Libertine

Happy Easter to all of you my friends, and family! As the season approached, I have finally received the long awaiting decision from the Department of Work and Pension regarding my appeal against their reward of my daughter's Disability Living Allowance.  Originally, they rewarded her lower mobility and lower care components saying that she needed only 1 hour of extra care... I appealed, as for a 13 year old, she is not as independent and resourcefull. As most of people with autism she simply... Read Full Story

It's been very quiet on the school front lately. Cirwen is happier, goes to school without fear, so I don't have to call and complain, remind of hypersensitivities, beg for help. The school does not call to inform me of good or bad incidents. Today, my daughter came back from school and told me she has been taken from the PE class to take a dyslexia and dyscalculia test ... ?!  She has told me that it is organised by the school SEN -Co (Special Education Needs Coordinator). Well. I am happy... Read Full Story

Here we are again.  April - the month dedicated to our beautiful people with Autism. In the jungle of questions what causes it, if we can cure it, how to live with it, why me...etc., the most improtant (in my humble opinion) is are we able to embrace it?  And the Autism Awareness means exactly that.  Those  who are touched by this condition live it everyday. Us parents embrace, understand and fight for rights and wellfare - we spread awareness to all who want or need to listen. This year... Read Full Story

Hello my darlings. I am back again. I have lost the battle with system. Health authorities indeed do not deal with learning difficulties and school will not fork out the money as well. I am to go to test my girl privately, which I will of course... just saving funds now, ha ha. What happened was hundreds of emails, appeals, referrals and re-referrals  and constant rejections. This did not make me too happy obviously and I spent my time moping, not really wanting to talk about it. Well, I am... Read Full Story

This is a question a lot of parents of children with Autism ask. A lot of parents with children neurologically typical ask me. How do you deal with it? I am sure having a high functioning autistic child is different, than a non verbal, severely affected one, but it doesn't mean it's much easier. As I wrote somewhere before, when the diagnosis was pronounced, it was not a surprise. With that however, came an emotional storm. Is it my fault? What it really means? What can I do? What the future... Read Full Story

I am back to square one. The clinic we attended in the past cannot see us, due to the change of boundaries. In the meantime the GP has referred us to another NHS service, they also will not see young people from our area of the city. I am back on the trail, looking for appropriate clinic to do the required tests... none of the representatives of regecting us was able to tell me which clinic serves the South of Bristol... In the end, I have emailed Primary Care Trust for information. No answer... Read Full Story

There is a very remarkable man on twitter today. Yesterday morning, Gray Collins or @ diaryofaledger started his 60 hour tweetathon to raise the money for the National Autistic Society in the Isle of White. The target is £5000. Gray is now tweeting at least every 10 minutes for over 30 hours and raised over £2100! He is doing it because his nephew and niece are on the autistic spectrum and he can closely see the struggle his family face every day. Whoever you are, please visit his website. If... Read Full Story

This second video Ryan has made, carries a lot of weighty questions to organisations providing and training dogs to assist the vulnerable. I thought we all should know about the flaws in the system Ryan has noticed, and is not afraid to ask loudly about them. While some are lucky, the others are left queueing or simply deemed not eligible for a life companion. For example, I found out that in UK the dogs are NOT available for people between 11 and 16/18 years old... Why? I am waiting for a... Read Full Story

Thanks to Squirrel Queen from The Road to Here, I have done something new and finally joined twitter as well. Simple Sunday Blog Hop Go try! Read Full Story

Today, I'd like you all to meet my guest: Ryan and her beautiful white German Sheppard , Nimrodel . Ryan is an Autistic young woman thanks to whom, I have found out about the Autism Service Dogs. Nim has made Ryan's independent life possible and happy. Please listen and watch their story: (she says it's a draft, but I wouldn't change it) Autism service dog dedication - video by Ryan Contacts for USA organisations - the best of all Wilderwood and Highland Canine Contact for United Kingdom... Read Full Story