Special Needs children And young adults Parents’ support group
February 2005 – Happy Valentine’s Day to you all!
Our next meeting will be on
Monday 28th February at
7.30pm
In the Noust at the Picky Centre
This will be an informal meeting for Parents to chat and have
a cup of tea or coffee.
In January we had a visit from Social Services Assistant
Director Adrian Williams: one of his remits is Children and Families. He
told us that the plans for this year’s Summer Play Scheme will be just
like last year. Parents liked the passport system, and liked meeting the
people working with their children before the scheme started so that the
children were familiar with their carers. The plan is that there will also
be the Play Scheme for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.Planning will start for both these groups within the next few
weeks.
Adrian Williams was very frank when we asked about the
provision of another Children and Families Social Worker to fill the
vacant position. There is a shortage of qualified social workers which
makes it very difficult to get any new staff. He is suggesting that they
could have another kind of support.
There would still be a Social Worker to do the assessments,
but there might be Family Support Workers who could help families to cope
with more practical difficulties like getting some sleep, finding out what
is available for a child who can’t take part in some activities…or
what else would be useful?
If you have any suggestions to make Adrian Williams would
like to hear from you. He can be contacted by phoning the Council Offices
on 87 3535 or writing Orkney Islands Council, School Place, Kirkwall
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The
meeting to discuss the new Additional Support for learning (Scotland) Act
will be from 9.30 to
2.30 in the Ayre Hotel Kirkwall.
Lunch will be provided.
If you would like to go, but have not given your name yet please contact
the Education Department direct and ask for your name to be added.
This is YOUR chance to ask questions and make comments on the
New Act. It will be replacing the Record of Needs and will make a
difference to your child in the classroom, so if you would like to know
more do get in touch.
Parents
of Children with Records of Needs who would like to see and comment on a
draft copy of the New Accessibility Strategy can contact Inga Gilmour
(details below) or Terry Delaney at Papdale House, Berstane Rd. Kirkwall.
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Epilepsy Scotland
will be having an information evening
in the St Magnus
Centre at 6.30pm.
on Monday 7th
March.
Come
along and find out more about this condition which affects far more people
than you may think…
NEXT TOY LIBRARY MEETING will be from
2.15 - 3. 15 p.m.
in the New Library on Saturday the 5th
of March
Please
note that there will be no deliveries of Toys until a new Co-ordinator is
appointed. This meeting is just to exchange and choose toys.
The Autism
and Aspergers Support Group
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will
meet again next month once the weather is better.
The Senior Carers
Group (for Parents of young adults)
This summer MySpecialChild was invited to visit Longleat to check out the
efforts that they have been going to to make the park and its other attractions
accessible to people with disabilities.
