Oh it's a bit of a pickle with life at the mo
with everyone wondering whether to go to and fro
Some kids back to school and adults back to their jobs
I feel some high fives but also some sobs

Mr T has been doing college work from home 
He's coped very well and without a moan
He still has to continue as we take the next phase
of relaxing the lockdown and finding our ways

I know Mr T is twenty and not a studying academic
but life skills to him are as important in this pandemic
So to support him I feel I must continue to do
but I want to re launch work stuff and start anew

I'm sure it will be fine and I'll find my way through
I just hope other people will understand too
I'll just take it at a steady pace
and come to terms that this isn't a race

It's just organising a new way to do it again
It's always a juggle when it comes to S.E.N
I'm probably worrying for nothing so stop listening to me
everyone has their stuff so let's get on, take deep breaths 
ONE, TWO, THREE

I saw a spray of water cascading over the fence
I must admit it made me feel a bit tense
I knew it wasn't rain as it was a hot sunny day
When I looked Mr T was trying to wash the car with a fence in the way

Mr T you need to ask if you want to wash the car
not try and complete the mission from afar
I knew I should have tackled this as lots of comments had been made
and when Mr T has a task in his head it usually won't fade

So out came the buckets and we did open the gate
at last no longer did he have to wait
He worked hard and seemed satisfied when done
tick that job off, the task has been won

​ 

Mr T has had a new Thomas and Friends dvd
which he seems really excited to see
Actually we both watched it on Channel Five 
but this dvd it keeps his collection alive

Ninety five he has of Thomas and Friends now 
that's an amazing amount, wow!
He brings the boxes in which they are stored downstairs for me to see
'Behold' he will say 'look what I have with me'

It's as if it's the very first time they have been on display
but this, oh this happens every other day
I don't mind though as I could watch his proud presentation alot
I love seeing his face and everything he has got 

We don't quite go through the whole ninety five
I think that would send us into overdrive
he picks a few favourites and the info he likes reciting
about the cast, directors and stories that are exciting

He has loved Thomas and Friends since he was small
some say at aged twenty it's time to withdraw
Why though if he loves it and the engine himself is now seventy five
Nah I'll settle for viewing his collection as long as I'm alive

Our Mr T is enjoying college from home
It makes him feel he isn't alone
he can video call his tutors and friends online
checking that everyone is absolutely fine

He has had work sent home for him. to do
it is a bit different and even his teacher is new
Yep mum is here to help with a task 
until any maths crops up then she has to ask

There is a routine and it works ok
we have had to adapt and work a new way
A good balance seems to be the key
and if it's all too much we'll leave the work be

Lockdown and autism can be a bit tricky
but all this is to prevent us getting sicky
For some the isolation is nothing new
it's the way things should be for that selected few

So we will carry on working, getting creative and baking
watching enough Fireman Sam and Engie Benjy for the taking
Knowing one day we will be able to acknowledge
The chance to get back to the real college

It's been the week of attending an interview for college. Mr T will end his time at his present setting where he has been really settled for three years now. So now it's time for a move and a big change.

I say interview but really it was just a chat for us to sit down and discuss Mr T's needs and whether the college could meet them to be able to support him. It was very thourough and I was impressed how they went into every detail really. This gave me as a parent reassurance that it was going to be the right place for him. 

I think even on the initial visit before we decided it was a great place, it's like any other big decision, sometimes you just know when it feels right. I was a bit nervous on interview day, probably more so than Mr T. He needs a lot of support through this process. I don't know about you as parents but there is finding a balance of supporting and not answering for them too much. 

I have always been conscience of this recently. I mean when he was younger it was easier but now Mr T is an adult, I want to let him speak up for himself but these things make you realise sometimes it is very hard for him. It's a situation where it brings home the reality of his autism and how vulnerable he is with his difficulties in communicating.

We got through though with amazing support from the college and he now has a place on a Pathway to Independence course. This course is very different from the one he is on at the moment as it will involve more practical life skills and no academic work. Mr T is happy and it's a move forward to starting in September.

Overall I felt really pleased with the process, how the college representative conducted the interview and we feel it is going to be the right course. If you are in a similar situation, don't worry it is always difficult talking through your child or your youngs persons needs. Some find it harder than others, some find it really easy but it gets the correct support in the end and that's what we all want.

Thank so much for reading today, I will be back tomorrow for Pass the Remote Sunday for for now.....

​Take care.

It was quite nice that our meeting at the National Autistic Society Derby Branch this month coincided with Autism Awareness Week. What a lovely meeting which did include some AGM business but that was soon sorted and we all decided to continue as we were for another year....woo hoo!!

It was so good to sit down, relax and have a chat. We were supposed to discuss places to visit as the school holidays are approaching but we ended up discussing our own autism. There were people in the room already diagnosed and some thinking of a diagnosis and it was fun to discover more about each other.

We talked about words we liked and some we disliked, certain routines and the diagnosis process itself. I think even though a couple of us came into the meeting a bit frazzled, tired and just generally stressed, we all left quite relaxed and chilled, a complete contrast. That was support working right there and it was so clear to see it worked.

What great evening and may they continue too, a lot coming up with speakers and workshops to give people that help they may need and lots of useful information.

Thank you for reading today, come back tomorrow for some natter about the telly on Pass the Remote Sunday  but for now......

Take care.

We are zooming in to yet another month and coming up to another of our meetings with the National Autistic Society Derby Branch so if you are in the area on Tuesday 2nd April at 7pm then please do come along to The Farmhouse Mackworth and join us.

Tea and coffee will be provided by the lovely staff at the venue or drinks are also available from the bar. We will have our annual AGM business to take care of at the beginning of the meeting but this won't take long. We will then be discussing our topic for this month which is 'ideas of friendly places to visit'. This is usually a great topic to share ideas on as the holidays are fast approaching and everyone tends to be on the look out for opportunities to get out and about.

So you would be very welcome to pop along if you are in the local area. The Farmhouse is situated at 60 Ashbourne Rd, Mackworth, Derby DE22 4LY. If you would also like to be kept up to date with any information regarding the Derby and District branch of the NAS there is a Facebook page here:
www.facebook.com/NASDerbyBranch/

Thank you for reading today, please join me again tomorrow for Pass the Remote Sunday but for now.....

Take care.

It's that time of the year coming up when we can all take part in raising awareness about autism and maybe do a little fundraising too. Not that we shouldn't be doing that all year round but this week, between the 1st and 7th April the National Autistic Society have set up some events for everyone to enter into.

You can sign up for a free pack which will give you lots of information and which also includes a spectrum cake recipe from Jane Asher, a quiz from The Chase's Anne Hegerty and a fun wildlife sweepstake poster from NAS ambassador Chris Packham.

Sign up soon for the Spectrum Night Walks which are taking place on the 6th April in London, Cardiff, Belfast, Manchester and Glasgow. A fun way to raise money but the last chance to sign up is on Monday 25th March  so dust off those walking shoes quickly.

You can push yourself to the Virtual Challenge - 7K for 700K where you could cycle, run, or swim 7K for the 700,000 autistic people in the UK. This can take place anywhere you want all you need to do is book on the NAS website to enable you to receive support, information and the all important medal at the end of your challenge. You could even have your own medal awarding ceremony to finish off.

If you work in school then sign up for a free schools pack The primary resources include the Trummies - six colourful characters celebrating difference and diversity and the secondary resources feature Niall Aslam from Love Island who is autistic. When you sign up you can be entered into a prize draw for a school visit from Anne Hegerty so get raising all your trivia and become quizzing experts in preparation, just in case.

Phew, what a lot to do....for all the information about Autism Awareness Week just go to the National Autistic Society Website here at:
www.autism.org.uk

Thank for reading today and hope you can get involved in some way. I will be back tomorrow for Pass the Remote Sunday but for now......

Take care.

We had a lovely NAS branch meeting in Derby this week where we had a discussion about sensory differences and how they can affect autistic people. It is a subject that pops up quite a bit and people are always after a few ways of how to deal with sensory differences especially when it comes to autism.

Of course we are all aware of our senses and if most people are asked how many senses we have we normally answer with commonly known five which are sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. Some will say there are a lot more than this but when we discuss it around autism we tend to stick to the five we know and then two more being vestibular (balance) and proprioception (body awareness).

It was just so nice to sit in a group and discuss how all these sensory differences can play a part in our lives and those of our children. We chatted about each individual experiences and how they certain sensory needs can affect education and then how to cope with the changes at home, sometimes very different. It is also making other people aware of these differences enabling people to support autistic people in every situation. 

We chatted and chatted and before we knew it it was the end of the session so that just shows how we can become engrossed in this subject. I think people went away with some new information and how to cope with certain situations. Sensory differences and the way we process these differences can be tough and quite demanding especially when it affects behaviour in a big way. It was so reassuring to share our stories and give support to those who maybe were struggling a bit.

There is quite a bit of information regarding sensory differences on the main NAS website here www.autism.org.uk/about/behaviour/sensory-world.aspx so do take a look and if there is a branch near you then maybe they have a support group too where you can go along and have a chat just like we did this week. 

Thank you for reading today. I will be back tomorrow for Pass the remote Sunday but for now......

​Take care.

Oh the DVLA sent people's hearts and minds into a bit of a flutter in the past month didn't they? Nothing like a bit of confusion to make people feel uneasy and worried. 

In February the DVLA gave out information in regard to autism stating that people must disclose their autistic diagnosis if they were driving. To add to this they said that anyone who failed to disclose their condition would face a fine up to £1000. Now this kind of stands with medical conditions. In general, if you do fail to inform the DVLA of any medical condition and you are involved in an accident then you can face a fine of £1000.

With regard to autism they have now updated their information and you now only have to inform them if you think your diagnosis of autism affects your ability to drive safely. They do say that they will contact people who have sent disclosures in to see whether their condition does affect their driving, if not those disclosures will be destroyed.

I can see why this may have worried so many people as they would have thought that they would be driving illegally or just been annoyed that their policies should change suddenly regarding autistic people. If you have a diagnosis and have passed your driving test then you have been assessed already on your ability to drive and if you are preparing yourself to drive then the present driving test does give access to those people with autism and sensory needs so you can get support there.

If you need to know more about driving then here is a link to the National Autistic Society website which gives you all the up to date information regarding licences, learning to drive, tests, fitness rules and the blue badge scheme.
 www.autism.org.uk/about/family-life/everyday-life/driving.aspx

I hope that just clarifies a little about the situation after so many stories and rumours were flying around. Please do contact the NAS or the DVLA if you are still worried, there are contact details in that link to be able to get more information and support if you should need it.

Thank you for reading today. I will be back tomorrow for Pass the Remote Sunday but for now.......

​Take care.