Governments gone crazy for the Olympics

I’ve loved watching the Olympic games, cheering as GB take a number of golds! Yes, it was hard not to get the gold rush and therefore get swept up in the moment! Yet it seems I’m not the only one, there’s one or two who have simply let it go to their heads and therefore got a little dose of Olympic fever.

It seems that one person in particular has got so carried away with the excitement of it all and therefore felt the need to state to the nation how the UK government would be throwing more money in that big education pot so that children are given the chance to flourish when it comes to competitive sports.

Of course that person was David Cameron, so of course I rolled my eyes while mumbling the words “Arse Wipe” beneath my breath.

You see, Cameron has made a hell of a lot of promises since he got his dirty foot in the door. As time has run on his broken each, leaving family’s struggling and at breaking point as his made cuts to services that society rely upon.

My blood boils when I hear him making such statements. Yes, I believe our children should be encouraged to aspire into next generation athletes but I also believe that they also deserve the access to education as a whole! There are many children in this country being home schooled, sadly many are not through choice. This means sports are the last think on their parents overworked and worried minds.

Cameron needs to look at the bigger picture, the whole of the education sector in and throughout britain needs a good clean up and fast, because although it was bad before, since this man took to the house with the black door, it’s been simply diabolical!

Now… as predicted Cameron has actually just gone and shoot himself in the foot as it was revealed that since coming into Government the 2-hours of compulsory physical education that was put in place by our last Government has now actually been scraped and done so on the hush, therefore allowing the PM to collect his pounds, sticking them all back into the Governments big pot of savings, a pot mainly made up from the cut backs to services that are meant to be protecting our most vulnerable!

Now although I believe our children should be actively contributing in competitive sports I also believe that funding needs to be driven into other areas such as Special Educational Needs (SEN) Supportive outreach, training and courses for teachers as well as improvements towards providing education for those children educated other than at school. By this I’m vastly referring to off site education or Home tutoring funded by the LEA on medical grounds. The nations PRU (pupil referral units) are key examples. I’m sick of hearing local authorities claiming that those children in desperate need of support, can’t actually have it as there are little or no funds to delegate! Thankfully my child now enjoys a number of sports despite having Aspergers and past anxiety towards even the thought of one day actively participating in sports, especially that of contact sports. Admittedly this surge of improvement has to be the result of finally having left his former state mainstream primary school and then moving to an independent special school. The move has done well to demonstrated the impressiveness that comes with the reinstalled coincidence. However, you must not mistake my honestness for support of a crappy British PM. Despite my past difficulties with a string of teachers, I still find Mr Cameron’s latest statements to be harsh and unwarranted. He gives it all he has in way of a push and a shove in the direction of the states school teachers as he tries to convince the nation that his decisions to retract compulsory PE have been based around his concerns regarding today’s teachers lack of competitive ethos towards competitive sports as opposed to that of Government cuts. Now, I know what I believe!!

Little man met one or two exceptional teachers when he attended state maintained primary school. But as you know he also encouraged discrimination and bullying (mainly inflicted by teachers as opposed to children). Some may have been blinded by ignorance as a result of little if no SEN & Autism training whatsoever. I believe it’s these never ending difficulties between teachers and children that hold a much stronger case for funding. Most teachers are not in a position to freely campaign… But seriously, by you reducing funding over a period of time surely its obvious that there is little teachers can do to carry on being supportive towards physical education.

Sometimes I wonder what this man has going through his head, it’s as if he has this thing against working class families simply branding teachers in “state schools” as lazy… We’re not talking Mathematics but physical education (PE) most children will develop at their own pace when it comes to sport and those with passion will go far regardless. But it seems the PM thinks otherwise, with his suggestion of teaching kids to be more competitive, by creating a cultural change that replaces the “Everyone’s a winner motto” The PM needs to understand that for some children this just won’t stick! And for those others, well… A combination of the child’s determination, a teachers motivation and a good dose of funding can make it happen.

So… Maybe the PM should consider very carefully what it is his proposing before getting ahead of himself and sharing such plans and unconsidered decisions with the world! Especially when his not shared the changes his already implemented, including the removing of compulsory PE from education.

I mean come on,How stiupid must this man be? He must have considered the possibility that his secret operation would reveal its ugly head.

Cameron really doesn’t seem to understand his mistakes, never confessing that his decisions are just that, “His decisions” Franky, Instead of dealing with the bum error as it stood! the PM just made it a whole lot worse by continuously blaming teachers in regard to their lack of interest in teaching PE as well as encouraging children to get active and live healthy.

The only time I’ll ever give this man a thumbs up is when and only when we see him leaving number 10 closing the door behind him and heading in the direction of the job centre.

The UK Governments Definition of Happiness

Just when you think the UK government couldn’t get any dirtier, they go that one step further to strike up anger, in their mission to cut the number of claimants claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA) amongst a string of other benefits, Job Seekers being top of their list!

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have drawn up a plan which consists of blackmail, good old fashion blackmail!

The long-term sick and disabled will be told…

Engage in unpaid work for an unlimited amount of time or have your benefits cut!

Now, I’m fully aware that there are a huge amount of people claiming these benefits, when in reality a good dose of work is what the doctor ordered, however, lets not paint everyone with the same brush!

Now, I hear the government calling this voluntary work, but I can’t see how threatening to cut somebody’s benefits is voluntary?

But hang on… there will be a medical assessment first, right? Oh, yes, a controversial assessment conducted by those already considered incapable of giving anything other than a dishonest, flawed service! Lets be honest, we’ve heard how fair these assessments are, haven’t we?

There are some people with certain conditions that couldn’t possibly be assessed over one afternoon or a few even. Those on the autism spectrum will be particularly disadvantaged! Autism, a condition that takes so long to diagnosis, as a result of a string of complex assessments, interviews and observations (but, yes, this does require both time and money, something our government are usually reluctant to give)!

Nonetheless, I didn’t want to blog about the whole mess that is the governments medical assessment process, regardless of its relevance to the topic at hand, I want to talk rant about these proposed plans of blackmail inflicted on our societies most vulnerably.

Firstly, few important points need making…

Now, if there really isn’t enough work for today’s unemployed then surely there isn’t enough voluntary positions! I guess that those involved, those happy to be part of the governments plans, will suddenly find work for those forced to undertake it, am I in anyway right?

What happened to the requirement of a least a C pass rate in English and Math’s GCSE results when applying to work in the majority of UK establishments including that of McDonalds? This is one of the reasons why the unemployment rate was reported to have rapidly risen! So, my point being, what about those claiming, not only DLA, but any other benefit, who are being forced into unpaid work, will they require the same GCSE results as those applying for paid positions… I’m, guessing NOT, how disgraceful is that!

What about those on medication receiving DLA will this automatically make them qualify as fit for work?

Why would those high street retailers and public bodies bother employing those seeking paid positions if the
Government is handing them workers on a plate, one’s being forced to work in-order to get by and live? Surly this will only make things more impossible for those seeking paid work opportunities!

Do the government not realise how conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome consist of certain traits all with varying degrees of difficulties with social communication and interaction, as well as a whole host of others? It’s not just a case of being able to bend over and touch your bloody toes.

Nonetheless, what a great idea, for those who are actively trying to get their foot back in the workplace, those happy to participate in such a programme… it’s our basic human right to choose… isn’t it? To actually make such a big proposal a compulsory one is nothing other than immoral! Who, will make all these important work placement decisions for those with complex mental health needs, how can someone from the DWP, be qualified to have this degree of health expertise, the degree needed to make such huge discussions. Where is the safeguarding for those with these long term mental health problems?

The DWP made a statement claiming that what they are doing is a supportive measure and claimants will only be asked to do things suitable to their personal circumstances! Yet, as we know, the DWPs idea of suitable isn’t one many of us share, how can it be, what with what they’re proposing, seriously!

The Wrag (work related activity group) already consists of sanctions, such as a benefit cut for missed appointments. I myself have been told recently that my benefit will face a small cut, for an interview I wasn’t even aware of. Now what annoys me is the fact I’m a career who actually already volunteers giving time to a UK charity each week. I didn’t just get such a position, I trained hard for a year to do so, without any encouragement from the DWP, purely of my own accord! Isn’t this considered work then? As both a career and an existing volunteer, is nether considered to be actual work then? If they are sanctioning me, then what hope does anyone else have, those currently not careering or volunteering in unpaid positions. That’s not all though, I was also informed that the rescheduled interview will now take place as part of a group… Well, that’s great isn’t it!

You, hear murders and rapist claiming they have been breached of human rights and as a result of such claims they are left laughing in the face of the Government and British Justice System! Yet, here’s our government, one rumoured to have spent over 90 million on the 2012 Olympic Games, exploiting the human rights of those with an illness or disability, forcing them into unpaid work that could potently lead them down a messy road. Who’s going to pick up the pieces when those with serious mental health conditions and developmental disorders hit worrying depressive lows, self harm or worse!

The DWP may be saving their pennies, yet the bill to the NHS will undoubtedly rise.

Maybe one of the most disturbing things is the possible truth to the rumour that those with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of over 6 months with be expected to participate in the DWPs demands or face the sanction at an advisors discretion… can our UK Government be this bloody cold hearted to the dying?

Not so long ago, I reported on the blog, how a certain MP had publicly stated that those with disabilities should work for less then the minimum wage, many were appalled by such a discriminating, ignorant comment, and it would seem that the Government was too. Yet not so long down the line, here we are… was this a plan that always lay in the pipeline?

Image via Wikipedia

It saddens me that , most of the British public put their faith and hope in the new formed coalition government with its promises of a better ran country (myself not included)! David Cameron was even said to have urged politicians to concentrate more on improving peoples’ happiness and general well-being as opposed to solely focusing on financial wealth, yet it’s been nothing but misery for a large percentage of the UK population, especially for those registered disabled or those who are careers to the disabled. We have watched as some of the most relied upon services have been closed down before our eyes, respite crawly removed, leaving careers on the blink of insanity, while parents to children with special educational needs are fighting harder than ever to obtain an efficient education for their children!

Take the London riots as an example, the man who runs the country was tanning himself in Italy whist families, in their mission to remain alive, jumped out of windows , leaving behind a burning inferno they used to call home.

Another example of the crap that has been thrown upon us since this coalition got their boot in the door, would be that of the Prime Minister’s trip to Pakistan where he handed over a huge sum of money to improve the countries education standards, as way of making amends for his past comments.

However, not only was this a kick in the teeth for those british citizens like myself, struggling to get an efficient education (if one at all) for their children, what with the local authorities continued claim that there was little or not enough funding within its budget, at a time where we struggled on during the height of a recession, the PM handed the massive amount of money to a government harbouring one of the worlds most wanted terrorist! Given the fact the PM had already made suggestions indicating that he actually believed such could be happening, but still to wave the cash about, is actually the ultimate example of disrespect to one’s own people!

Concentrating on societies happiness as opposed to its wealth! Oh… now I understand what he meant! Soon enough we would all be penniless… but never mind, we always have happiness to cloth and feed the kids! As for the disabled and mentally ill, well, they will have the happiness of waking up every morning, getting dressed and heading to that unpaid job they loath love so much!

And the Government?

Well, they lived happily ever after, didn’t they!

Please consider nominating me for a BiB award for the category “Change” or any other (if any) you feel fitting for the blog by clicking HERE. Thanks all, it’s the readers that have helped me raise the profile of the blog and I am most grateful.

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Why I organised a Lewisham riot clean up

 The Great british public wave their flags and sing the national anthem during an exciting world cup football match.

Many feel proud to be British when our good troops leave for war in Afghanistan.

Many Brits celebrated the long extended weekend of the Royal wedding by getting drunk and partying their arse off at one of the many street parties.

The above are all prime examples of how Brits come together to celebrate and display their British roots.

 This was a nation that came together when the horrific scenes of flying debris and screaming, hysterical London commuters hit our television screens on the 07/07/2005. Yes, a time where most descended into a nation of morning when the life’s of 52 people were so crawly claimed by the London terrorist attack that Simultaneously injured another 700 people in the explosions on three London underground trains and one London Double Decker bus.

 We, were a nation that stood united, these in our society didn’t choose to go looting for top of the range computer games and trainers. Plasma TVs remained safely fixed upon the walls in which they belonged.

A heart-breaking, soul-destroying turn of events that left our nation and the rest of the world in bits is an example of how the British come together in times of dismay.

 Yet, here we are that very same nation, with very different morals.

 Our country was put on alert for a possible terrorist attack, we were deemed, high risk!

 We would need to see action, plans brought to the table so to speak! Yet, what was about to commence was a very different turn of events! With the man who has been grunted the power to run our country indulging on a holiday, to which I’m purely guessing was some place hot, expensive and free from suspected terrorist alerts, and that of our lovely London mayor on the missing too (another lucky man on holiday, maybe he joined the PM) I for one couldn’t even contemplate taking such a threat seriously, how could I if the PM was sunning himself aboard?

Well, given our history, I assumed that the great British public would come together as one, as they had always done so! We would get each-other through it, what ever happened.

  Then something happen… Buildings were douched in petrol or alcohol, quickly converted into an inferno of fierce red flames that took their grip letting of thick black smoke that rose into the skies of London causing a fog of darkness! Cars were burnt on the roadside, high street shop windows broken, debris covering the streets like a huge blanket.

Though this wasn’t a terror attack, this was something else all together! The London riots were a result of our own people, young and old, black and white. Yes, there may have been reasons for the Tottenham riots but we were now seeing behaviours of such disgust for no other reasons than pure yobbery and greed. Peoples homes, business and vehicles set a blaze for what? What did it prove,what was gained from it? Many parts of the country now display an array of boards that replace windows, some were replaced that same day, others remain the same as the cost for replacements can’t be met.

I try to teach my children never to steal, yet they have now been showed that despite it being such a bad thing to engage in, many will steal and in such a violent and disrespectful way! It just doesn’t help when the police can be seen watching but not intervening through no fault of their own but those who gave such instructions . The supermarket across the road from our house was being looted from 10.pm till 6. am  in the morning and this caused all three children to get very little sleep, due to not only the noise but the sheer fear of what was happening around them.

 Such behaviours displayed by rioters are scary, many young children felt fear as the riots went full swing, yet there are some children that didn’t feel this way as some as young as 11 if not younger, were reported to be rioting and looting, some seen in the papers with supermarket baskets hung from the handle bars of their little BMX bikes. Little man didn’t cope well with the horror that was unfolding on our tv sets and outside our very door. His anxiety levels are already high and this just added to it. I tried to keep him from hearing too much, in-order to protect him, however as his mother I knew I couldn’t keep him from hearing the horrors that are taking place in the world he lives in! He sees things on the TV and can easily get hold of a newspaper. He maybe on the spectrum but he has Aspergers and is pretty intelligent but sadly highly anxious.

My Little man also has a range of sensory processing difficulties. He can’t drowned out background noise like some can, certain sounds can interfere with his mental well-being, causing him stress and even pain. During  day three of the riots that were taking place in south London Lewisham, as they were many other areas across the country, we saw our local supermarket being looted throughout the duration of the night. Little man didn’t only have difficulties disconnecting his mind from the fears of the events he had seen or read about, but worse was his inability to filter out certain sounds so when the supermarket was looted the noise that was caused by the store security alarm drove him absolutely insane to the point of angry over exhausted sobs.

 I spent most of the early hours venting my anger on Twitter, (followers were great support, managing to keep me from the blink of madness). It was while on Twitter I noticed the Twitter hash tag, ‘#riotcleanup’ I noticed that my area was lacking support so I decided to struck up some kind of group made up of volunteers for a Lewisham cleanup. I used the hash tag #lewishamriotcleanup and set of on a mini mission all alone.

 To be 100% honest I don’t know what I was expecting to come of it. In a way I didn’t expect anybody to listen to me to the degree that they did. I really did think, deep down that I’d be lucky to get a few re-tweets maybe the whole of the Local community were asleep in bed, (well, those not rioting and looting) given it was at least 3am when I first embanked on the riot clean up campaign. Yet, I should have known better that myself and little man would not be the only ones being kept awake by shouting, fighting, banging, smashing glass or even that of annoying store alarms that were set of throughout the entire night, ” Oh yes, the alarm was going off from 10 p.m. till around 6.30 am when the greedy takers had stopped taking, correction… I mean stealing!

 I put my iPhone on the bedside table and tried to clam the little man down who was now sobbing on my pillows (all three children were in my bed) I then sat by the bedroom window watching the looters using trolleys to carry their “freebies” The looters no longer ran as they had done some six hours earlier, they now strolled  taking their time! It looked as through it was a normal thing to do, anyone would think these guys were shopping at a 24hr supermarket, not robbing one that closed at 9.pm the night before. With not a police officer In sight except for the odd blue light driving right past the free for all, you can almost understand why some went back for seconds and thirds having filled their get away cars to the very rim.

 London and beyond was now becoming a burning inferno of terror. With the Government cutting back police the country didn’t stand a hope in hell, nor did the policemen that I saw being kicked and punched all over the papers on Tuesday morning.

 It was crazy when I re-checked my twitter stream, what had happened during the half an hour period of me being away was a little surreal. I had loads of new followers who were now also using the tag #lewishamriotcleanup. With many agreeing to meet with me at the Lewisham shopping centre at 9.am.

 The whole idea behind the cleanup was based on more than “Cleaning” My mother works for the council so I knew most had started early on a mission to clean the streets! My mission was to help those business who would show up at work in a few hours time to find the devastating mess and bill left by rioters and looters. Even if it meant sweeping glass, making tea, or just showing support, while showing others that we’re not all bad eggs, some of use stayed in our houses choosing not to rob our local high street shops. This went for the bigger companies too, (through we knew that it was the smaller retailers who would suffer most) that’s why we targeted lots of support to those smaller independent business.

 I decided to start getting ready for my mission but before I did I went through the many messages and mentions on my Twitter to establish if I would actually be doing this alone, despite  the support forming in cyberspace I wondered if when it came to it, would anyone show up at 9.am? It was only then that I saw a message from BBCs London the breakfast show requesting a live radio interview 15 minutes before my planed meet up. My heart was beating at a rate so fast I felt it in my feet, I said yes only to hold the nerves in the Pit of my stomach for the next few hours. Everything kept moving on at a rate that was hard to keep up with, (highlighting the power of social media in a good way). Next thing I knew I was dressed, the children’s father arrived to look after the children (all except little man who begged to come and help) We both set off towards Lewisham town centre “which had seen some awful riots these past few nights and days, along with the surrounding areas such as Lee and Catford.” It was in the taxi I did my live interview for BBC radio which luckily went swimmingly. Once out the taxi I noticed no one except on lady looking lost. This was our first fellow riot clean up volunteer. The group grew to around twenty, others came to wish us luck! I was more than shocked to discover a BBC news reporter was there who interviewed both myself and little man and some of the others. A member of the Lewisham refuge team came to inform us that all was in hand and we were not needed! I wanted to work with the council not against. We spit up and set off in small groups towards Catford High Street. I met fellow volunteers along the way and also discovered that more had turned up outside the shopping centre and would now set upon the mission within different areas of the borough. My small group had the pleasure of having the BBC reporter and later camera crew by our side the whole time, though this felt a little crazy. I did a good few interviews with her which were aired on the BBC London news at 6.30 that same evening. The report was quite a long report that also saw little man being interviewed. The reporter herself was lovely and really supportive off what we were doing making it that much easier. I also done a string of online and radio interviews throughout the day via my mobile phone, Yes, I did really say, “Lewisham was cleaner then usual”  it was true and just needed to be said  I tweeted what and were we were going and meet some fellow tweeters along the way.

A shop window in Catford high street following riots and looting

The Mess left by looters in Catford high street

 Little man felt quite angry at the whole riot business, especially as his beloved London buses had been targeted (except this time it wasn’t a terrorist attack)

Google images London bus ablaze in Croydon South London

A few of the Lewisham Riot Clean up crew

 One of the fellow clean up crew was a lovely young girl of 16 years who proved that not all youths are looting JD spots, some are actually cleaning it up. Yes, right at the end of the day we discovered the huge amount of smashed up glass that had been left dangerously over the pavement in front of the shop. I was so proud of little man and by taking him out there with me I hoped to show him that there was still good people in the world, and I think I achieved that.

Little Man outside JD sports with a fellow Lewisham Riot Clean up member.

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As Britain has its education system affected by government cuts, Cameron invest £650m in Pakistani schools

Image via Wikipedia

Its my 29th Birthday today and instead of starting my day on a high, I instead woke up to an unwanted kick in the guts from the one and only David Cameron.

IS CAMERON DELIBERATELY TRYING TO TURN THE BRITISH PUBLIC AGAINST HIM?

Well, that is what supporters he has left! I for one would absolutely love to give him a piece of my mind (amongst other things)

So, what’s the man who runs the country (very badly) gone and done now? Well, brace yourselves folks as this is a tad disturbing! Mr Cameron has only gone and promised Pakistan a nice big fat check of…. WAIT FOR IT… £650 Million to invest in….. WAIT FOR IT.….. Pakistani schools!

And why is he doing this? To make amends for the diplomatic rift caused by no other than that of himself. Last year Mr Cameron accused the country of, ‘Looking both ways on terrorism’ and this is the PMs way of an apology. “CAMERON, GET THEM A BUNCH OF FLOWERS MATE” I’m personally fuming with this man! Our education system is facing huge cuts, my son doesn’t have a school place and only yesterday I heard that primary school’s are so full that the possibility of primary school units being attached to secondary school’s looks more likely by the minute.

The A boy with Asperger’s support page I created on Facebook is fit to burst when it comes to parents with children on the spectrum that are not getting their special education needs met both in and out of school. What does it all boil down to? Money!!! We are totally sick of having to go to tribunal to fight for hours to be placed in part 3 of our children’s statements, “That’s those who are lucky enough to have a statement.” Many parents are still right at the starting pointing, battling for the statutory assessment their children require the LEA to perform, a process that takes forever.

We are short on school’s and there were many that were promised re-builds that have now been told to dream on! Special school’s are far and few between and if your lucky enough to get your child into your preferred special school or any school for that matter, they still may not receive the full support they need due to the schools being so overcrowded that the staff are teaching in makeshift classrooms, e.g… shipping carts, school hallways, cleaning cupboard, etc.

I’m sorry forks if you think I’m out of line here, but I’m only speaking up for what I believe to be an injustice to our country. I am all for giving to other needy countries the world pulling together and all that, however I have a child who has been dragged through the mill as a result of a system that is meant to provide him with an adequate education (Yep, the Ed Act 96 states that the child must be provided with an adequate education not the best, which makes it harder for a parent to battle against LAs when not naming the parents preferred school in a child’s statement) It’s shameful that the UK government even fail to ensure that an education of even this level is provide.

My point is, ” PAKISTAN SPEND ONLY 1.55 PER CENT OF ITS NATIONAL INCOME ON SCHOOLS BUT IS PLACING BILLION-POUND ORDERS FOR SIX CHINESE SUBMARINES AND 36 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT” As reported by the daily mail this morning.

The Daily Mail also reports that, “BRITAIN IS ALSO TO GIVE HIGHLY SENSITIVE MILITARY TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT ROADSIDE BOMBS TO THE PAKISTANI SECURITY SERVICES, WHICH ARE WIDELY BLAMED FOR FUNDING AND ARMING THE TALIBAN.”

“Oh my God” If this is correct then I can’t see how this man is still allowed to run our country! Not only is he providing £650 million pounds to invest in Pakistani schools when our own schools are struggling to provide a good enough education it’s been made even worse since the new government come into power and decided to implement cuts to a service that is already failing due to funding, but they are also risking the lives of our own troops in Afghanistan when going as far as offering to spend further millions on a centre of excellence for for the countries soldiers and spies in an area of militancy. What worries me is that Cameron was unable to answer the question of whether he was able to guarantee that the Pakistani intelligence service (ISI) will not hand such technology to the Taliban!

HOLLY BLOODY COW! This guy is playing with the life’s of our brave troops and our children’s future. I’ve always hated politics, I try avoiding it completely but sadly as you grow up and have children you realise things that you can’t ignore and it’s all based upon money and status, which really makes me sick!

Cameron defends his actions by claiming it’s in our best interest to invest and help Pakistan, if they are a success we’ll have a good friend to trade and invest with! He then went on to state that if Pakistan fail we will face problems of migration of extremism, So, its therefore in Britain’s interest that they succeed!

Here’s my thoughts on such a statement,

“Oi Cloth ears, I don’t want a bloody friend (I HAVE ENOUGH OF THOSE ALREADY THANK YOU!), What I want is for you to do what is right by my child and billions more like him here in the UK. I want you to stick outrageous amounts of cash into our education system, build more schools, put a stop to this silly delegated funding that is happening. I like many parents don’t want to go to the SEN tribunal to fight for my child’s right to be awarded a place in a school that can meet his needs when there is no others that can (BELIEF ME I’VE LOOKED) I want hours clearly stated in part 3 of Little mans statement (That’s my son by the way!) I want an individualised speech and language programme with a specific amount of hours dedicated to such a programme and specified in again part 3 of his statement. This is just some of what my child needs! You are handing out ridiculous sums of money to a country who doesn’t even need it! (SUBMARINES AND AIRCRAFT’S DON’T COME CHEAP) Don’t get me wrong, in no way do I blame the Pakistani people for this, It’s not their fault that those above them choose to spend just 1.55 per cent of its budget on education, However it’s not our fault either! Furthermore Sir Cameron… I want British troops who risk their lives for our country to receive a water tight guarantee that they will not be at risk anymore then they already are! By this I am not accusing the ISI of any wrong doing that’s not my job, I’m merely stating that if you cannot guarantee that the ISI will not share your gift with the Taliban then you are a bad man to take such a gamble. These man have family who do not wish to greet them home in a box! If you wish to apologise for remarks that you made which offended the Muslim nation… then do it the normal way with a shake of the hand and a gift of a smaller nature. That way you can come home and start making something of our schools (OR LACK OF THEM) If you do fancy being charitable then how about helping out Japan? Given that this is a place where schools are being re-built from scratch due to the recent disaster!”

LASTLY, I HAVE ONE QUESTION TO ASK OF MR DAVID CAMERON, “ARE THE GOVRENMENT TELLING BIG FAT PORKIES, IS THIS COUNTRY REALLY IN DEBT AS A RESULT OF THE LABOUR PARTY?” Please feel free to comment as to let myself and my readers know your answer.

Well, that feel’s a little better having got that of my chest! For all of you that work, when you get your next pay packet and feel a little sick at the large amount of money missing due to the amount of tax taken from you by the government then remember what the government is using it for. I’m not going to sit here and moan on and on about tax payers money as I pay so little right now, given that I’m a full-time carer for my children, one of which has Aspergers possible ADHD and special educational needs and currently has no school place. But before anyone decides to get on their high horse, I should mention that all my spare time is used to help the wider community as I’m a volunteer. Basically yes I do work! I just don’t get paid for it. My work is done around the children and little mans schooling, which means that not only I am getting the experience of doing what I love but the comfort of knowing I’m helping others. At the end of the day this huge sum of money Cameron plans to put into Pakistani’s schools is british tax payers money, yet many of these taxpayers are in the same boat as me when it comes to their child’s floundering education. Even more families are being forced out the workplace or can’t get a foot in it due to the latest cuts which has hit many of the services offered by the DWP, childcare being one of them.

To end a very long rant before I go off to enjoy what is left of my birthday, I want to share with you the “WHAT £650M COULD BUY” list produced by the Daily Mail in today’s paper.

• 60 years of free school meals for every primary & secondary pupil in England
• 21 new state-of-the art academy schools
• 1 years salary for 250,000 newly qualified teachers
• 24,074 full university student fees at the new rate of £27,000 for three years
• 30 grammar schools could be completely rebuilt 4,333 under privileged pupils could be sent to Eton College for full secondary school

There are things I would personally remove from the list to replace with other things that in my opinion are much more needed, for eg… new special, primary and secondary schools, home to school transport and specialised services, professionals and teachers but sadly I don’t have the statistics 🙂 However the list sums it up, Cameron is taking the biscuit! BIG TIME!!!

A message for Mr Cameron

Ok, So I had some problems with my auto publisher yesterday and this is a bit later than planed! However I think you will agree it was worth the wait. Colin explains how life is like for him today and back when he was a child. He tells us about his late diagnosis and the effects its had on his life. He even sends out a message for Mr Cameron, stating a few home truths.

Here’s my interview with Colin… A man with Aspergers

Enjoy.

Claire… Hi Colin, firstly let me thank you for taking part in the interview and also a big thanks for your continued support with the facebook page ABWA by way of the great advice and input you give within the page. So my first question to you is…

Would you be so kind to Describe yourself  in five words?

Colin… Obsessive, Stubborn, Shy, Intelligent, Creative

Claire… It’s my understanding that you were diagnosed as being on the spectrum as an adult… If you don’t mind me asking, how old was you when you were diagnosed and what diagnosis was you given?

Colin… I Was diagnosed at age 44, with Aspergers Syndrome

Claire… Can you tell us a bit about how the diagnosed came about? Did you always know you were somewhat “different” to your peers as a child?

Colin… My diagnosis came about through a councillor I was seeing, through talking to me about my past and how I interact socially. He thought I might have aspergers , so then arranged an appointment for me to be assessed to see wether I was or not. as for knowing if I was different or not, yes I did feel different even though I didn’t know exactly what was wrong, I always put it down to shyness and lack of self-confidence and being a little eccentric.

Claire… Wow I’m guessing that the diagnosis was quite a shock then?

Colin… Yes the diagnosis was a shock, even though it confirmed a lot of behavioural patterns that I had put down to something else…  The meltdowns, obsessions, not being able to talk to people etc.

Claire… Has a diagnosis changed anything for you?

Colin… Well if anything the more I know about my condition the more I feel im not in control. I was told that I would either just get on with my life without a hiccup or it would take over my life. Well, its taken over my life, ive let the diagnosis affect me. if that makes any sense.

Claire… That’s a really interesting statement… Do you think in a way you would have been better off not knowing then?

Colin… In my case I would have to say yes, only from my point of view, others might say I havent really changed at all, that the diagnosis has highlighted that it’s a condition not an attitude

Claire… How did family and friends react to the news?

Colin…  My family don’t know about my diagnosis. I havent been in touch with them for six years. I’ve not many friends at all in fact the ones I do call friends live over a hundred miles away but I haven’t seen them in five years, they don’t know! The friends I have online I’ve only told a select few

Claire…” I’m very sorry I didn’t know that you had not spoken to your family for so long and your friends live so far. I’m pleased you have those few people online to be open with (Me included)”

What would you say to the ignorant people who claim our children on the spectrum will grow out of it?

Colin… I would say that my case proves that you don’t grow out of it, as I’ve been told you either have aspergers from birth or you don’t have it at all, well for 44 yrs I wasnt diagnosed but when I was I certainly hadn’t grown out of it from childhood, it just didn’t suddenly appear it’s always been there I just slipped through the net for many years.

Claire… I mean all children with ASD become adults with ASD and sometimes I think people forget this. What do you feel is lacking within the current system in terms of support for adults on the spectrum?

Colin… There is no or little support from the government for adults, cause its taken as read that the diagnosis will be realised early enough to support them at an early age the support seems more geared towards children than adults, we are left to really fend for ourselves. There is a charity drop in center I can go to, but no 24/7 service. Basically I was given a diagnosis and go.

Claire… “I would have to say that this concern is voiced by every adult on the spectrum that I’ve come to know. It would seem the government just ain’t “getting it” either that or they don’t give a S**t!!!”

If I told you Mr David Cameron reads the blog (u never know lol) what would be your message to him?

Colin… We adults deserve support just as much as anyone else! Sweeping us under the carpet don’t help anyone, everyone talks about inclusion but if it cost money or difficult then you can forget it!

Claire… As an adult with AS can I ask you… Do the meltdowns, anxiety and extremely challenging behaviours improve with age, are you better able to control such  meltdowns now?

Colin… In my case the meltdowns still happen, but are less frequent than they used to be. As for controlling them I’m not sure I can control them… All I can say is that they don’t last as long as they did.

Claire… If you could go back in time and do things differently knowing what you know now what would it be?

Colin…  Not sure to be honest, I would have liked to have finished my degree in mechanical engineering, but let things slip. Not sure if that was down to my aspergers or not.

Claire… ” I would say it’s never to late to finish the things you started Colin”

How was your school life growing up?

Colin… I Was bullied at school, was a quiet and shy child who was quite happy to play on my own as well as with others. My obsession with music was noticeable to me at an early age about 10 years old.

Claire… “Oh my goodness I’m now getting an insight into the mind of my own little Aspie! Little man is 10 totally obsessed with buses and nothing has ever come closed till…… Now that is. He is a fan of Bruno Mars has stored a huge amount of info on the guy and after getting his album two days ago has memorised every song lyric for every track on the album. He can’t sing through and can drive me a bit potty with his singing lol”

So a quick change of subject! What do you think of our current educational system given that ASD is much more known today?

Colin… I Can only go from my own experiences, since I left school in 1979, can only say that the educational system is slow to react to things even when highlighted. Bullying is still rife now so what does that say?

Claire… “No Comment Colin”…. You know what I think!

So… Do you have any “special interest” Passions that take hold of you? Are these long-standing or do they change over time. Is music still a big part of your life?

Colin…  Music has always been a big part of my life, I’ve  been collecting music in various formats since I was 13. I’m obsessed with downloading music, writing poetry. All other obsessions come and go.

Claire… When are you happiest?

Colin…  Plugged into my iPod and writing poetry.

Claire… Do you or did you have Sensory processing problems as a child? Have these changed, improved or just been replaced?

Colin… Noise affects me and always has…  Just different levels or situations are more difficult to deal with than others, people eating, dogs yelping, get woken by the slightest noise so my sleep pattern is bad.

Claire… “I’ve always thought that Little mans father is an undiagnosed aspie and his pet hate is hearing others eat. You crunch he freaks out”

So, they say some people with AS have a high pain threshold! Do u? Little man don’t really get ill or catch bugs that often (unlike his younger sister) but he feels pain “big time” (if there’s blood we are in trouble) so, this don’t apply to us lol.

Colin…  Not sure if I have a higher threshold for pain, but I have a high threshold for dealing with low temperatures, don’t seem to feel the cold as deeply as others do.

Claire… “Yep Little man is the same…. No coat in winter and don’t take it off in summer”

Did you have many friends as a child and do you now?

Colin…  None, that’s my problem I don’t seem to be able to keep friends. People come into my life and then I let them fade away.

Claire… How do you find social situations?

Colin…  Still difficult, even with people I know.

Claire… What subjects did you excel in at school and what ones never made sense?

Colin… Technical Drawing and Maths.

Claire… Interesting… Can I ask is it mental math that your good at? Just that little man is ace at mental math ( better than me) and other parents have reported the same.

Colin…  Yes mental maths… I used to go to the shops at age 5 for my mother and was always able to count and know it was the right change I was getting for the items I was getting. still don’t use a calculator much in daily life.

Claire… It’s said by some that those with AS lack empathy! What do you say?

Colin… Maybe we lack social skills, but we are loving we just don’t know how to express things well, as for myself I express my self better in my poems than actually speaking etc

Claire… What advice would you give to an adult reading this that suspects they are on the spectrum? Is it to late for a diagnosis, is it really needed?

Colin… It really depends on his or her situation, whether it is affecting work and home life never too late for diagnosis.

Claire… What advice would you give to a child/teen that is struggling to come to terms with their diagnosis seeing themselves as someone who is  “abnormal” with very low self-esteem?

Colin… We are normal, we just look at the world in black and white rather than shades of gray, we can be too trusting. but as people we are no different from what is described as normal! We want to be loved, laugh, etc

Claire… “I just showed this to little man and he said thank you… He likes that!”

Colin… Tell little man I said thank you, us Aspies stick together.

Claire… What advice would you give to parents like me raising a child on the spectrum?

Colin… It will be hard, but if you keep giving your love and support as much as you can, the rewards will come, you will see your child grow into adulthood… I’m not saying with less problems but with more understanding and maybe more control.

Claire… Finally, I’m a big fan of your beautiful poems… I’m wondering if you could write one for us to sum up how life on the spectrum is for you. This would be a great ending to our interview.

I am seen but not seen

They see the book cover

Not the story inside

I breath, I bleed, I think

But I am not part of the crowd

My world is black and white

I can not understand

Subtle shades of grey

Warm bloodied

I am still bereft of love

For emotions are hard to fathom

What is easy for most

I find a mountain to climb

Do not pity me or scorn me

Do not hate me or ridicule me

Born from the womb

I am of flesh and blood

I am human too

By Colin Weir

That was fantastic Colin 🙂 Thanks again for giving us all an insight into the mind of a man with Aspergers.

Please feel free to leave your messages for Colin and I will see he gets them. If anyone would like to contact Colin you can friend request him on Facebook. Let me know and I will be sure to pass you the link.

Why Autism Sunday Matters!

Today is a big day in the land of autism for today is autism Sunday.

It’s sad but true, that for so many this means nothing. But then if Autism Sunday existed some ten years ago would it have meant anything to me?

“In a nutshell.. No” I would not have gave it a second thought to be honest, So to judge others would be hypocritical of me.

However things should have moved on a lot more given the rise in numbers of diagnosed cases of ASD today.

Little man was given a late diagnosis of Aspergers. Despite being taken on by camhs at age seven. During that very first visit we were told by the psychologist AS was likely to be a suitable diagnosis and referred onto the commications clinic he was actually nine when he received the formal diagnosis. That first psychologist who just knew it was AS moved to sunnier parts of the world and our loss was Australia’s gain. I beleive that if he never left things would have been formalised much sooner then they were. It was said that he displayed a mixed picture as school were insisting that they had not seen the behaviours I described saying that in their opinion any school problems were down to poor school attendence. I had a child who was on the spectrum and school phobic! But who the hell would listen? Two successful court apperances for the LEA shows that no one would. The same psychologist told us before he left that in his opinion it would only be a matter of time before little man is no longer able to surpress his anxieties when at school and as he gets older the taits of his suspected AS would unfold right before they’re eyes in an explosion of meltdowns, inappropriate languge and maybe even episods of violence that are beyond his control brought on by pure confusion, frustration and misunderstandings. By this time it would likely be to late for the mainstream relationship to continue.

As soon as he told me AS was suspected I cried so much that my eyes hurt, they honestly burnt… I then went home and started educating myself on everything autism spectrum. Suddenly everything begain to make sense for the first time in ages. For me it was becoming clear my child did in fact have AS or ASD. Later during my first court apperence for little mans constant school refusal I discovered the letter camhs had wrote to the school… It stated that they thought little man had ASD maybe Aspergers and that I was finding it very difficult to get little man to school, the likely effects his possible AS, insomina and anxieties. He went on to say I would need more support. He said he did not feel little man’s attendence concerns were due to a parental issue. It then went on to state how I was very shocked at the possible diagnosis and had become quite emotional. He had basically told them to give me a break! Yet stappled to that very same letter was a statement made by the then attendence and welfare officer (AWO) that read… “I can’t understand why mum would be so upset as it’s in the family” She was referring to little mans cousin on his fathers side, who was diagnosed with Autism aged 2. I was shocked to the core… How bloody insensitive was she! Come on if you have a family history of cancer, heart attack, diabetes which I do, would it therefore mean a person should not be shocked and emotional with a diagnosis of this kind? I’m not comparing any of the above to ASD I’m simply making a valid point of, “No matter what the bloody family history a diagnosis of any kind is bound to be an emotional one for any parent!” This woman showed ignorance on a whole new level.

Though my nephew now 8 was given a diagnosis of autism at two, I still knew little about the condition despite actually unknowingly raising a child on the spectrum. He was my first born and though I knew he was different I just didn’t know why.

I was treated like a lazy arse mother who couldn’t be bothered to get herself and child up and out of bed in the mornings. The threats of court action that were eventually carried through by the LEA and delivered by AWOs nearly broke me not once but twice! “This wasn’t what me or little man needed!” I would think to myself while sat though parenting classes that were directed at parents of unruly children (mainly teens) A few of the topics discussed included drugs, truancy, sexual relationships and teenage pregnancy! I stood up one evening and said, “what the hell am I doing here? My child is eight years old!” This was absurd, to my knowledge little man didn’t have a bloody clue about drugs! and I sure as hell hoped he wasn’t planing on making out with the ladies just. Still I sat through many useless classes as a result of that first court order.

Lucky for me the second court apperence was a nice big fine instead! Note, * Pure Sarcasm* Yet it could have been worse the LEA were taking me to court on the more serious charge of 4441(a) which basiclly means… Being a parent of a child of compusory school age who has failed to ensure their school attendence and the parent knowingly allows this by not taking him/her to school as opposed to 4441 of the education act that just means the above excluding the knowingly allows part! So how could it have gotten any worse? Well the penalty for 4441(a) is a prision sentence, level 3 fine or both. The judge dismissed the LEAs claim and although I was punished for having a child with AS who was a school refuser it was treated as 4441 meaning a lighter punishment of a £300 fine that I didn’t have so had to pay in installments. Of course this money would be better spent on my children, but hay injustice is never fair.

You really need all this what with being a parent of three children, two school aged (one with AS) and a newborn baby (yes second court apperance was served on me a few days before I gave birth to my youngest

Well the psychologist was right and those that read regularly will know that yes little mans AS did unfold before the schools and LEAs eyes and was dealt with by way of isolation, exclusions (I’ve lost count) In fact little man was being excluded as I stood in court like the naughty mummy I am! and now he receives education otherwise then at school while he awaits a place at a special school and the copy of his final statement of Special educational needs. There is also a pending disability discrimination hearing so a lot has happened since them court apperences most of it isn’t great as you can clearly see.

It’s no good being bitter, It eats away at your insides! However it’s hard not to be given you have stood in court twice, your childs school reported no issues and a year and ahalf later his had more exclusions then I’ve got shoes, you battle for a statement and work your arse of preparing your case for the tribunal due to your claim of discrimination, your child is now without a school and has zero self-esteem, you read reports from education professionals that show that they spend more time assessing you as a parent and questioning your mental health, that the child is left to fall through the cracks in the system, your tired.. so fucking tired that you burst into floods of tears because you spill the cereal at breakfast and you even forget your own bloody name when filling out forms!

Despite all the above I can now say I’m not bitter! I’m stronger! Though my battles are clearly not over and likely one will always arise. I’m putting my experiences to good use by helping others. I’ve done my training and now help other parents of children with autism with a right of appeal to the tribunal. I’m working with little man and his tutor to repair the damage of late diagnosis and mainstream school and today I will be saying a pray asking god for better understanding and support for those children and adults with Autism and Aspergers. Please Note this is not because I believe they are incabable of leading a perfectly good normal life, but because I believe the system does a pretty fine job at trying to make sure they can’t! Late diagnosis, long waiting list, battles to statement, lack of provision, jobs and support services are lacking and though I follow an array of campaigns trying to better all the above, progress is still lacking!

I think David Cameron needs to do a little more then say a few supportive words in aid of autism Sunday! However what did we expect when words are free! Let’s not bank on any support that costs money! The man is slowly stripping the country of it’s children services alongside the very few service supplied to adults on the spectrum.
I think in all honesty the man has some bare faced cheek.

Later today I will be posting an interview on the blog that I had with a very nice man called Coiln who wasn’t diagnosed with Aspergers till he was 44 years old. Did he get the support once diagnosed?

I think we all know the answer to that. What will it take to make things better? Anyone!

I wish you all a great Autism Sunday! Let’s aim to raise some real awareness today to all those untouched by ASD.
We are not asking for anything but a little less ignorance and tad more understanding as the odds are rising that someone you know now or sometime in the further, will have a autism spectrum condition with numbers of diagnosed cases rapidly increasing it seems like an idea to me.