So some great positive news for school, finally. We are now 3 weeks since Charlie last attended and we really need to do something to get him interested in school again. His Occupational Therapist rang earlier in the week to offer some horse riding therapy. There has been proven links between equine therapy and autism and the benefits that it gives. Below is a link to highlight some of the benefits:

8 benefits of equine therapy - Seriously Equestrian

I am really excited to see this happening. It is definitely a step forward for us and I want this placement to be successful for Charlie too. It will start with only half an hour to begin with, and the aim is to build on that. His OT will be there so that is how we will manage to get in his occupational therapy sessions and then hopefully we will find a way to get his speech and language therapy in too so with nothing else hopefully the therapies will be implemented into his days.

Another positive is the plan to get a buddy system for Charlie to help smooth the transition between me and school. Charlie struggles so much with separation anxiety and leaving me at any point causes him extreme distress and as you know, if a child is already in distress and traumatised then they are not ready to learn. A child is already starting from a negative place and that will not encourage any academic progress. The first session is due Tuesday! So I will let you know how it goes.

I have some more articles to write, one as an Instagram blog for a page that is encourages empowering autistic individuals and one for a podcast about surviving a lockdown Christmas for a child with special needs. My to-do list never gets smaller, life admin always prevails.

Georgina x