genuine admiration for any officer in the Met before ( apart from the police dogs + horses but are they officers? Thats another question for another day) + its never entered my abyss ( thats what I affectionately call my mind) to put pen to paper + sing the praises of a POLICE OFFICER but in the case of PC Cliff Bolton I just had to spread that warm, fuzzy feeling I got in my tummy after hearing about his pioneering work in the Met. You see PC Bolton is that exception that proves the rule – he is a police officer that thinks out of the box. PC Bolton was alert enough to notice that a significant number of the youths arrested for anti-social behaviour had Autisim Spectrum Disorders + he also knew the majority of his fellow officers had little, if any, awareness of ASD . . . .was there a link? Using his initiative he set about educating his colleagues on/about ASD in the hope that this new awareness would help reduce incidents + assaults on officers. Today PC Bolton runs autisim awareness sessions for Met officers + is responsible for Autisim awareness becoming part of the Met Police Training (he also has an online special group on Aware). He well deserves the award he recieved in recognition of being the pioneer of autisim awareness in the Met. . . . . . . . .all I have to say is WELL DONE MATEY MWAH !!!!!!!
Reading the news often makes me feel utterly sick and feels me with total terror, so I do try to avoid it as often as seemingly possible. But its everywhere you don’t even need to tune into a news station on the television or radio, pick up a paper or search the internet, because networks such as the all to popular Twitter and good old Facebook have become news broadcasters in their own right. It’s considered a fact that these social networking sites give us the news before its even aired on the national news! More then likely before the journalist has even got his foot through the door of the all to often “Crime Scene” So I guess the term “Seemingly Possible” was a draft dizzy expression to make!
So yesterday I’m trolling through my Facebook, like to many of us do! Only to come across a disgusting, stomach wrenching news-feed updated by one of my favourite pages “The National Autistic Society!” The, Headline reads:
“This week, three men who brutally attacked a 17 year-old with Asperger syndrome were let off with just 80 hours of community service.”
Clicking on the link provided I found myself faced with total shock horror. This countries justice system was truly confirmed the joke we all suspected it to be. Believe me, I’m not just ranting because this boy who was so brutally attacked in a sickening three day ordeal was on the autism spectrum (Though yes this is a major part of it!) But I would also rant if the person subjected to this degree of torture was what societies describes as, “Neurotypical” However this crime was inflicted on a person who was vulnerable and “disabled” Making this one ghastly disability hate crime!
” WARNING! LEAVE NOW IF YOU DON’T WISH TO READ JUST HOW HORRIFIC THIS ATTACK ACTUALLY WAS!”
The three sick & twisted criminals known as Jack Bolton, Andrew Griffin, and Nathan Marshall, all 18 years of age, from Manchester (uk) & known to the police, subjected their 17 year old autistic terrified victim through an unendurable attack, why filming it on their mobile phones. They filmed themselves proudly torturing their teenager victim. The victim who has a diagnosis of Aspergers (a form of autism) was treated in such an inhuman way that it is a total disbelieve that they were not sent to jail to rot. The Scumful three pelted their victim with dog mess, scratched his limbs with sandpaper, kicked and jumped on his head, beat him with a tennis racket and then forced him to drink vodka and gin until he passed out. A National Newspaper The Daily Mail wrote:
Mobile phone footage showed the yobs laughing and joking as they made him endure other abuse and, in a final humiliating assault, they applied adhesive tape to his genital area before ripping the tape off.
It is in my opinion that after reading this story, posted by the Daily Mail and the National Autistic Society’s Facebook page “Judge Jonathan Geake” who imposed this despicable insulting “so called sentence” of three-month curfews and ordered them to carry out 80 hours’ unpaid community work as ‘an intensive alternative to custody’ is a prime example of what our justice system is today. “AN UTTER JOKE!”
The victim will live with this horrid disturbing attack for the rest of his live. My guess is he has been left with no confidence or trust in the human race. Instead he is left with just a body crippled by fear. How will this teenage boy ever live a full and independent life now? Yet these beast are allowed to roam our streets, serving a mere 80hrs community service. 80hrs is just a little over three days. Is it bad enough they were not sent to rot in their cell but instead be given a sentence of painting youth clubs or even worse maybe in our schools amongst our vulnerable children some likely with Aspergers the same condition as their victim! Yet this so called community service order, that is an insult to the word punishment is for a period not even totally four days in total! (If added together that is.) Gosh I give my children a harder punishment for fighting with one another. I’m not stating I know what and where such community service will be served! I’m merely stating that we as a nation see it all to bloody often. Giving something back to the community! Is a term used all to often within our failing justice system. “Yer right” Are they planing to give that young victim his life back? Give him the confidence to go out and meet people, walk the streets free from fear of unprovoked attacks from monsters like these scum-bag offenders? “NO, I THOUGHT NOT!”
The Daily mail online state that Senior police officers and an MP have branded Judge Jonathan Geake sentence “a joke” and like the National Autistic Society, have called for the sentence to be reviewed. The National Autistic Society has launched a campaign where you can get involved. By clicking on the link The national autistic society above, you can tell Judge Jonathan Geake just how wrong he got it! Or visit The Daily Mail Online for the full story including the mug-shots of these low life scum bags who are free to roam our streets and a picture of the “wonderful” Judge him self Jonathan Geake.
Why is this getting my back up so much? It’s not like it’s the first time I have heard it!
I believe in freedom of speech and all that stuff, I’m pretty good at respecting others views and opinions! But this one is eating away at me and no matter what I do to try to get that article out my head it just keeps coming right back at me. Let me explain what the hell I’m on about! A few days ago I was checking out some of the other blogs on WordPress with the tags Aspergers, autism and ASD it was then I came a cross a really fab blog, One which I remember checking out on my journeys before.
The blog I’m referring to is named Child health safety. A blog hosted on wordpress. It’s a great blog that you are likely to find interesting post that always lead to you commenting as the subjects are so easy to relate to. Well that was definitely the case this day! CAN YOU CURE AUTISM ? THIS MUM BELIEVES HER SONS HAVE RECOVERED. This was the the title for the latest post on the site. I was once again pulled right in and had to read it.
First let me add some important facts here! You will need them to get a full picture of what I’m about to tell you.
The creator of the blog was not in fact the author. He had published some of the article then supplied the link for you to check out the full story. The article was in fact written by Sally Beck who is a writer for the famous British newspaper The mirror. So this was featured in the news.
A mother and trained nurse to twin boys claims that her boys have been cured from Autism. The cure is the result of some programme, “Some miracle” programme. Yer right! Sorry I don’t know about you’ but I find this a load of rubbish! To me this gives false hope to many parents that have just found out their child is on the autistic spectrum. The mother whom is named Nina and is from Camberley Surrey in the UK said her sons were diagnosed at the age of 2. She was very upset and wondered if her boys would ever be normal ( Nice ) She claims they were so bad she had little control over them in the way of behaviour that she considered placing them in residential care. She states the boys were late talkers, bad sleepers, and aggressive. Theprogramme which Celebrity mum Jenny Mcarthey followed and who also claims her child is cured is an American programme. The twins were on the programme and within 18 months they were different children. Nina has said that two specialist have confirmed that the twins are no longer Autistic. So why are there no names? I for one would love to know who these “specialist” are? It’s a known fact! No child is cured form autism as autism is a life long condition. God why can’t these parents except their children for who they are and stop being hell bent on changing them or claiming there something there not. Celebrity mum Jenny Mcarthey should know a lot better being in the public eye. If this was something proved to work don’t you think doctors and child psychologist would be talking about it, offering it to the many autistic children all over the world today? Autism, cancer, Aids. What ever it maybe their will always besomeone, some company or another making the big claim that they have cracked it! When in fact most of the time the only thing they have cracked is the safe. Millions of people will hand over there hard earn much needed cash in order for get the impossible A CURE!. Why these mothers claim their children are cured I will never know. What do they gain from it? Nothing I guess! So what is the point of them say it, this rubbish? Maybe because they have been brain washed or it’s purely because they want it so bad that they chose to believe it. Maybe the “programme” Has in fact introduced new ways in parenting the child. What they consider a cure is the autistic child just actingin a more relaxed manner!
Sorry guys I do and always will believe autism is autism and that is a life long condition which can be improved but never cured! Read it for yourself at http://www.mirror.co.uk
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS ON THE GIVEN SUBJECT.. CAN AUTISM BE CURED? LEAVE A COMMENT LETTING US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
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Check out this fun project I’ve been working on… I had these old plastic skull Halloween decorations that looked a little less than spooktastic so decided that instead of showing them to the trash I’d give them a little TLC. … Continue reading →
"A refreshing look at Aspergers and a real lifeline for parents (me included) and siblings who lives have been touched by someone special. I loved the layout and it was easy to navigate through the site. I thought the autism and art page was brilliant!"
"This is a beautiful site and love and appriciate the awareness that this site is spreading and it create such an outlet for people. Thsi site is inspiring."
"Wow, what can I say, this is a very heartwarming, touching and informative site on the experiences of a family coping with Aspergers. I've spent quite a bit of time reading the posts and comments from readers and even left one myself! :) Keep up the excellent work on helping others to understand this condition and the way your family is coping, it will be an inspiration to others going through the same experience. "
"I truly found your site to be excellent and beautiful. It speaks a lot to your character. As an individual in the health field, I have been in contact with a few patients with ASD and they are very special individuals. I wanted to thank you for taking the time to let the world know about ASD. "
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A boy with Asperger's 
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