Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Asperger’s syndrome - 'J' aged 7 years
(Continued from > Background)
How BrainChild helped J
I first met Viv
at St
Thomas’s
school where she was acting head. At the time I was visiting schools to
decide
which might be the best place for my son to attend. We started chatting
about
his difficulties and she told me about her research. Brantfield Nursery
Head
teacher then told me about a talk that Viv was giving at Vicarage park
and
after attending that I became very interested to learn more.
Things had
become so bad and ’s
difficulties so overwhelming and exhausting that I had to find some
more ways
to help him. We had carried out the arduous statementing process and
had
secured extra help in the classroom, which he was lucky to start school
with. I
wanted to help him more so he could learn and catch up with the other
children.
My biggest concern was his social difficulty.
Soon after his
reception year, I was contacted by The Family Centre with
the offer of a place on a Brainchild Course. This was to be nine
sessions (2
hours each) held every 2-3 weeks with the time in between to be used to
practice the exercises.
The parents had
a preliminary meeting where we filled in a behaviours
checklist and talked about the rules and expected behaviour during the
sessions.
The programme
started with an individual assessment. J was possibly
at his worst this day and refused to co-operate much at all. I left feeling that I would be
lucky to even get him to stay in the same room as the course let alone join in.
I did
take him to the hall a few days before the course began so that at
least he
would be familiar with the room.
An overwhelming success
The first
session was an overwhelming success. J was happy to
attend and join in and
when we left he was excited about the next session. The activities were
fun and
we all joined in. It was such a great feeling to see J
succeeding and for us to be together
in such a positive way. He thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and the
games with
the other children and would even ask to do some of the excercises. He
also
loved the special time it gave us together as mother and son. He never
resisted
or complained about going and would look forward to the sessions.
Major changes
It was less than 2 weeks after
starting the course that I started to
notice major changes in ’s
behaviour. Overall he seemed calmer and more confident. Our
relationship had
improved and most importantly he seemed more able to concentrate and
more
focussed. School had also noticed a huge improvement. He had started
trying to
write at school and was even enjoying practising and succeeding.
His neurotic
and obsessive behaviour was less and he seemed more able
to understand and reason with me. He also was more willing to accept
help and
guidance from me with things he was learning and so for me at last I
was able
to offer him some help. By the last session of the course so much had
changed.
His balance had improved and he uses both sides of his body separately.
He can now
use one foot to brake whilst on the scooter.
Amazing
The final
assessment was another one to one session with Viv and the
improvements were amazing. It was a different child to the one at the
assessment several months before. He was co-operative and able to
follow
instructions as well as communicate and show his ability.
At the
beginning of his year 2 (age nearly 7) we had a
breakthrough and he is now able to wear school uniform which has helped
him to
fit in even more with his class. He loves school and is very fond of
his
teachers. He is a very sociable well-behaved boy. He enjoys IT, music
and
dancing and his reading is steadily improving. There have been
continuous
discussions with school and regular meetings about IEP’s and
progress. I am
fully involved and supportive of the school and we have regular daily
verbal
feedback about .
A group of friends
He has a group
of friends that he
plays and interacts with and we are all so pleased with his progress.
It is obvious
that the Brainchild programme has helped his increased
maturity, concentration and ability.
I just wish it
was available to every
child.
Amy
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