Annea

Hi Marnie, I found a contact which was DIAL UK on the web, the site has a locator for one near you. My local office has a lady who deals just with these claims for children. She will be given my details and will get back to me on Monday, so it looks like I might be OK. Maybe you too could try this to find someone to help you? JustAMum, thanks for the warning, I must admit we were scared still at self representing, but having had no sucess with out local CAB <can't ever get through even to talk to someone> we had resigned ourself to it. Looks like we might be able to get help now. Will let you all know how it gets on. Anne x

Hi Cariad, the school we want is NOT full, but it is an independant.... It ;s the LEA's choices that are full...... I wanted to know if the LEA can force a school to take over their numbers.... I am positive my daughter won't cope in MS any longer, she is becoming more and more depressed and anxious. The LEA don't want my daughter to go independent purely because of the cost considerations <although they won't admit this> Thanks everyone for you imput and thanks DEEDEE for your info... I have just found this website too its the Convention of the rights for the child and clearly states the childs right to Play and socialise as well as some other things that are very pertinent to out children. http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm hope it is of help to you. Anne x

HI everyone.... I have been reading Elefans post about wanting to get her little one into a certains chool which is apparently full, and have read the replies with interest regarding levels of fullness. Our problem is a little different and wonder if anyone can help out a bit... We are at the moment awaiting a 3 day assessment at an independant priory school as we feel this is the only viable option for our daughter. In school the bits she struggles with are the sensory stuff, she can't cope with the movement around the school, the noise of the classes even the lighting. She is bullied badly, and all attempts at tweaking her IEP come to a dead end as she can't cope with the changes the school impose on her, it just causes extra stress where she is only just managing. She has no social life at the school, as all her breaks they encourage her to stay in because she can't cope with the crowds... (surely she has a right to be able to go out and get some fresh air- whilst not compromising her sanity?) Therefore we feel the only option would be to get her into a much smaller school which is totally set up for children like her. NOW, the LEA have told me that they feel she should be able to access mainstream education, and have told me of two schools in particualr they would want her to attend. We have visited one which has an A/S sattelite unit. This has reasons that would make it innapropriate for her to go to because frstly 70% of a childs lessons are int he mainstream bit of the school and the school is even bigger than where she is now, it is also much larger, so more movement etc <all the things she can't cope with> They have told us they are FULL, we asked about 'levels of fullness' and they said that based on the square footage of the unit, they were at maximum capacity... ie no room for extra staff or children. They say she will not get in the unit! The second school has no A/S unit but apparently has excellent pastoral care. We can't even get a visit to this school because the SENCO tells us that after speaking to the deputy , they are full and they have no room for her. This school is also bigger again than the other school, about 500 more pupils etc etc, so we feel that she will still have the same prolems should she move to either of these schools... What are the LEA likely to do? are they likely to insist that the school take her or will they look around for another school and build evidence to make my daughter fit the criterior? I was told that we have to nominate a school that can definately take her or the panel will not take the appeal case, is this the case? Does this also apply to the LEA, do they have to offer alternatives that can definitely take her? We are going use independant specialists to build a case around dd's need for specialist placement, but how other than asking directly can I find out what the LEA is likely to propose? I presume the inc officer has not done her homework as yet as she is not yet aware that both of her choice schools are full, but she is bound to find out. If anyone can help I would be very grateful..... DEEDEE.. you mentioned a human rights law regarding "having a family life " (seems like a luxury to me) Can I ask where you found this information, I would be very interested in whether or not our kids have 'the right' to be able to play in a non damaging atmosphere.... Can you or anyone help point me in the right direction? Thanks again.... Anne

Hi Marnie, I have EXACTLY the same probelm, we have just put in for an appeal against a negative decision. for DD 3 who we are still awaiting diagnosis for. We submitted evidence from our physio <my daughter had lots of mobility issues> we submitted evidence from our social worker, from her paediatrician and they asked the school for a report. Like you the school said she has no road safety issues .... errrr I don't think so!!! I asked the head about it and asked when she seen DD outside on the road and she told me that she hadn't but children of her age are ok with road safety!!!! The school told them she had no issues that other children didn't have..... errr then why is she on SA+.... theysaid she has no toileting or hygiene issues, even though we have a home school decision that allows her to use the toilet as and when she needs it unlike other children who have to use the toilet only at breaks. Looking at the decision it seems they have taken ONLY the evidence from the school and disregarded all medical and social evidence. I too will now be looking for a welfare rights worker to help.... Thank you Anne

I agree with BP it is such a personal decision... I remember the days when I was chasing my daughter round a department store and the security man intervened asking e to control her, I had to explain. And there was an occasion when I was in the post office with her she was screaming and I had to finish my transaction, a lady came over to me and very oudly told me that "People like you shouldn't have children" I was able to respond with "People like you don't deserve an opinion, my daughter is autistic and neither she or I can help how she is" It's tough I must admit that I Have only once suffered from bigotted comments after explaining about the autism, I have never used the cards although i did take some to America with us when we went, but found that in the US people were so much more understanding about autism. Don't feel you are copping out, we all cope as best we can and like BP I have developed thick skin and don't really notice peoples reactions any more... so maybe it just gets easier? Hope you find what works for you... Anne

H Mumble I think what she was saying is that their are quite a few conditions linked to the autistic spectrum and she seems to have more than one of these.... I am awaiting a full report and then maybe things will become clearer?? Or maybe confuse me further!! Anne

Hi Elefen, I might have been given the wrong advice but this is what I was told <we are just starting our appeal process> We have been told that to name a school, their has to be a place or a forecasted place for the time it is rquired, the panel apparently contact the school or unit to clarify this matter before the case is accepted! In our position, (we are attempting placement at a specialist Aspergr Priory school) Our daughter has to got through the assessment procedure at the school, and the school has to accept her before we can name them as the school we want, they have already said their is a place available in September if she fits the criterior at assessment. The LEA have told me they won't consider this school but two local schools one which has has satellite unit, however after speaking to the manager of this unit he has told me that she won't get a place their as it is already well over subscribed for September <so this is good for us> the other school has no special provision so I am meeting with the ENCO to try and build a case as to why this isn't suitable..... I have been told that you need to name a school that has places OR the LEA's choice will be looked on more favourably.... so you may need to look at a second or third choice?? Again this is just what I have been told and it may be incorrect.... Good luck though... it looks like quite a few of us are in the same position! Anne

Ji Jem, get EVERYTHING in writing!!!!!! ABSOULUTELY everything!!!! try not to speak to them on the phone, and get all meetings minuted! We had very similar problems with our daughter... whent hey realise the full extent of the problems they were down right discriminatory! Your son can NOT be punished if the incidents are actually asperger behaviours! Of course he could be being naughty! Our kids can be, but it seems to me that from reading your post they have got a bee in their bonnets about him... And this can't hppen.... ask for a copy of their bullying policy! See how this fits in with their constant punishemnts.... Sorry if I am ranting but frsh from a dis disc tribunal that we won.... I am still furious at the care my daughter received.... I would also ask for copies of the disability discrimination policy which is a policy they have to have by law, you may be surprised at how lapse it is, our school didn't actually have one!!!! Good luck with your son, you are right to defend him.... <again sorry if you read this as a rant> Anne

our daughter was finally dignosed at 10yrs after fighting for at least 9 yrs as we knew something was wrong.... she was seen by everyone from psychiatrists to psychologists and lots in between but no one picked up on it until a mum of an autistic child told me she thought that was the problem... it was only when I brought it up, that we started to get anywhere at all!!!!! Now with my youngest daughter all the help in diagnosis is goign toward younger children so I can't access help for a second time!!! Luckily as she has mobility problems I have the physios onside who have seen her difficulties first hand! Anne

I went for an OT appointment today with my youngest dd..... My eldest has A/s but she is very different, has some obvious mobility issues, coordination and balance problems with a whole lot of behavioural stuff thrown in. The OT feels she definitely is 'somewhere' on the spectrum and has probably one or more ASD's, collectively the physios and OT are going to write to her consultant who is dragging her heels at getting a diagnosis and request that she is assessed by someone who is abe to diagnose in this area. The school have been exceptionally unhelpful stating at the review meeting that my dd has NO problems at all, the staff at the childrens centre think this is farcical and can't work out why the problems they have all seen at different times are not present in school. They want to have a meeting with school to assess what is happening their and why her difficulties are not being picked up.... It seems that at last things might be moving in the right direction!!!!

glad you are feeling more positive blue fish.... It's so hard sometimes to fight the good fight isn't it?? Anne

Have answered on your other post bluefish but just to repeat, I got mine by going through the social worker on the childrens dissabilty eam (after we were told we didn't fit the criterior) Anne

hi blue fish <'> many of us have been there and don't feel your issues are daft, some of the things that have me blubbing often seem silly when taken in isolation but when all these problems are staked its hard to keep fighting! As for the blue badge, I was told I stood a cat in hells chance of getting one for either of my daughters but the social worker from the childs dissability team filled in the form for me and I got sent two badges... it might be worth a try going through them? Good luck! Anne

Thanks for the info everyone, Flora good luck at your tribunal. We just had the final statement through today and it says all the way through about her anxiety levels and the ed psych has also stated that she is becoming more and more isolated from school and her peers. Kazzen she appears to be doing well on paper academically, but was dropped a set in maths and the reason given by school was her anxiety levels so they have already admitted that it is affecting her education. But it is the social side more than anything, she writes a diary <her way of communicating her deep feelings with us>, and she talks about her feelings of isolation and desperation. She talks about not being able to cope much longer with pretending everything is Ok - it is a very worrying time for us. The new IEP at school has put in measures to help her cope with the noise of crowds at breaks and lunch, but basically this means she has to stay inside all the time as she has been allocated a room to go to, she said herself she deos n't want to be locked away from the outside, just the nosie of it. We heard today that the one local school with a satelite A/S unit is over subscribed and that it is a bigger school than where she is now, with about 70% of lessons occuring in main stream, so this wouldn't really solve her problem anyway. She is now not wanting to go to school at all and it is a struggle to get her in, she has deveoped exema through the stress and has stress headaches all the time. We do have IPSEA involved and I am also in receipt of legal aid so can access independant reports. Thanks for anymore help that anyone can offer us. Anne

Hi Kazzen the senior inclusion officer who is writing the statement has had very close contact with us, she is very aware that we will be appealing I suppose its her job to stay within budget so she feels she has to argue for dd tobe able to cope at mainstream, although at the last meeting it was very obvious that she didn't beleive what she was saying...

Hi Everyone, Our final statement for our 13 yr old wwith A/S comes in on Monday / Tuesday and after all communications have broken down with her present school and with their comments during the dis tribunal I have decided to make a move. Our daughter has become more and more anxious over the past 12 months to the point where she has expressed 'not knowing how long she can cope anymore' and we are fearing for her health. She had a back injury in school last wek due t the fact that she couldn't cope with some exercises but as the lesson was being taken by a 6th former who didn't know her, and dd couldn't say she couldn't do it, she ended up trying and hurting herself. She had three days out of school last week, two the week before <mainly because of anxiousness> We just want her to be happy. She has been assessed by OT, SALT and ED Psych and all of them agree she has huge anxiety problems as she can't cope with excessive noise, people and light, my main questions to all who have been through this fight is are their any thigns you wish you had done or i there anything that was particulalry helpful for your appeal? We have been told that the LEA will state that she has managed to cope well with mainstream secondary for nearly 3 yrs and thats she can cope for another 2, and that our appeal will have to be based on her worsening anxiety... How many expert witnesses can we take to tribunal? Is it worth getting an independent Psychiatric evaluation? I am going to fight hard for this as I think that she will not cope with more years of this day to day pain she is going through... Any help including any articles or relevant research on anxiety within A/S would be very gratefully received. Thanks again, you friends on here keep me sane much of the time, even when I'm not posting your posts help so much. Anne

Thanks everyone, We have now visited a priory school which is about 50 miles from us and really liked it. We will be looking at naming this school for our in our appeal. Thanks Again...

Thanks Kathryn, that was a very helpful link!

Hi everyone, can you all please help me! I have decided I am going to fight the LEA for a specialist placemnt for our daughter. Before I do this I want to contacnt any and all schools who the LEA may 'think' are suitable for her becuase they claim to have asperger / autistic units. Does anyone know of any schools in south East Wales that have attached units, that take children with A/S? If not can anyone tell me how I can get a list of schools that take children with A/S? I would be very grateful of anyone can help me.... Anne <sorry about any bad spellings>

Big Huge Hugs Flora!!!! The nightmare has finally lifted for us as far as the tribunal, I as you know was disgusted by the lies that filled the cases statement against us.... A couple of tips we were given for the actual tribunal. Keep really calm and don't react to ANY of the lies, if you lose your temper then you will look bad. Don't interrupt at ALL, let them finish each of their points then ask the chair of the panel if you may ask for clarification on what they have just said, if they corner you and trip you up (it can happen even if you have told the truth,) don't get angry! Ask them for evidence on the lies they have told, evidence will NOT exist if they have lied, and we found it quite amusing when they struggled to prove what they had said. Ask them for full details of these 'services' they have offered, but be assured that the panel will not be fooled if they have made stuff up, we were very impressed by the panels knowledge of the law, and services etc. One of the things I asked was for their proof that I had made up my daughters problems, I HAD proof my daughter had the problems I had stated but of course they ended up looking silly as they had no proof she didn't. The panel actually asked the opposition what training they had had, to be able to say that we were making things up. Answer questions as simply as possible, one or two sentences, don't elaborate! As parents we want to go on and on about how injust everything is for our kids, but its easy to end up giving the other side ammunition to use against us, so ONLY answer the question, the panel will ask for more info if they need it. Take a nice photo of your child into the hearing if your child can't be present. Introduce our child and make it plain that the tribunal is about a child not a case number! I think you are right to have a back up plan, cover things from every angle!!! BUT remember it's almost Christmas now, so try and forget everything for a day or two, the hearing will be here soon enough! Good Luck and let me know how you get on! Anne

Hi Everyone, thanks to those who have pm'd me wondering about the outcome of our tribunal a cuple of weeks ago. We only just got the result through via email as it had been held up, but WE WON!!!!! The chair used words such as 'shocking' in relation to the way they the chair of governors said disabled children should be 'grateful for what they get'. We will now be making further complaints to the LEA and will be asking them to investigate the lack of dis policy's ect in the school. Thankyou to everyone who has supported me through this awful time! Anne

Thanks JS mum, I must admit our private reports for my eldest daughter were very welcome at the tribunal for her disc claim. SO far in her statement the LEA are not looking at the private reports, but I have already told them I will go to tribunal on the evidence contained within them, Now I have got through the disc claim it has given me a lot of confidence to go on. Anne

Thanks Bard, I was surprised at how many of the year 1/2 wrds she got wrong. I said each spelling then put each one into a sentence so she knew the word, but didn't have a clue on some. I have looked at the year three words and know she can't spell a lot of these. I have asked for spelling lists before so these are great not only to test her but also to keep trying to get them to go in. By the way i like your signature, if only more people saw the good in people the world would be a happier place. By the way everyone, went to have the new IEP targets set today and the new acting senco was fabulous. Along with the ed psych I think we made more IEP progress in 60 mins than we have in 2.5 years!!!! At last achievable targets!!!!!! Anne

I looked at the standars site and found approx 146 words that children should be able to spell by end of year 2. We did a mammoth 10 min spelling test and my daughter got 76%. But this is for 2 years below her level. I can't find any words for year 3 but the year 4 words I will do with her tomorrow to see how she gets on <there are not so many> At least it will give me a springboard to start discussions with the school and hopefully they will not try to just brush this under the carpet. Thanks for all help, Karen is DCD like Dyspraxia? as this was one explanation offered as a possibility by her physio, i have never heard of DCD before. Anne