SWIMMING AT SUN LANE POOL

WAKEFIELD

Just a reminder that we have arranged further Sunday afternoon swimming sessions

(3pm – 4pm) at Sun Lane Pool on the

17^th October

21^st November

19^th December (to be confirmed)

Apparently, only a few turned up for the September session so I do hope that more members will take full advantage of these FREE sessions in future. We will have the pool to ourselves, the shallow end(s) will be sectioned off and floats etc. will be available.

Oh, just a further bit of public information for anybody out there suffering with ‘any degree’ of infirmity or disability. Sun Lane holds a ‘Muscle Mobility’ class at their Friday afternoon session (4 pm – 5.45 pm - but I’m told it is best to get there around 3.50 pm). People with just a slight disability can attend, perhaps following advice from their doctor etc. and, from October, there will be a Physiotherapist present from 4.45 pm to 5.45 pm. Normal admission charges apply but carers are free.

Sun Lane baths now have disabled changing facilities in both the Male and Female Changing Rooms (including Disabled toilet and washing facilities). Some time back, I was told that two sets of longer, sloping steps ‘were on order’ which will give even better access to the pool. Upon request, there is always someone available to assist with the existing hoist if this is required.

Carole

Hello, my name is Jacob Spence.

I am 11 years old, I went fishing from the Wakefield support group, I have Asperger

Syndrome and I like fishing, golf and nature.

I would like to thank Harry for organising and

Bob and Tony for lending and helping me with their equipment.

On the first day I caught:

3 X BIG bream

1 X crucian carp

And 1 X rud.

On the second day:

2 X Crucian carp (one was 3 pounds in weight)

2 X small bream and one BIG bream

Harry said “whoooh haahaa that’ll get you a certificate” for the fish but everyone else

caught big fish at least 3 pounds I will get a passbook and a certificate.

Yours sincerely Jacob Spnce

MUMS NOTE;-

Just to add that both Jake and I have enjoyed 2 lovely evenings fishing. Even the rain stayed away (most of the time) Jacob has talked about

going fishing a number of times but as neither Dad nor myself know anything about fishing we didn’t know where to start, so this was an ideal opportunity.

Fish were caught at quite a rate – and with non barbed hooks so that the fish were returned to the water unharmed which suits Jacob’s caring nature.

So I can’t thank Harry enough for setting this up. Bob and Tony were brilliant, sitting with us giving us their time, encouragement and most importantly trusting us with their rods and things!

FOCUSABILITY WAKEFIELD

It is hoped that our group will be represented at the 8th Annual FocusAbility Wakefield Exhibition to be held on Sunday 3^rd October at Thornes Park Athletics Stadium - 10 am to 3 pm.

FocusAbility aims to promote the well-being of the whole community and to alleviate exclusion, discrimination and poverty of disabled people.

If you are free on the 3^rd, why not go along and give your support. I’m sure there will be plenty to interest everyone.

Carole

FISHING

The recent Wakefield Angling Club fishing sessions held at Flanshaw Dam were a huge success, despite the bad weather. A few parents cancelled due to the heavy rain during the day but those children who went along thoroughly enjoyed themselves, as can be seen from the email I received from Jake.

Harry Lodge told me that all the kids did really well and some very big fish were caught! So much so, that the

WAKEFIELD AUTISM LEISURE CLUB

Is a sports club for children and young adults with learning difficulties. Meeting twice weekly

during term –time at the Thornes Park Centre of Wakefield College.

Juniors;- Aged 8 to 11 years

Seniors;- Aged 12 years and upward.

Mondays;- Juniors 5.00 to 6.00 p.m.

Wednesdays;- Senior Swimming 5 .00 to 6.00 p.m..

Seniors 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.

Junior/ Senior;- Bowling 5.00 to 6.30 p.m.

We are recruiting new members – please contact;-

Mandy Day, Tel. 01924 373159

Claire Stephenson, Tel. 01924 820233

Or ring Denise at 250812 if you want to know how her Matthew “gets on” there.

They are also having a jewellery party 6.00 to 10 p.m., 21^st. November at West Wakefield Methodist Church, Thornes Road (our recent conference venue) where there will be photo displays of children with autism enjoying sporting activities. Please do support if you can.

WAC is awarding some (very well deserved) Certificates of Merit to our young anglers.

He is also hoping to arrange some further sessions for our group which, due to the dark

nights, will probably be held at the weekend or on a Bank Holiday.

Watch this space…. Carole

SENSORY ROOM AT SURESTART, LUPSET, WAKEFIELD

Sitting on a bean bag, my son Joseph happy, listening to relaxing music, watching fibre optic lights and bubble lamps that’s my idea of heaven! Well one of them anyway.

It can also be reality when you visit Surestart at Lupset. They have a sensory room that is ideal for children with special needs. It seems to stimulate them in a positive way, for example, it encourages Joseph to say the different colours as the fibre optic lights change, or whilst he watches the images on the wall. It is also very soothing for both parent and child, I recommend it highly.

Joseph really hates going anywhere new, but after the first visit he couldn’t wait to get out of the car and go to the “light room” as we call it.

Gill Dargon is the lady to contact, she comes into the room with you for the first visit, and explains how everything works. We’ve been five times now, and it still interests Joseph. It means a lot to me to be able to go somewhere with him that he is happy to participate in, and get something out of the time there.

Looking after a child with ASD is challenging and tiring so treat yourself and your child to some quality time. For further details ring Surestart on 01924 302333 and ask for Gill.

Catherine Milne

WANTED – URGENT ASD TRAINING FOR

PROFESSIONALS

“Sept. 2004 Column 308WH

Asperger’s Syndrome 3.30 pm

Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton & Honiton) (Con): I am pleased to see the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the Hon. Member for South Thanet (Dr Ladyman) in his place in what is becoming an almost annual occasion for which I make no apology. You will recall, Mr Deputy Speaker, that I secured a debate on Asperger’s Syndrome on 10.9.03 to discuss the impact on adults and adolescents who had been misdiagnosed by Psychiatrists, particularly provincial Psychiatrists, who confused their autistic behaviour with Schizophrenia. They were, to their detriment, treated as Schizophrenics, with all the drugs that that treatment involves. Difficulties then arose in managing their lives and damage was done.

To set the scene, I shall repeat something that I said at the beginning of my speech last year, because it is still relevant to today’s debate: VERY FEW PROVINCIAL PSYCHIATRISTS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN EITHER THE DIAGNOSIS OR THE MANAGEMENT OF ASPERGER’S SYNDROME; even fewer have gained the necessary experience in their working lives to be able to differentiate between a mental health condition and what many of us would regard as normal autistic behaviour, which sometimes even professional Psychiatrists might well interpret as something quite different.

Very few Psychiatrists in this country have the expertise to differentiate between Autism and Schizophrenia and yet, day after day, people with Asperger’s Syndrome are admitted to mental health hospitals and are diagnosed and treated by people with that lack of experience.”

And so the lady goes on giving a very sad example of a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome who, mistakenly, was diagnosed as schizophrenic and who had been in Broadmoor hospital for ten years. It’s happening all over, isn’t it, and in every area of life. Ignorance and lack of training within professional circles CAUSES IMMENSE AND LIFELONG PROBLEMS TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY AUTISM.

Whilst on the subject of lack of ASD training amongst professionals , I’d like to further rant about the following tale I came across:

It is the duty of the State to intervene into the care and upbringing of any child who it considers to be legitimately at risk within its family unit. However, HOW the State decides if a child is legitimately at risk is an area of great concern for parents with autistic children. There are far too many untrained people allowed to work with our children who, having little understanding of the autistic spectrum, are allowed to raise concerns without properly understanding the condition. Lack of knowledge and misinformation creates havoc.

I heard of a case (not in Wakefield I might add) where a young adult with autism attended a Social Services Day Centre. The young woman (who is on the lower functioning end of the spectrum) was slow putting on her coat when it was time to go home. A worker at the Centre was watching and asked “Don’t you want to go home?” The young lady answered “Don’t want to go home”. The worker then repeated the question and again received the same reply - “Don’t want to go home”. The worker saw this as a positive sign that the young lady was being abused in some way by her parents. By the time the parents arrived to collect their daughter she was being bundled against her will into a Social Services bus and taken to a safe house.

It was six weeks before they were to see their daughter again. If the worker had had even a basic understanding of autism then they would have been aware that many autistic people have ECHOLALIA and repeat particles or all of phrases spoken to them. Unfortunately, this worker did not have that level of understanding and, more worryingly, their superiors continued to back up the worker and the girl was made a ward of court. Eventually, after weeks of anguish and many hundreds of pounds being spent on solicitors, this girl was returned home. She now attends another Day Centre but will not ever take off her outer garments as she is now terrified that she will not be allowed to go home at the end of the day.

It doesn’t bear thinking about, does it? Carole

Childrens Party

Denise informs us that;-

To be held Sunday 5^th. December at West Wakefield Methodist Church, Thornes Road, WAKEFIELD

From 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Magician, Balloon Animals, Party Games and Party Food.

We are not calling it a Christmas Party as it is too early to be getting excited.

There will be presents from a special character!

RETIRED TEACHERS

In July, Melanie and I went along to speak about autism to a local retired teachers’ group meeting. It all went very well and they were very interested and genuinely surprised at what we had to tell them. In short, they were amazed when autism was explained to them and they were very shocked when they heard about our experiences.

Afterwards, more than one retired teacher remarked how our talk had triggered memories of children they had taught in the past who, at that time, were considered slightly odd or problematic. They told us that, in their day, nothing at all was known about autism but now, with hindsight, they feel sure that those children were probably ‘somewhere on the spectrum’.

They found it extremely worrying that the majority of today’s teachers and NTAs still remain totally ignorant and untrained regarding ASD and said that they would do all they could to raise autism awareness through their existing contact with the education system. The final and most logical question they asked, however, was “shouldn’t the WSGA really be talking to today’s teachers about this ever increasing and complex issue?” Our response was “Oh, to be given such a glorious opportunity!”

Following our visit, the group’s Chair sent me a letter of thanks and good wishes, informing us that “a contribution to our funds will be forthcoming as soon as possible”. She also encouraged us to “keep up the excellent work in making the general public more aware of autism”.

- Carole -

P S It goes without saying of course, that we, as a group, would welcome any opportunity to raise autism awareness and understanding within schools and the education system as a whole, so if anyone reading this article can offer any suggestion or help in bringing this about locally, please get in touch. The fact that there are so many ASD untrained and unqualified people responsible for educating children who have such complex, specific and unique needs is very worrying. (An even scarier fact is that OFSTED, the people who regulate and inspect LEAs, also do not have autism specific training).

- -

Whilst on the subject of raising ASD awareness with teachers and NTAs, at our last Monday night meeting, we showed a 25 mins. video called “Ask Me about Asperger’s Syndrome”. This American video is basically aimed at teaching staff; explaining all about AS and offering practical suggestions and techniques to assist those who have these children in their classroom. (This is the video I actually showed to the Police when they invited me along to speak on autism at Bishopsgarth Police Training School recently). There is a small ‘waiting list’ for this video but, if you are interested, please contact Laura (or Norma) to book this for the future. Carole