soraya Report post Posted June 20, 2007 I am feeling really fed up today as yet another attempt to get Nick to school has failed. Nick goes to a very good special school but unfortunately it is an hour away in the minibus, just after easter he developed a mini bus phobia and refused to get on it saying he has panic attacks and feels as if he has to jump off[ which he has done in the past, and i have had to go and pick him up!!]. Yesterday his support teacher phoned and said she would come and pick him up in her own car, which he agreead to, but when she came this morning he locked himself in the bathroom and refused to come out, however after much bribery we managed to get him in the car and off they went, with me rubbing my hands together thinking yeh a day to myself!!! Silly me!! half an hour later the phone goes Nick has got out of the car saying he feels sick and has to come home after a while he got back in the car but had a panic attack and he was bought home. Nick says he loves school but he just cant do the journey. He has been off school since easter but no one seems to care, the school say he is fine when he is there and the LEA say the school meets his needs, which is fair enough, but he cant get there!! Any advice? we are thinking of going down the residential school route but have heard it is really hard in west sussex to get the financial backing from the LEA as most of the schools are private. Time is running out as Nick is 13 1/2 and i am getting really fed up, spent most of the day in tears and Nick came home very angry and aggresive and took it out on me. Has anyone out there had success with west sussex LEA in financing a residential school? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elefan Report post Posted June 20, 2007 Hi Soraya, My heart goes out to you. I don't have any very helpful advice, except could you ask for a reassessment of his needs and statement if his conditions are changing (bus phobias and probably others) in a way that affect him accessing his education? On days like today, I want to go 'public' and highlight the issue's that exist for us! I have visions of a cuppa on the GMTV sofa and an army of forum members making people sit up and listen. If only..... My daughter has been out of school since Christmas and I can't get anything for her,..not a Statutory Assessment, no Social Services respite provision,...nada!! It seems as if we are expected to continue to cope with rages and endless phobia's that make it hard to do anything and just plod along with her at home, with no end in sight! It's rediculous!!! Stay strong,..and take comfort from knowing that you are doing your very best, even if it feels as if your hard efforts don't get results. At least you won't have regrets in the future about 'what if I had tried this',etc... Elefan xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soraya Report post Posted June 20, 2007 Hi Soraya, My heart goes out to you. I don't have any very helpful advice, except could you ask for a reassessment of his needs and statement if his conditions are changing (bus phobias and probably others) in a way that affect him accessing his education? On days like today, I want to go 'public' and highlight the issue's that exist for us! I have visions of a cuppa on the GMTV sofa and an army of forum members making people sit up and listen. If only..... My daughter has been out of school since Christmas and I can't get anything for her,..not a Statutory Assessment, no Social Services respite provision,...nada!! It seems as if we are expected to continue to cope with rages and endless phobia's that make it hard to do anything and just plod along with her at home, with no end in sight! It's rediculous!!! Stay strong,..and take comfort from knowing that you are doing your very best, even if it feels as if your hard efforts don't get results. At least you won't have regrets in the future about 'what if I had tried this',etc... Hi Elefan, Thanks for replying, it is so good to know you are not alone thats whats so good about this foram. Our kids realy do have a invisalble illness, phobias and obbsessions make life hell, it is so hard to be nice to Nick at the moment as he is so nasty to everyone, but i know he is going through hell to it is a vicious circle. friends and relatives say "just make him go to school" yeh easier said than done with an AS child. Anyway big brother just starting, hightlight of my day {how sad is that!!] Soraya xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted June 20, 2007 A few years ago there was a boy from W Sussex at my son's independent residential school in Hampshire. However, they do have to get there and come home every other weekend, so transport may still be an issue. Have you asked the Education Welfare Officer for help re: the transport problems? Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soraya Report post Posted June 20, 2007 A few years ago there was a boy from W Sussex at my son's independent residential school in Hampshire. However, they do have to get there and come home every other weekend, so transport may still be an issue. Have you asked the Education Welfare Officer for help re: the transport problems? Karen Hi Karen Our EWO is hopless, a real wet blanket!!! Nick runs rings round her!! Transport to a residential school would be ok as Richard{my husband} and i could do it together, {one to hold him down} only joking!!. There is only the driver on the mini bus at the moment so he can jump off when he likes!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted June 21, 2007 Would it help if there was an escort on the minibus? (I can't imagine why there isn't one if children can get off that easily). Would he go in a taxi with an escort? Or in a taxi with you as his escort, if you have the time? These options will be cheaper for the LEA to try than a residential school. I would start applying a bit of pressure (in writing) on the LEA to sort out something. Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soraya Report post Posted June 21, 2007 Would it help if there was an escort on the minibus? (I can't imagine why there isn't one if children can get off that easily). Would he go in a taxi with an escort? Or in a taxi with you as his escort, if you have the time? These options will be cheaper for the LEA to try than a residential school. I would start applying a bit of pressure (in writing) on the LEA to sort out something. Karen Hi Karen,I dont know if nick would go by taxi, he seems to have a complete transport phobia at he moment. I heard this week that the autistic society are going to send a support worker to help nick with his anxieties, lets hope it works!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
