charliesvoice

I've actually been to one of these it was really helpful to families locally - i certainally didn't feel pressured to use their services - its just good to know your rights!!! i'd recommend going!

You absolutely can ask for a re assessment, my god these officers tell some lies had enough told to me in the past!!!! Unfortunately they can refuse a re-assessment! so it's best to have some evidence to support the reasons why you need this done! If the LEA refuse to re-assess you can take them to tribunal heres a link explaining! http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=516&a=6102

I thought it was fantastic, the best portrail i've seen of autism! I cry every time i watch it!!

have to agree with mossgrove on this! i won't be signing either.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said your statemnt was very good and they had no choice but to send your school that met his needs! Now in the process myself of sorting the mess of statement out that my son was given! we went to tribunal this week, now i know my DS's statement has improved- well done you!! i know how difficult it is!! good to hear your news!! well done!!

HI Yes SaLT should be quantified within your child's statement, my son like your child is non-verbal, we didn't have SaLT quantified then one day we got a letter telling us due to cut backs in the PCT our son would not receive any more SaLT for the forceible future. We tried to fight this with our LA and was told that because SaLT wasn't quantified the LA didn't have to provide it! whereas if it had of been quantified (IN PART3) and the PCT couldn't provide SaLT then the LA has a legal obligation to provide it. Hope that makes sense! This link it might explain it better! http://www.ipsea.org.uk/caselaw.htm#LancashireJudgement We now have an independent speech therapist seeing DS weekly at our own expense! i was told by the NHS Speech Therapist they would only see my son once a half term, I believe the NHS Therapist wanted me to give up on my son and that is why they won't offer us more therapy, they don't believe he's "treatable enough" i was told by one therapist!! - but now we've been seeing an independent SaLT he's making a lot of progress! I'm actually taking my LA to Tribunal over SaLT (5th FEB) as i want them to pay for an independent therapist, or change his statement to the recommendations of the independent therapist! I've also won my case with the LGO ( local government ombudsman) as i complained that our LA wasn't quantifying SaLT provision - the LGO found my LA to be at aministrative fault!! Hope some of that was helpful! (sorry about the rant at the end!!!)

Hi, Think this might help! http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly....1068&a=3229 Good Luck!

Hi MRSFUSSY, I haven't personally had experience with an exclusion but my local MP has been very helpful with me with other issues - he's also helped find placements for a child i knew that had been excluded from several schools so i'd advise that you give it a try! I'm currently having battles myself with my LEA so i quite believe your concerns regarding the unhanded stuff going on!!! I know you're probably aware of this but heres some NAS info about exclusions hope its some help! http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp...215&a=11910 Good luck with it all! <'>

Hi Everyone! Myself and some other parents have set up support groups for parents/carers of children with ASD in our local area and we are now organising activities for the children. But we're all to aware of the lack of support for ADULTS. I've been thinking about social groups for adults with Aspergers and ASD's. Has anyone been to an adult group - what was it like? what worked? what didn't work? my son is only 6 so i haven't had any experience of the adult support services or the experiences that come with adults on the spectrum. If anyone has any advice it would be a great help? If there are any adults with ASD it would be great to hear if the social groups are a good idea and what these group should include? Thanks!!

Hi- i hope i'm not boring you all with my SaLT problems!!! this is my situation at the moment: since FEB we've been paying for 1 session a week of private SaLT for DS - which we are now starting to see some big developements!! DS said UNPROMPTED "ORANGE" yesterday ( well it was actually "orge" but we knew what he meant! ) he's NEVER done this before it was FANTASTIC!!! After not seeing an NHS Therapist for 1 year ( i said his last visit was june in a previous post,but actually it was april 2006!) she came to visit him at school and at home - at home she didn't even look at DS, he was in another room the WHOLE TIME and at school she observed him. But apparently based on this assessment she says he ONLY NEEDS 1/2 a days therapy ( which will be to see him, his SENCO, the teacher and his LSA ) per half a term!?!?!?! and that he doesn't need 1:1 SaLT After this i had a meeting with the head of service for SaLT and DS@s SEN caseworker, HS for SaLT said he conceded that the assessment may not have been thorough but in his PROFESSIONAL?? opinion he still thought the level of service was accurate??? he also said theres NO evidence that 1:1 therapy from a speech therapist actually works for autistic children!!! when we got the minutes back from the meeting of course there was NO mention of the fact he had agreed the assessment wasn't thorough and when we challenged this fact he refuses that the minutes should be amended. I've now been asked to attend a meeting with everyone involved and conSENsus because my solicitor has recommended we go to judical review, is it worth even bothering to talk with these people? I never thought we'd be in this position and i can't believe that they can be such bare faced liars - the NHS SaLT that carried out the assessment will be there - i actually thought she was pretty good but i don't think i can stand to be in the same room as her!! Any advice would be welcomed cause i feel like i'm going mad!! sorry for the long post!! xx

HI only 4 days to go!! any chance of a few more signatures??

Don't give up! this link may be of some help http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1041&a=3330 it expains what you need to prove to receive low, middle and high rates of the care component and some other useful bits of info. Sorry to be a pain but do you already receive any rate of DLA or have you been refused altogether? Since when did teachers take medical training!! I would speak to DS's paed and ask them for a letter confirming your version, after all you know your child best! hope i've been of some help xx

I'm sorry this is a difficult decision but as the parent of a non-verbal child i'd take the cure!! and i probably would have pre-natal testing - that isn't to say i would have an abortion though. Having a child that can not speak is heart breaking I love my son dearly but everyday i feel a huge amount of sadness for him ( not for me ) - whether that will change as he gets older i don't know.

Just posting for a bit of advise - not sure which way to turn! i'm in aright mess!! I'll try to keep this short! My 6 year old is non-verbal DS hasn't seen an NHS SaLT for 1 year ( due to cut backs!) prior to that he and the school got a visit every 6 weeks, School has No written program from SaLT for his TA to work with ( although they have informed DfES that they have given verbal instructions - which isn't adequate!! ) Took DS 7 weeks ago for treatment and assessment from an independent SL therapist, she discoverd other problems - but we've also seen great improvements! got an NHS therapist coming to our home on tuesday ( first time since the cuts ) spoke to her on the phone concerning the visit - independent SaLT said amongst other stuff he needs 1 session per week intense therapy - what a suprise NHS SaLT doesn't agree Got his annual review coming up in early May - his statement doesn't have SaLT quantified which i will DEFINATLY be getting altered hopefully inline with what independent therapist advises, what i'd really like advise on is how to tackle the NHS therapist on Tuesday, this particular therapist i got on with REALLY well with - but she hasn't seen DS for over 2 years yet during our phone conversation said that he isn't the type of child she will be able to sit up a table and assess on tuesdays visit - although he manages to sit at a table for a whole hour with independent SaLT she also said she won't be recommending a particular amount of sessions per week - she thinks if myself and his TA are trained that will be more helpful!!!????!!!! I'm wondering if the NHS therapist writes a report for his annual review ( it will be completely different from the independent therapists report ) do i keep quiet about the IN therapists assessment and try and discredit everything NHS therapist writes- we'll be videoing his private sessions so if the NHS tharapist says she can't get him at a table to assess then that will be complete ###### and we'll have proof! I'm now speaking to a solicitor as i'm prepared to take this all the way even to judicial review ( which she'll be advising me on ) - i just feel i've let my son down by not fighting this years ago - but i just wasn't aware of my rights, you think the LEA and therapists are doing everything they can to help but unfortunatly it isn't like that. sorry for the long post!! any advice would be really appreciated!! hope this made sense!

Hi my son was dx with ASD when he was 2.5 he's now is 6.5, he's still non-verbal, we just found out that he also has articulated dyspraxia and thats the reason he's found speech so difficult! Just a little advise to you to investage other reasons as it may not be the autism stopping the language development! - not wanting to panic you all! my son's been without an NHS therapist for 1 year now so 7 weeks ago we started seeing a private one and she's picked up on this.

Signed!! good luck!!

Hi pumpkinpie, yes we have a language unit in our area but it's not for autistic children " autistic children are not seen as treatable enough" i've been told - which is a real kick in the teeth!! and i think it's only for children up to 7 years, my son is 6 1/2 - but we are considering campaigning for better provisions for autistic children in our area and thats a good point you've raised thanks for that! KEEP SIGNING!! http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/spectrum/

I live in Norfolk but it isn't meant as a local campaign it is a national campaign against Health authorities and Local Education Authorities continually failing our children with special needs whether that be with speech therapy, OT, 1:1 support in class, transport etc, etc. Why is it a constant battle to get the right provisions!! - it's never about what the child needs its all about MONEY! If you agree i would erge you sign and pass it on to as many people as possible - thanks for all your support!!

<'> Hi not wanting to get on peoples nerves, but i just wanted to post our campaign where as many people as possible will see it. Basically in our local area we have been really let down, both by our PCT and LEA- In September 2006 we lost all speech and language therapy for 5 year olds and upwards ( in mainstream schools! ) - my own son has autism and has no speech! SaLT prior to these cuts was seriously under funded - the last 2 visits my son had were June 2006 and November 2005. SaLT we have been told will be starting again in April but at the same buget it was previously, which simply isn't adequate! we have complained to our LEA as they now have the legal responsibility to provide SaLT (if it is outlined within part 3 of your childs statement )- they have refused to use independent therapists in the meantime! The secretary of state and DfES will not help as " the secretary of state can not reprimand an LEA over its past performances" so we now have to wait until April - which will mean hundreds of children without this vital support for 8 if not more months! I have been contacted by many families all over the country who have been let down in similar ways, this petition isn't meant for just my local area, it is for the PM to realise that this is happening everywhere to children with all kinds of special needs! if you would like to support this campaign please go to: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/spectrum/ I would erge people ( if they agree ) to sign, Listening to peoples stories, i'm hearing all the time of the constant battles families are having just to get the right support, its about time the government started listening!! Thank-you for taking the time to read! xx

<'> Thanks so much for your support so far! we've reached 930 signatures but really need loads more if you could pass it on to others that would be a massive help! i've been e-mailing conservative MP's to drum up a bit more support ( i'm up to the surnames begining with R! )- so far a couple have signed ( which is a start! ) Thanks again!!xx

We're having so much trouble with SLT in our area too! I've actually got my son assessed privately for around �150 just so i know how much therapy he should have!! That way i can hopefully get his statement changed, i didn't realise that SLT hours had to be specified in his statement - only just been made aware of this. It may be worth ( if you can afford it ) getting your own son privately assessed - although i was told personally by the DfES that my son will never receive the same therapy on the NHS so it doesn't fill you with a lot of hope! I'm actually campaigning about this very issue you can find it at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/spectrum/ also there is funding available for SLT at www.cerebra.org.uk but there is a waiting list Hope this is of some help!

I've spoken to the DfES they refuse to do anything! i've contacted the secretary of state and get passed back to the DfES - ( the reason i've been informed from childrens services is that the funds will be returning in April, which is a seriously under funded state!( 2 visits in 1 year for my non-verbal son) thats why the secretary of state will not get involve IPSEA said this too! ) any other action you could advise i'd be very grateful for! ( its heading down the tribunal route!)

Thank - you! your support is vital if we want to make changes! - it will only happen if we all stick together!

Personally i would advise you to get everything quantified within the statement especially Speech and Language therapy! ( if your child needs it ) Then fingers crossed the LEA can not worm out of giving you that support! IPSEA are great- keep trying them! If you read my story ( petition the PM ) thats what you don't want to happen - we were never made aware with speech therapy that the amount of hours therapy your child needs had to be put in the statement - most families in my area just made sure it was put under Education provision!