"I'm back!"

...which is how our little soldier greeted us last Thursday as he emerged, bronzed and smiling from the coach.

His school were brilliant, as they had kept a diary and compiled photos of activities that the students undertook all the way along to bring home to parents.

Jordan swam, walked up the slopes of a volcano, made a new best friend, ate out in restaurants, haggled in markets, did indeed ride a camel and lie about on the beach. Now that's what I call a holiday!

It could be a function of his autism but he didn't miss us at all while he was there which is a good thing, I think. His father and I suffered far more from his absence. We went to Dublin for a couple of days. Time slows right down without the boy.

Woo-hoo!

No Stickler Syndrome, which is very good news, Just disintegrating humours, cataracts and delicate retinas. I've given up karate and bungee jumping, fortunately.

The boy is off on his school trip...

...to Lanzarote no less! Y viva Espana and all that. Now he's been away on school trips before but not abroad so I'm torn between pleasure that he really wants to go, and worry well, because I can. Mercifully his father and I are off to Dublin for a little break and quite frankly, a little Guinness. It's that or I lie weeping in Jordan's bed until he gets back.

I hope he sees the camels.

Blogging against Disablism

An e-mail from the excellent website hemihelp (about speech therapy provision) got me thinking today.

About the years of 'inclusion' advocated by Dame Mary Warnock which actually resulted (in this borough at least) in cutbacks, disorganisation and pupils with special needs left somewhat in the lurch as the LEA bickered about who was responsible for what on a statement of special needs and then not having the money to implement a lot of it anyway! Trying to eradicate the special schools and absorb all the dear little disabled children into mainstream minus resources, training or suitable access rates as disablism in my book.

Fortunately, Dame Mary herself had the good sense to retract and acknowledge that special schools will always have a place in education and that they should be promoted as centres of excellence and not embarrassing necessities.