RDI, respite care ( Was:Re: Re: Special schools (UK)

[Guest guest]

Sara,

I would like to find out about it at some point, but we've only had

ABA for Henry for 18 months and it took so long to get I don't want

to upset the cart. His skills level was so low when he started and I

am so grateful for the progress he has made in these areas. However

he remains, of course, very autistic and always returns to his stims.

I am not well enough at the moment to take on anything new, but I

should like to know how RDI works. As a single mum, I am all too

aware of burnout (mine that is) and there is only so much one can do

at a time. (Warning to other single parents: I believe it's

impossible to keep fighting on all fronts all the time. Sometimes

things have to be allowed to slide.)

Respite care is a problem - I need it very much and Henry needs a lot

of physical activity which I can't provide. Since respite care was

restored in February he has had 6 separate carers. By the end of the

year this figure will rise to 8. I don't know how training and

consistency in approach can ever be achieved with this situation, but

I can't manage without the respite. The LA now propose we move to

institutional respite as this would be more reliable and they say

Henry would still be taken out for activities. At the moment he

enjoys swimming, the zipwire at the park, the swings and the

Christmas ice rink. He can now skate independently!

I am assuming RDI requires the parents to do a lot of the work. How

exhausting is it, and how rewarding?

Margaret

> > > > >

> > > > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for

from a

> > > > > special school

> > > > >

> > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream

> > school

> > > > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no

speech

> > > > > except babbling

> > > > >

> > > > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school

split

> > > > > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers).

> > > > >

> > > > > What additional things should a Special school do to

primarily

> > > help

> > > > > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than

> > mainstream

> > > > >

> > > > > My dream was:

> > > > >

> > > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home

> > > > > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to

> > > replicate

> > > > > it at home

> > > > >

> > > > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP

(compared

> > > to

> > > > > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an

answer

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks for any help on this

> > > > >

> > > > > xx

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

>