Mainstream school with ASD units

[Platefull of Love]

Is there any sites, or anybody know how many schools have a specialist ASD unit. I have asked our Camhs & they don't know of any locally, or even where there is any. Dan is really struggleing in mainstream as he needs the support, yet he has also done some great stuff. I had yet another phone call today as they wanted to send him home, ( I had to refuse as I was at college, byt the time I would of got over it would of been end of school day.( college is 20/30 miles away ). I desperatly need somebody to understand him, I asked if they could send him to his last lesson & they said not, ( I spoke to Dan on the phone & he said he wanted to ), he had messed about before & they said he wasn't going to do it again, I told them he may not. I was threatened that if he played up again he would have to be excluded. I think they realised there was no way I could get over, but it was the , oh send him home & it will be OK attitude that really p's me off. Dan is to bright to be in a special school, yet when things go wrong mainstream can't cope. It really angers me that there are so many kids with AS who are to bright for special schools, yet still needs the specialist support. Yes we are going to be pushing to get him properly statemented to ( yes I know its a fight ). I am prepared to move to. I am not happy here at all, eldest is in his final year at school now & youngest OK at primary, so it would be a ideal time to do it. We live in North west Lancs, but I would prefer to live north Wales, as close to Anglesey as possible realy as my parents intend to move there sometime & they are the only family/ support I have ( not that they actually have the lads etc. but I still love them & they are a important part of my life ), but as long as it wasn't totally he other end of the country I may pretty much consider anywhere. I know it will be a struggle. I know both camhs & the ed psyc don't really see a special school as a option, personally I haven't ruled it out if we could find one suitable ( reminds me there is 2 on a list that may be borderline considerable, must see if i can find more info on them ). When he is so demanding I would even consider residential school as he impacts on the rest of us so much, I have both my health & the well being of my other children to consider, they need my attention to. It really hurts me so much as he can be such a lovely lad, he has so much to offer the world. He had managed to stay in the last lesson, he even got a credit, he can prove them wrong, he needs them to believe in him. Tonight I let him go fishing after a little chat & tea. He was so appreciative after, his face beamed & he gave me a hug & a kiss, he told me how much it had meant to him, its not that often his real happiness comes through, but when it does its pure magic, if only we could bottle it . To see him hurt & how people treat/see him, even how he is with us at times really breaks my heart & brings me to tears

I am meeting with the Ed psyc, along with Camhs ( who are more on my side ), & the sen co on Monday to discuss what is best for Dan. I have managed to get a appointment to see Dan's pead on Friday morning to. I know he will support us in any way he can ( he is actually the guy that 1st suggested a few years ago that Dan may have AS, I hadn't even heard of it then), He was seeing Dan as he had been admitted with stomach pains.He then referred to Camhs.

Apologies for the length of this, was only going to be a quick post, but today started with Danny only managing to get into school for 10 today ( he is meant to start at 8.35 ) as he couldn't find his planner. I rang the school to explain & sort it out, but it still took alot of talking & encouragement to get him in.Then it was ring Camhs to chase something up before Monday, Rang Dan's pead secretary. Rang SS to sort something out, get a bath etc ( yes at lunch time ), grab lunch, discover car keys were mislaid, set off for college 1/2 hour late, get stuck in roadworks for yet another 1/2 hour , so had missed nearly 1/2 the lesson. then the school rang etc. home, spoke to camhs yet again , Pead rang, sot Dan out, fishing, shopping this eve & petrol etc., So its been a busy day, think needed to get it out. I still need to empty the car as we were away for the weekend camping again ( yes Dan flared up there with somebody who didn't know him to, ended up he came to me in tears as this guy had manhandled/Assaulted him ( he had red marks at the back of his neck ), but I couldn't really do anything as he was the landowner of the site & I knew Dan had just been Dan & done things he saw as OK. I can't watch him 100% of the time, he was still on site ( he had climbed the wrong side of the bridge over the canal , so yes in the wrong, but took longer ( as I understand he does due to his AS, but of course this guy didn't know this ), then the guy wanted, then couldn't see why he couldn't just stay fishing. In his eyes he had done nothing wrong, later he did realise it had been wrong to climb etc. but at the time he saw things as he see's them. I did speak to the guy involved, but he ended up saying its his land etc, his rules, but put it behind us. I think he realised I was so close to involving the police. I hope he listened to what i was saying & things twice before judging people quite so quick, so has really been quite a bit going on ( steven see's the chiropodist again tomorrow, yes it never seems to flipping end ).

[brooke]

Hi

Im really sorry your having a hard time. With regard to the asd units we live in newcasle and there are 3. My son has applied once but there are so many other children who need to go to them and also only 1-3 places may come up at the end of the year so really i dont think i stand a chance of getting him in one but they are around. If you ask your ed phych she would probably know where some are or if you ring the council of where your wanting to move to they should know. Im sure someone will know more than me and post. Take care

Brooke

[PinkSapphireAngel]

I know of one secondary school in my LEA which has an ASD unit joined to it (We are in Hillingdon, not sure where you live)

[mossgrove]

Hi

 

You may wish to try the PARIS database run by the National Autistic Society at

 

http://www.info.autism.org.uk/Pages/Index.aspx

 

They have a list of appropriate schools in each area.

 

 

Simon

[Flora]

Dan is to bright to be in a special school, yet when things go wrong mainstream can't cope. It really angers me that there are so many kids with AS who are to bright for special schools, yet still needs the specialist support. Yes we are going to be pushing to get him properly statemented to ( yes I know its a fight ).

 

Hi

 

There are some excellent specialist AS schools dotted around the country where bright children are amply catered for. Unfortunately they are mainly residential so it depends on how you feel about that. Obviously a child needs a statement for funding but if there is no appropriate local provision then the funding should be forthcoming.

 

So sorry to hear of the difficulties your son is having. <'>

 

Flora

[Platefull of Love]

There are some excellent specialist AS schools dotted around the country where bright children are amply catered for. Unfortunately they are mainly residential so it depends on how you feel about that. Obviously a child needs a statement for funding but if there is no appropriate local provision then the funding should be forthcoming.

I didn't know such places existed. Residential would be good to, esp due to our other needs. I have just done a search & found one. It would be absolutely perfect. I sat open mouthed & said WOW. It would be a dream come true to get him into somewhere like that. I know the chance of actually geting him in are slim, there isn't enough provision for all.But to see there is a few places like that has given me something else to seriosly aim for.Thank-You

[Suze]

HI , I live in the north west , your best bet is a move to/near chester.........there are a few high schools with asd units and specialist schools there.I,ll pm them to you.Suzex

[UltraMum]

I was threatened that if he played up again he would have to be excluded.

 

The school can't exclude him for behaviour that is related to his disability ...

 

Lot's of info on IPSEA site about this ... http://www.ipsea.org.uk/exclusion-support-sheets.htm

[jb1964]

You may wish to try the PARIS database run by the National Autistic Society at

 

http://www.info.autism.org.uk/Pages/Index.aspx

 

They have a list of appropriate schools in each area.

Simon

 

Can't believe this info - just wished I'd known about it before - have a school only 10miles away from us - and we have to take her to her mainstream school by car which is 5miles anyway - and only 1:12 pupil ratio too. Just think it's probably too late to move her now she's in year 9.

 

Thanks,

Take care,

Jb

[Suze]

If your serious about moving , you really need to get him a statement before you move , as you could find yourself in an out of the frying pan into the fire situation.If camhs and the pead are on your side get them to support your request for a statement.Best of luck suzex.

[Platefull of Love]

Thanks all. I will definatly hang on moving untill we can get his statement. I have it in his school file ( Yes they actually gave me a complete copy last week as I had requested to see it ). It clearly says in the letter from CAMHS to the school " Based on the history of Daniels current probems, investigations (ADOS) and mental state examination we have reached the conclusion that Daniel suffers from Aspergers Syndrome. In view of his difficulties it was agreed that he needs Statementing for his special educational needs as soon as possible, This will enable Daniel to overcome the difficulties he is currently facing with in the school setting. "

 

This letter was dated 10th May 2006. As to date the school have not formally requested a Statement!! I only learned this when I spoke to the ed pysc last week, I had though that that was part of the statementing precedure. WE are haveing another meeting monday ( with the ed pysc, CAMHS SENCO ect. ). The formal letter will then be going in, even if I have to write it myself ( decided I might as well hang on for a few days due to this meeting ).I know it will take about 6 months to get it, but am going to fight, appeal if needs be. I was not happy that the ed phyc said its not up to the medical staff to decide if a child needs a statement, its up to the LEA, Well at least the medical staff know my child & the difficultys we face.

[mossgrove]

I would write a simple letter to the LEA recommending requesting an Asessment of Special Educational needs.

 

It would be better for everyone to get the ball rolling as soon as possible.

 

You can find more information at:

 

http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly....1068&a=3232

 

Simon

[nellie]

It's important that when you make a request for statutory assessment that you say it is to request an assessment of his special educational needs under the 1996 Education Act.

 

This link gives details including a model letter for requesting a statutory assessment.

 

http://www.ipsea.org.uk/sevenfixes.htm#RequestingAssessment

 

Nellie xx

[Platefull of Love]

Thanks all. I am now attending a parents course on SEN, Statementing ect. It is run by the LEA through a parent carers group I attend. I have now been asigned a key worker to help me through it all. Everything really came to a head yesterday when School rang for Dan to be collected. TRhey had rang at 2.50, but he finishes school at 3.05 anyway. I was out, so had to go in in afterschool. I went in afterschool & they decided to exclude him. He has been Excluded for 2 days, so we are attending a re-intergration meeting on friday morning.Dan really flared up last night & as a result I am shattered. things got totally OTT. I ended up taking him to his dads I could not cope with him.It was all to much, was just glad that the main SEN lady rang me in the middle of it, so rang her back after, had also rang somebody else, it was all getting to much. There were 2 incedents in school yesterday ( the 2n'd happened after they had rang ).His behavior wasn't acce[ptable, but it does show he can't cope. (He had a flare up with a teacher & ended up calling her a Stupid ###### . Later on a lad outside the heads office wound him up & he punched him in the face. At least this is the 1st time he has really hit anyone in school. He crossed the line last night with me to . Its such a shame as he can be such a lovely lad. today he has worked really hard in the garden, moving rubbish, & clearing the side path. A couple of days ago he worked really hard on making a pine flat packed shoe cupboard for me, he also put up the security camera for me.

The main meeting that should of been on monday with the ed pyhc, senco, myself & camhs, ended up being cancelled due to the ed physc being poorly. So hopefully we can re-schedule asap. I am going to apply for a statutory assessment myself to get the ball rolling.

Edited September 27, 2006 by Platefull of Love

[Karen A]

Hi.Really sorry things escalated yesterday.Document everything that has happened.I know it is no consolation now but at least it proves a statement is needed urgently.Maybe it will be an insentive for LEA to get things moving.Regards Karen

[LKS]

Hi so sorry everything not going well for your son <'> I'm sure someone here will correct me if I'm wrong but my friend who has a dd with a statement wanted to move out of the area because of the lack of choice of schools. She was told by parent partnership that her dd would have to be re-assessed by the new LEA.