MAKE SEN STATEMENT COMPULSORY AFTER DIAGNOSIS

[LIA]

Hello everyone !

 

 

My name is Lia and I have a 7 years old son who was diagnosed with high funcioning autism and ADHD.

Although he was diagnosed on nov/2006 he doesn't have statement and doesn't have any extra support in class. I went to SENDIST last February to have a statutory assessment and I won. The Headteacher is against me, saying he is coping in the mainstream school. She also was against me at the Tribunal.

SENDIST ordered LEA to assess him, but one week ago I received the result and they didn't give him statement and instead of believe in what the private reports said they believed in the Headteacher's lies.

 

I made a petition to the Prime Minister to MAKE SEN STATEMENT COMPULSORY AFTER DIAGNOSES, so I would like your help to get more signatures.

 

The link is:

 

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SENCHILDREN/

 

 

Thank you

Lia

[Flora]

Hi Lia

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Well done for your appeal for assessment; I hope you're going to go the same route to get that statement!

 

Flora

[Karen A]

Hi LIA Welcome to the Forum.

I do understand your frustration.However I would not be able to sign the petition as it contradicts one of the major principals recognised in SEN law.

That is that any Statement of SEN should be based on a specific accurate assessment of the needs of an individual child.

Many people on the Forum have fought long and hard to challenge blanket policies with regard to provision for SEN.

Unfortunately compulsory Statements after diagnosis would amount to a blanket policy.

Also I think that attempting to make Stetements compulsory after diagnosis could also just encourage LEAs,schools etc to reduce access to those who provide the Dx in order to reduce Statements. Karen.

[Flora]

Hi LIA Welcome to the Forum.

I do understand your frustration.However I would not be able to sign the petition as it contradicts one of the major principals recognised in SEN law.

That is that any Statement of SEN should be based on a specific accurate assessment of the needs of an individual child.

Many people on the Forum have fought long and hard to challenge blanket policies with regard to provision for SEN.

Unfortunately compulsory Statements after diagnosis would amount to a blanket policy.

Also I think that attempting to make Stetements compulsory after diagnosis could also just encourage LEAs,schools etc to reduce access to those who provide the Dx in order to reduce Statements. Karen.

 

I haven't looked at the petition yet but you make a very good point there Karen regarding blanket policies.

 

Lia, don't worry about this. It's a natural reaction to want to do something when feeling angry, frustrated, and let down.

 

I still think you should go back to tribunal to get that statement!

 

Flora

[LIA]

Thank you for the WELCOME, Flora and Karen

 

 

I will go to the SENDIST again to appeal for the Statement, thank you for your point Flora.

 

Karen, you made a good point, but in my views is less impossible to get Dx than Statement.

 

Dx you can get from oher boroughs' doctors or specialist but you can't get a statement in the same way.

You can also try to get a private Dx, but you can't get a private statement.

 

So, I think I am not completely wrong, and it will help parents those are already struggling in deal to understand the children condition more time to give to them instead of waste time and health for "fighting" for something that are they rights.

 

thank you

Lia

[Kathryn]

Hello Lia

 

Welcome to the forum - another member of the exclusive Note in Lieu club, I see! My daughter was also refused a statement after assessment, so I understand that feeling, especially after having one's hopes raised by being granted the assessment. So as the others say, keep fighting and go back to tribunal - at least you know the procedure now! Good luck.

 

I foresee all kinds of problems in linking statements so closely to diagnosis and so I don't agree with your proposal. But good luck with your petition anyway - anything that raises the profile of SEN among politicians has to be a good thing!

 

K x

[CEJesson]

Hi Lisa welcome to the forums, sorry for your misfortune

 

I received a statement but it did take 3 years of pleading for it to arrive, and sympathise with your frustation. I agree with Karen's comments above, it may make schools act even worse. Good luck with your petition however.

Edited June 26, 2008 by CEJesson

[puffin]

Perhaps there should be a requirement to assess needs following a diagnosis?

[mummy]

Hi There. yes I think a compulsory assessment after Diagnosis but I don't think an automatic statement is a good idea.

If your child is managing OK in mainstream school then he doesn't need one!

My son is the same, the school know of his Dx and he is on their School action so he is kept an eye on but there is no point in trying to get a statement if he doesn't need one, especially as there is already a shortage of funding for support for the children that REALLY need one!

I am a TA in a special school and have worked in mainstream too and believe me even the ones with statements don't always get the support they need.

Sorry I have to disagree but that is just my opinion.

Mummy x

[Bagpuss]

Hello and welcome

[pearl]

Welcome Lia

[Mother Natasha]

I completely agree!!!! my daughter, Lilly has nine years of age, autistic and after 3 years we are still fighting for a statement it is insane and do not know what else I can do!!!!I will sign your petition without a doubt and think you've really started something here, I have faith in it this will be the way forward for many where the inclusion system is failing them and I am hearing of more and more cases like ours by the day. Also I noticed that you have some MP's signatures on the petition which is great, what I think we could do also is march to downing street or something. My daughter is being denied access to a statement because of the LEA, council and her very own school becuase the headteacher who for some reason has such authority over the council and LEA will not comlpy as she does not wish to use her SEN buget on such matters as SEN and is forcing Lilly to stay in her mainstream school where she is being bullied. I take her out for lunch to protect her but this is having a great affect on her as she is speaking less than before. Mainstream can work if liek you say there is compulosry statementing after diagnosis and if teachers had the right training but were punished they do not take the training as they already overlook the code of practice law so what is to stop them from ignoring a teacher training law.... There needs to be a punishment implemented for teacher and headteachers alike. Who do they think they are and people actually look up them. Was it not an authoritarian and top barrister who decided to shoot his neighbours one day one cannot trust anyone not even a headteacher or teacher for that matter. Why is it the headteachers word.. against a medics wins????? And the Autistic society were no help as they want to keep the LEA sweet and parents who are lucky enough to have what they need i.e statements sweet also. If we can get the society to back us we could really change things as they are already well known it would be a big thing for the LEA to turn their back's on the society and something unlikely thus why would the society not help??? If the LEA did not fund the society anymore which I am sure would not happen but persay if it did we would have parents... to help with funding and other means. Something has to change I spoke to another mother the other day and she said that her daughter hit a teacher who was shouting... at her and they said she was naughty when she had been diagnosed with the condition and then placed in a cell at the age of 11 and only then the school.... said hhhm maybe she does need statementing. It seems that somebody has to die or something or other before something is done which is ridiculous like taht father in the newspaper who commited suicide for not being able to cope. I hope that this works and I am 100% behind you!!!!Good look with your statement!!! x

Edited July 4, 2008 by Mother Natasha

[Mother Natasha]

I have just read the negative comments above and cannot believe I am hearing this there are so many kids that need statements and with punishment laws for teachers... to loose heir jobs if they do not comply i cannot see what could really go wrong. It is worth a shot anything to benefit these kids and individuals!!!And it is not hard to get a diagnosis the problem is statements and its a very good idea if one could just litterally as soon as our children have been diagnosed have the medic give us a statement straight away theres no harm in it and the kids who have them already have them already I do not see the problem an those who do not which to have it as they are fine might benefit from it or wish to have it later in secondary school or university they might be fine now but in their next school who knows you know its there if they wish to use it or not why are you going agaist helping millions of kids who really need it just because your kid is fine when the doctor could just send you it by post and you would not even have to do a thing I am concerned with other children and parents who need help as well as my child and would never prevent others from having the life they deserve even if I am fine and can help it doesn't take long to sign a petition and every little helps.Compulsory statementing after diagnosis would not be harming you so why go against it I really do not understand!!!

Edited July 4, 2008 by Tally

[bid]

Welcome to the forum Lia and Mother Natasha

 

I certainly think the whole Statementing process needs changing, but I don't think the way forward is through compulsory Statements following dx.

 

Each child with ASD is different, and I don't think this kind of blanket policy will produce Statements that reflect their individual educational needs and appropriate provision.

 

Good luck anyway with the petition, Lia.

 

Bid

Edited July 4, 2008 by bid

[mossgrove]

I won't be signing the petition. I absolutely understand the sentiments behind it, but I do not think the solution is the right one.

 

LEAs withing to impose one-size fits all solutions has caused so much aggro for so many people over the years. If this came to pass LEAs would simply offer a (Small) menu of provision choices and hide behind the new rules to avoid providing extra support where it is needed and refusing support where a diagnosis is not available. They would also decline to provide individual asessments.

 

Some LEAs already put provision into 'Bands' based on category of needs rather than providing individual statements and there is no doubt that the needs of individual children are served less well than they are by individual statements based on the childs individual needs. Our children are all individuals and are defined by who they are and not by their diagnosis.

 

 

Simon

Edited July 4, 2008 by mossgrove

[Karen A]

Hi All.I do not wish to dampen the hopes of those who are unable to obtain a Statement and are understandably frustrated.

However I have a child with a Statement interestingly without a clear Dx as yet.

The LEA issued a Statement which was quantified provision to be given pretty well.

However having a Statement has not done anything to change the attitude of significant individuals....which is what makes the real difference as to whether Ben is included and valued as an individual.In some ways Ben has been labled and some people have negative stereotypical views that have hindered him.

 

Also we have spent the last two years frequently challenging the school regarding the provision clearly documented in the Statement.

Sadly even with a Statement it is extremely difficult to ensure that what is funded is provided.

Individual HTs are able to be very creative in the use of support staff.

 

I personally do not think it is easy to obtain a Diagnosis.We may obtain a clear Dx during the next couple of months.

It is two years since Ben was first assessed.

We have had excellent support from some very good and knowledgable professionals but Ben's case is complicated.

We may well find that Ben has DCD but not AS.

If we do find that Ben does not have AS then we will feel satisfied that he has the most accurate Dx that we could obtain.

I know that this may be a controversial opinion here but I have been around on the Forum long enough to feel able to express it.

The most appropriate Dx is the one obtained after a thorough assessment completed by the appropriate professional.

If Ben has AS then that is ok.If he does not have AS then I would not want him to have an AS diagnosis.

I believe very strongly that Ben is an individual with specific individual strengths and difficulties.I cannot see how blanket policies would improve the situation for him.

 

I wanted to add that even with a Statement Ben does not have the life in school he deserves.

I am not working because supporting him is still a job in itself two years on.

I am sorry to blow the hopes of anyone here who thinks that having a Statement is the answer....in my experience it just brings different frustrations.

Karen.

Edited July 4, 2008 by Karen A

[bid]

Mmm, that's another very good point, Karen...if a Statement was compulsory with a dx, what might happen to the children who don't have dx of 'something'.

 

My DH teaches in a special school for complex learning difficulties, and all the children there have Statements, but not all of them have a dx.

 

Bid

[Mother Natasha]

A statement is for all children with mild and extreme disorders and each child will have their own individual statement and diagnosis and the LEA would not provide statements but our medics preventing blanket policing with the punishment for schools, the LEA and teachers who do not comply and with a statement one has more amunition to combat schools in this moment in time.... it makes life very hard to even get close to the education your child deserves without one. And you cannot argue that this policy is not better than the exsisting one where most children have to fight for years to get what they need and by that time it is to late and they are 16. Speeding up statements, making them compulsory will speed up everything with less argovation allowing children to develop as they should from a young age. And there would be plenty of doctors all over the country willing to produce a promt diagnosis. Can you not see the benefits?????

[Flora]

And there would be plenty of doctors all over the country willing to produce a promt diagnosis. Can you not see the benefits?????

 

Yes and no! Yes, there should be shorter waiting lists for assessments etc... but I don't think a 'prompt' diagnosis is always going to be appropriate. It's infuriating, but surely it's better sometimes to wait and see how a child develops, before rushing in and applying a label that may be wrong? If a child has development difficulties and is going through the procedures for assessment then surely you'd rather the diagnosis was correct rather than hasty?

 

We all want to see a system that is less adversarial and more child centred, but not at the expense of quality and a risk of applying the wrong dx or a watered down statement.

 

Flora

[Mother Natasha]

Well the doctor will have to assess the child first before the diagnosis naturally but by producing a compulsory statement after diagnosis will not affect the diagnosis and its quality and thus giving the child access straight away to his/her requirements I think its genius!!!! And nip a child's learning and social difficulties it in the budd x

[mossgrove]

. And you cannot argue that this policy is not better than the exsisting one where most children have to fight for years to get what they need and by that time it is to late and they are 16. Speeding up statements, making them compulsory will speed up everything with less argovation allowing children to develop as they should from a young age. And there would be plenty of doctors all over the country willing to produce a promt diagnosis. Can you not see the benefits?????

 

 

I can't really warm to the idea of rushing headlong into a flawed solution simply because if offers the potential to be better than the current one for some children. As it stands the proposal in the petition (Which is the one under discussion, trather than your subsequant expansions on your original theme) would have the effect of encouraging provision based on a diagnosis rather than a child indviduals needs and in practice would not acheive it's aims. Statements are a description of a childs educational needs and as diagnosis is a label for a condition, and it is important to recognse the distinction.

 

Simon

[Flora]

Mther NAtash

 

A statement is not a magic wand and doesn't 'nip' anything in the bud. Also, an immediate statement post dx just would would be very unsatisfactory; it takes months of assessments and writing and re-writing to get a statement that comes even close to reflecting the needs of a particular child.

 

In my son's case it has given him access to an educational environement which he doesn't find intollerable, but his difficulties are not just going to go away and I am not expecting them to. His statement is 16 pages long and is a result of many detailed assessments by a host of different professionals. In an ideal world this could have been done in half the time, but it certainly would not and could not have come about on the basis of his dx alone. His dx was just the start. It takes much more than that to work out exactly what the difficulties are and what can be done to help from an educational perspective.

 

Flora

Edited July 4, 2008 by Flora

[Kathryn]

A statement is not a magical gateway to unlimited resources, help and goodwill. Many statements are not worth the paper they're written on. LA's are only too happy to produce a piece of paper which is so vaguely worded that it is legally unenforceable. I've seen one which was only one page long. If LA's are forced to produce a statement for every child diagnosed with something, such statements would become the norm. LA's are adept at wording statements in such a way that puts no obligation on them to provide anything.

 

Even for those who are lucky enough to get a well written statement, the school might not have the will and the expertise to make it work for the child. So just campaigning for statements is not the answer, more resources and better training for schools are essential if statements are to work properly.

 

Some children even with a dx, do not need statements if they are in a well resourced, well motivated environment. Others may never qualify for a dx of anything and yet may be in a school with a very small budget and so need a statement to get the extra support they need.

 

Mother Natasha, I appreciate the hassles you've gone through to get help for your child, and believe me many of us have beaten our heads against the same brick walls and are just as frustrated as you and equally ardent campaigners for the rights of children with SEN. You're entitled to your opinion, but please do not criticise others for expressing their equally valid views. A refusal to sign the petition does not imply that those of us who disagree with this specific proposal are uninterested in the wider issues and are doing nothing. I'm sorry but I find the hectoring tone of some of your posts quite offensive actually, and I'm speaking personally here and not as a moderator.

 

Kathryn

Edited July 4, 2008 by Kathryn

[oxgirl]

I totally agree with Kathryn and Flora's last posts and they both used the exact phrases that I was about to use, but they beat me to it!

Just because a statement lists the things that a child needs or the things that they need help 'working towards' does not mean that they necessarily get done. If a school and the staff are motivated and understanding then they will get what they need without the need for a statement and if the school is not very clued up on ASD and the needs of these children then you can write a statement as long as your arm and it doesn't mean it will make much of a difference to the day-to-day life of that child.

Mother Natasha, if you're not happy with the school your child is at have you thought of looking round for a school that you would be happier with or where you feel that the Head would be more understanding of your child's needs? I'm sorry that your DD is being bullied by other children but I doubt that having a statement would make any difference at all to the way the other children treat her. If the school doesn't put in place suitable strategies to help your daughter and take the bullying seriously then that is down to the school's failings and a statement would not necessarily make that much of a difference anyway.

I'm sorry, I won't be signing your petition either. It's not the fact that it will take me too long to do it, it's just that I don't agree with the idea. I hope you can either find a way to work with your current school or that you find an alternative one where your DD will be happier.

Good luck.

 

~ Mel ~

[Flora]

Mother Natasha

 

and parents who are lucky enough to have what they need i.e statements sweet also.

 

why are you going agaist helping millions of kids who really need it just because your kid is fine

 

I've extracted the above two quotes from your posts to make a couple of important points.

 

Many parents whose kids have statements did not get them by 'luck'. I, and many others I know, have had to fight very hard to get those statements... and then fight some more to ensure that they are accurate and are implemented.

 

I doubt that anyone who posted in this thread would say their kids are 'fine'.

 

We are all struggling through the same system, albeit at different paces and in different ways.

 

Just go and read through the education section of the forum and you'll see some examples of this.

 

Flora

Edited July 4, 2008 by Flora

[bid]

I couldn't agree more, guys.

 

Mother Natasha, because you've just joined this forum you won't be aware that very many of us here know exactly what it's like to fight for a Statement, and we have also experienced the consequences for a child of not having one It took me three attempts, 10 years and my son having a complete breakdown and being out of school for 6 months before we got a Statement for him.

 

Please don't be so quick to assume we are unsupportive of other parents The only reason I finally got my son a Statement was because of the expert advice and support I received from forum members.

 

Bid

[Karen A]

Well the doctor will have to assess the child first before the diagnosis naturally but by producing a compulsory statement after diagnosis will not affect the diagnosis and its quality and thus giving the child access straight away to his/her requirements I think its genius!!!! And nip a child's learning and social difficulties it in the budd x

 

Hi Mother Natasha.I respect your opinion.However I have to say that I do not consider my child's learning and social difficulties could have been nipped in the bud had earlier intervention been provided.I am not at all sure that Ben would feel all together happy about having something that he considers part of his make up nipped in the bud anyway.Karen.

[Karen A]

Well the doctor will have to assess the child first before the diagnosis naturally but by producing a compulsory statement after diagnosis will not affect the diagnosis and its quality and thus giving the child access straight away to his/her requirements I think its genius!!!! And nip a child's learning and social difficulties it in the budd x

 

Hi.I think you are missing another important issue.

Doctors are medical practitioners who are qualified to diagnose medical conditions.Although many are willing to provide information for Statutary Assessment it is not a significant part of their role.It is certainly not something NHS managers would be rushing to encourage Doctors to relieve LEAs of.

If Diagnosis is linked to Statementing then the most likely outcome in my opinion is that Doctors would be more likely to be more reluctant to diagnose.

Also in my experience schools are often already reluctant to encourage parents to obtain an assessment for a Dx.The system proposed would surely just encourage such schools to delay suggesting assessment.

[Mother Natasha]

I do not understand what you are saying so you'd get extra help for your child and want him to get better at an older age when it is more difficult and most of the damage is done??? and rather he continued to struggle rather than the best option which is to try and make him get better at a younger age so that he would not continue to struggle or struggle as much. It does not make any sense. If one can nip a difficulty in the budd thats best for the child. If the child's disorder cannot be nipped in the bud I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that or the child and like you said a child's past molds its future so if you want your child to get better sooner than later you attack the problem sooner then later if you can . The child's make up would not be nipped in the budd but his difficulties such as learning difficulties which is what every parent strives for by putting his/her child in a specialist school for example and getting a statement so that mainstream schools deliver the extra help the child needs. How can you deny the help a child needs from an early age if it is within your means and due to the law which will hopefully be implemented:Compulsory Statementing after diagnosis.

[Mother Natasha]

You know what was meant by fine as you already have a statement for your child and I did not say that you managed to get your statemnet by luck but that the parents who have them are very lucky there is a difference I am fully aware of how hard it is and still have faith that I will get one for my daughter as they are hard to come by, like it is a god send that you have one after your struggle to attain it but i am unfortunate and unlucky as I still have not managed to get one due to the headmistress of my daughter's school making it impossible to move her to another school at the tribunal the headteacher's word went against the medics that my daughter needs a statement thus I cannot move her from the school she is being bullied at becuas eshe does not have a statement. With a statement this would not be happening and my daughter would have had a very different few years if she had one as she would not be in her existing school.

Mother Natasha

 

and parents who are lucky enough to have what they need i.e statements sweet also.

 

why are you going agaist helping millions of kids who really need it just because your kid is fine

 

I've extracted the above two quotes from your posts to make a couple of important points.

 

Many parents whose kids have statements did not get them by 'luck'. I, and many others I know, have had to fight very hard to get those statements... and then fight some more to ensure that they are accurate and are implemented.

 

I doubt that anyone who posted in this thread would say their kids are 'fine'.

 

We are all struggling through the same system, albeit at different paces and in different ways.

 

Just go and read through the education section of the forum and you'll see some examples of this.

 

Flora

[Mother Natasha]

I cannot move to another school without a statement because of the headmistress who is against it all she is really a nasty piece of work and a statemnet will not change the bullies attitude but enable my child to move to another school where their are better provisions for my child and where teachers have a better understanding of pupils.... A statement would make a huge difference to myself, my daughter, usband and all other mothers who have been in the same situation or going through it. And that is why a compulsory statemnt must come with a compulsory punishment for those who do not comply i.e teachers, headteachers, lea.....

I totally agree with Kathryn and Flora's last posts and they both used the exact phrases that I was about to use, but they beat me to it!

Just because a statement lists the things that a child needs or the things that they need help 'working towards' does not mean that they necessarily get done. If a school and the staff are motivated and understanding then they will get what they need without the need for a statement and if the school is not very clued up on ASD and the needs of these children then you can write a statement as long as your arm and it doesn't mean it will make much of a difference to the day-to-day life of that child.

Mother Natasha, if you're not happy with the school your child is at have you thought of looking round for a school that you would be happier with or where you feel that the Head would be more understanding of your child's needs? I'm sorry that your DD is being bullied by other children but I doubt that having a statement would make any difference at all to the way the other children treat her. If the school doesn't put in place suitable strategies to help your daughter and take the bullying seriously then that is down to the school's failings and a statement would not necessarily make that much of a difference anyway.

I'm sorry, I won't be signing your petition either. It's not the fact that it will take me too long to do it, it's just that I don't agree with the idea. I hope you can either find a way to work with your current school or that you find an alternative one where your DD will be happier.

Good luck.

 

~ Mel ~

[Mother Natasha]

I did not mean to offend anyone my intentions are only to help these children and obviosly we need btter trained teachers, better funded schools and a punishemnt for teachers... who do not use their SEN budget for SEN matters as my daughter's school so that they will. It is not hurting anyone in making statements compulsory but helping the various children who would benefit from it and every child would benefit from better teaching...which is something else we need and more specialist schools as the inclusion system is really not working.

 

A statement is not a magical gateway to unlimited resources, help and goodwill. Many statements are not worth the paper they're written on. LEA's are only too happy to produce a piece of paper which is so vaguely worded that it is legally unenforceable. I've seen one which was only one page long. If LEA's are forced to produce a statement for every child diagnosed with something, such statements would become the norm. LEA's are adept at wording statements in such a way that puts no obligation on them to provide anything.

 

Even for those who are lucky enough to get a well written statement, the school might not have the will and the expertise to make it work for the child. So just campaigning for statements is not the answer, more resources and better training for schools are essential if statements are to work properly.

 

Some children even with a dx, do not need statements if they are in a well resourced, well motivated environment. Others may never qualify for a dx of anything and yet may be in a school with a very small budget and so need a statement to get the extra support they need.

 

Mother Natasha, I appreciate the hassles you've gone through to get help for your child, and believe me many of us have beaten our heads against the same brick walls and are just as frustrated as you and equally ardent campaigners for the rights of children with SEN. You're entitled to your opinion, but please do not criticise others for expressing their equally valid views. A refusal to sign the petition does not imply that those of us who disagree with this specific proposal are uninterested in the wider issues and are doing nothing. I'm sorry but I find the hectoring tone of some of your posts quite offensive actually, and I'm speaking personally here and not as a moderator.

 

Kathryn

[Mother Natasha]

Welcome to the forum Lia and Mother Natasha

 

I certainly think the whole Statementing process needs changing, but I don't think the way forward is through compulsory Statements following dx.

 

Each child with ASD is different, and I don't think this kind of blanket policy will produce Statements that reflect their individual educational needs and appropriate provision.

 

Good luck anyway with the petition, Lia.

 

Bid

 

Thankyou

[Mother Natasha]

I couldn't agree more, guys.

 

Mother Natasha, because you've just joined this forum you won't be aware that very many of us here know exactly what it's like to fight for a Statement, and we have also experienced the consequences for a child of not having one It took me three attempts, 10 years and my son having a complete breakdown and being out of school for 6 months before we got a Statement for him.

 

Please don't be so quick to assume we are unsupportive of other parents The only reason I finally got my son a Statement was because of the expert advice and support I received from forum members.

 

Bid

Thankyou do you then agree that statemnets should be compulsory as we all fight so hard for them xx

[Mother Natasha]

The medic would be specialised in the subject area though and see whats best for the child's statement as he would have assessed the child already to have been able to diagnose him and a statement can provide children with the care they need if for example a school is willing to do so so then the difficulty can be nipped in the budd or just addressed sooner than later at n earlier stage of her development which is more beneficial. In my case a statement would be a magic wand and allow my child to be happy in a school that meets her needs and thus allow her to progress and flourish as she should be able to do.

 

Mther NAtash

 

A statement is not a magic wand and doesn't 'nip' anything in the bud. Also, an immediate statement post dx just would would be very unsatisfactory; it takes months of assessments and writing and re-writing to get a statement that comes even close to reflecting the needs of a particular child.

 

In my son's case it has given him access to an educational environement which he doesn't find intollerable, but his difficulties are not just going to go away and I am not expecting them to. His statement is 16 pages long and is a result of many detailed assessments by a host of different professionals. In an ideal world this could have been done in half the time, but it certainly would not and could not have come about on the basis of his dx alone. His dx was just the start. It takes much more than that to work out exactly what the difficulties are and what can be done to help from an educational perspective.

 

Flora

[Karen A]

I do not understand what you are saying so you'd get extra help for your child and want him to get better at an older age when it is more difficult and most of the damage is done??? and rather he continued to struggle rather than the best option which is to try and make him get better at a younger age so that he would not continue to struggle or struggle as much. It does not make any sense. If one can nip a difficulty in the budd thats best for the child. If the child's disorder cannot be nipped in the bud I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that or the child and like you said a child's past molds its future so if you want your child to get better sooner than later you attack the problem sooner then later if you can . The child's make up would not be nipped in the budd but his difficulties such as learning difficulties which is what every parent strives for by putting his/her child in a specialist school for example and getting a statement so that mainstream schools deliver the extra help the child needs. How can you deny the help a child needs from an early age if it is within your means and due to the law which will hopefully be implemented:Compulsory Statementing after diagnosis.

 

The many people here who are aware of our situation will know that I have battled long and hard and continue to do so for Ben.As you only joined the Forum a few days ago you will know little of our situation.I can asure you that those who have even the faintest idea of the stress we have experienced in our efforts to ensure appropriate support for Ben would not dream of judging our efforts to support him.

Our efforts do not currently include Specialist Provision because after a detailed Statutary Assessment the professionals and ourselves agree that it would not be appropriate.

We were not aware until he was seven that he had SEN so earlier intervention was not an option open to us.

I refuse however to see my child as damaged .

Ben has a statement and it has not ensured that he gets the help to which he is entitled.The fact that he has a Statement has in fact led to some individuals labeling him and having negative expectations.

 

Oh and before you suggest that I am in denial I am sure that that is not the case.

Ben might have difficulties in some areas but he is also very bright indeed....he does not fit into the standard ASD box and is an excellent example of why a one size fits all approach based on Dx is unhelpful.Karen.

[Karen A]

The medic would be specialised in the subject area though and see whats best for the child's statement as he would have assessed the child already to have been able to diagnose him and a statement can provide children with the care they need if for example a school is willing to do so so then the difficulty can be nipped in the budd or just addressed sooner than later at n earlier stage of her development which is more beneficial. In my case a statement would be a magic wand and allow my child to be happy in a school that meets her needs and thus allow her to progress and flourish as she should be able to do.

 

Sorry to be a bearer of bad news.Many many people on the Forum with years of experience will tell you that a Statement is not a magic wand it is one stage in a process that continues .Karen.

[mossgrove]

Mother Natasha

 

I am sorry you are so upset that people disagree with you.

 

Pretty much all of the comments are from people who have been 'in the system' as parents for several years (and that includes me, I have two children with Autism) and none of the respondents want to deny help to a child that needs it. Please try and listen to what they are telling you as well as lecturing them.

 

Early interventions help, but 'will not deliver as much as you think it will, a childs cannot be 'headed off at the pass'. Autism is a lifelong condition and many children with Autism will need help for the rest of their lives, even if they get the appropriate help.

 

Simon

[Bard]

I'm staying out of this thread as I am currently too tired to attempt to enter this sort of discussion.

Only to say that my views reflect mossgrove's, one size fits all is inappropriate.

 

However, I am concerned that a Statement is being viewed as a magic wand that will fix everything that is wrong with one sparkling sweep. It's just one of the markers on an extremely long and arduous journey.

 

Oh, and punishing teachers and schools for misusing SEN bugets...there is a certain amount of money and many different varieties of special needs. I'd hate to see it come down to a fight between dyslexia and ASD's, or any of the other conditions that need extra support. If every dx SEN had a Statement, then some schools would be seeing 1/3 of their children statemented, and the funding would be split into minute fragments Or are ASDs are more special than other SENs?

Edited July 4, 2008 by Bard

[Kathryn]

The medic would be specialised in the subject area though and see whats best for the child's statement as he would have assessed the child already to have been able to diagnose him and a statement can provide children with the care they need if for example a school is willing to do so so then the difficulty can be nipped in the budd or just addressed sooner than later at n earlier stage of her development which is more beneficial. In my case a statement would be a magic wand and allow my child to be happy in a school that meets her needs and thus allow her to progress and flourish as she should be able to do.

 

Natasha, I appreciate that a statement would make all the difference to your child and enable her to move to another school and make a new start. I understand where you're coming from. I also fought long and hard for my child to get a statement for the same reason - we failed and I wish you greater success in your battle. But making statements compulsory would have no beneficial effect as far as I can see and may even be detrimental to those who really need them. The effect, I think, would be a devaluing of statements (because half the school population would have them and therefore teachers would pay no heed to them), and fewer resources available for the larger number of children who would suddenly become entitled to them.

 

I fight for the rights of children to have statements if they need them, whilst also campaigning for greater awareness and better resourced schools so that fewer statements will be needed. The two are not incompatible, in my opinion.

 

K x