Please click on one of the links below to view a case study

Ryan
Charles
Conor and Adam
Sian
Joshua

Ryan

Ryan, aged two and a half, visited bibic with his family for his initial introduction.

On meeting Ryan, staff were very concerned; he had almost drowned and been resuscitated after 40 minutes. Working with children with brain injuries resulting from fresh water drowning can be very problematic and experience led us to believe that there may be little that we could do.

Ryan was to prove us wrong!

bibic's policy is never to build up hope and expectation beyond that which we feel we can confidently achieve. So, it was with extreme caution that we began our work with Ryan. The assessment test showed that he was aware of some of the things being said to him, something his parents were unsure of initially, and we put together a programme of activities and exercises to stimulate him and help with movement (which was very limited).

Recently, we had a call from Ryan's parents. Suddenly, out of the blue he had laughed, a sound they never thought they would hear from him again. His mother went on to tell us that he can now straighten his arms and has lost all spasticity. He has started to move his legs and isn't stiff any more - and best of all - he smiles!

We don't know how far Ryan can go but the progress he has made in such a short time mean that we are all hopeful for him. And his parents?
“Delighted!”

Charles

They said Charles would never be able to sit!

“Can you imagine what it is like to be looking forward to your first child to then be told that your lovely baby boy has multiple problems and is unlikely to be able to sit up or communicate? Feelings of excitement turned to despair, blame and anxiety. We prayed for a miracle, but it was clear that Charles was not developing normally.

We felt so alone with our grief and did not know how we would cope with the
future.

When Charles was eight months old a community nurse to whom I am eternally
grateful, suggested we should visit bibic. That was the beginning of a long journey
which we are still travelling. bibic has been my lifeline for the past 10 years
as Charles is now 11. Supported by family and friends we followed the bibic programme and we taught him to sit, creep, crawl and stand. Now he can walk short distances, ride his bike, feed himself and is beginning to communicate using pictures and objects. One of his latest achievements is to hum beautiful renditions of ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ and ‘Happy Birthday’! At school he socialises with his friends in a mainstream primary school supported by a carer. We visit bibic every four to six months when Charles is assessed by a range of therapists. His programme is adjusted to take account of his progress and achievements and addresses his physical, communication, sensory, learning and dietary needs.

Charles has two beautiful sisters but unfortunately I am now a single parent; I
feel indebted to all the staff at bibic for their understanding, support and guidance
over the years. I am so proud of Charles’s achievements and am convinced
that he would not be the person he is to-day without bibic. We still have a long way to go but with bibic's help, Charles will reach his full potential. Thank you bibic.”

 Conor and Adam
“I want an Ice Cream!”

Twins Adam and Conor McMillan undertook an impressive sponsored swim in aid of bibic as a way of saying thank you.

Both boys were diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder at the age of four. Conor was subsequently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when he was seven.

Since their first visit to bibic, the twins, from Tiverton in Devon, have made a great deal of progress. Conor has become a competent talker, can understand time and tense, shows better imaginative play skills and is willing to try new experiences.

“Conor has shown progress across the board,” explained his Mum Kathy. “His listening and reading skills have improved. We were shown by bibic how to explain a word to him, starting with a single one and asking him to add another word - branching it all out to allow him to say word by word what a single word could mean.”

Meanwhile Adam has become a happier, calmer and more content boy since starting his therapy at bibic. He has learned to dress and undress without help, shows a better general understanding of the world and what is expected of him and has developed more play skills.

Concentrating on Adam's diet - eliminating wheat and E numbers - has helped with his behavioural problems. But with five children at home this can sometimes be a tricky business. If he gets hold of something the others are eating you can see the change in him instantly,” said Kathy. “But the diet is easier to manage now, it's just a matter of keeping a closer eye on things.”

Following Adam's annual school review, Kathy told his headteacher she felt this year was the first time he had reached his target. “This whole year has been an upward spiral. Before bibic it was up a couple of rungs and then right back down to the bottom. Now he can do underwriting not just overwriting and he tries to be very neat with his colouring in.”

“We feel that as much as Conor has made more progress, bibic has in fact helped us more with Adam. Up until a year ago we had no communication with him until they introduced PECS (the Picture Exchange Communication System).”

“Adam came running in on his own and got out his PECS book. I first thought he was trying to find the words for ‘Can I go to the toilet?' but through PECS he told us: ‘I want an ice cream!”

At last he could express to us what he wanted not just what he needed - he had found his ‘voice'.

 Sian Rawdon
A teenager's confidence and self-esteem are just two of the many things which have been boosted thanks to help from bibic.

Sian Rawdon first visited the centre when she was 13 years old. At this stage her speech was limited and she was reluctant to talk to anyone other than her parents, John and Sandra. Sian's walking and running were poor and she had no understanding of danger and very few independence skills.

Her family, from Halstead in Essex, are delighted by the progress the 16-year-old has since made; her general knowledge continues to get better and she shows better concentration and attention span. Sian is now a competent talker and her independence skills are progressing.

All this is a long way from the early days when, as two-year-old, Sian was referred to a speech therapist. Then, at the age of three and a half, not long after a Measles vaccination, a fit left her unconscious and she then displayed severe learning difficulties.

“We did not know where to go for help,” explains her father, John. “With children like Sian you are left to do it yourself which is wrong. We did not even know we could claim money until we happened to be talking to someone and they were surprised we weren't receiving anything.”

Just by chance John saw a badge seller who gave him information about bibic. “And the rest is history!” he says.

“Sian has been doing very well - a lot better than before she started at bibic. Her posture and walking have improved since she started the exercises.”

As well as gaining ground in her letter and number knowledge, the family have seen progress in Sian's domestic skills. “Also her behaviour problems are a lot better,” adds John.

“Sian also goes to London every three months to a cranial osteopath, which is very good for her.”

The teenager is a great music lover and enjoys playing her CDs at home.

“She loves puzzles too,” says John. “Anything which she shows an interest in we have tried to concentrate on and encourage her in.” The family are now facing the realisation that their visits to bibic will soon be coming to an end.

"Sian is 18 next year,” says her father. “We know we are reaching the end of the programme but we are very happy with all that bibic has done for us.”

 
Joshua
“It's been a lifeline really, just knowing there is someone on the end of the phone to talk to me at any time,” says Jayne Dadzitis, mother of ten-year-old Joshua.

Since her son's first visit to bibic, she has seen many improvements in Joshua's skills, a lot of which she attributes to the programme they have been following.

When Joshua was four-years-old he was diagnosed as having a language delay and moderate learning difficulties. Later it became clear that he suffered from an autistic spectrum disorder and he was tentatively diagnosed as having Aspergers Syndrome. His mother says the family were starting to get desperate for some help with the different problems they were experiencing when a friend mentioned bibic.

“She had heard of someone who had benefited from the programme. When we arrived we found them to be so friendly and they really seem to care. They provide us with wonderful support. We needed advice on how to deal with things - like how to tell him off if he is naughty as you have to deal with it rather differently than you would with other children, for example.”

When the staff first met Joshua he could understand up to about a five-year-olds level, his speech was stilted and he tended to become worried and stressed. His family, who live in Merriot, Somerset, were given a learning programme with a number of strategies for managing his behaviour and developing his learning abilities.

Jayne explains that the strategies have worked well. “He's a lot more prepared to instigate a conversation and ask questions - he seems more grown up now and is more able to cope with situations.

“Because of his autism he has needed more preparation for different situations and it can be quite stressful. We would tell him something is going to happen and then have to tell him again and he would worry about it

“Now when things are about to happen we talk them over with him in a more visual way. For example, when he started his new school where he didn't know anyone and he had to catch the bus, that all went really smoothly.”

Joshua, who has an older brother and sister, is now a competent talker, can take a message and bring back a message, shows some empathy with others, has improved co-ordination, has good pencil hold and finds buttons much easier to cope with. He has also been involved in the school play, has better imaginary play skills and has a better concept of time.

Since starting his new school he has been awarded with two swimming certificates. His mum says: “Joshua's self esteem and his way of coping has greatly improved - it's been brilliant.”