It's a Spectrum, It varies.

[AndrewBurling]

It's a Spectrum, It varies.

 

I would like too Introduce myself and the reasons I write this for helping parents understand the difficulties with "Specialist" education.

 

I'm a Fifteen year old boy who has recently had the recent please of an Autistic Spectrum diagnosis, now please don't dismiss what I write now and present too the viewers of my post as the ramblings of a Child who's stuck between a Rock and Hard place, for I would like you too realise dismissing my notions as Rants would be not benefitting any party.

 

I currently go to a "Specialist" school thanks too the Hard work and effort of my Parents who had my best intrests at heart, but the efforts were wasted In my opinion.

 

These Specialist schools are ridiculous and benefit the small minority of AS people. For my particular school the base rate too be part of the school Is £135,000 of the Tax payers money the rates vary and can be proportionally more or less. This £135,000 Investment over the period of 1-9 Years Is very costly too the Tax payer and has No gain of Income back.

 

Specialist Schools have a low Intake of Pupils and spaces are limited my Particular school having fifty five pupils ranging from the age of Seven too Sixteen. The average ratio of all Staff too boys ranges from 3:1 and 5:1. With the average rate of pay being roughly 20K with the Ratio at 5:1 thats £100,000 leaving £35,000 too be spent on that Childs "needs" for example someone has two parents with an Income of £17,500 the Two parents then have the same amount of money as that one child. The problem Is we see none of that Income and are not seeing much of It with out food being Tesco value and our equipment being the poorest quality. (One bus has Its wing mirror taped on and many more faults) you may think well he's only fifteen he doesn't know the cost too run an average home with Hot water and Electricity, well even I know that It doesn't cost £35,000 too provide that for one student.

 

So wheres the money going?

 

Now you may think the title Is misleading but It brings me onto this point and some things from real life.

 

"If your declared Insane or Unstable everything you do may be considered part of the Instability."

 

And a point that I feel relates more too myself at least In my opinion.

 

A Psychologist once admitted himself Into a Institution by acting crazy but prolonged exposure too the Environment led him too end up being Crazy. Not tht I'm Implying in anyway AS Is a fault.

 

ASD I find degrading as a Comment I leave the D out on purpose. It's not a Disorder its like a person In wheelchair isn't disabled they're just less able. A man without one leg still managed too climb the Himalayas. But I digress, please discuss and Post you reactions.

 

Thank you for reading this.

 

Andrew.

[RainbowsButterflies]

Firstly - welcome to the forum.

 

Secondly - I'm confused...

[AdamJ]

I'm confused, too.

 

Fisrt, AS and ASD stand for Aspergers Syndrome and Autistic Spectrum Disorder, respectively: two different diagnoses so the D makes a clinical difference. Which diagnosis do you have?

 

Second, I'm not clear what your question is. I'm sure we'll all be able to offer something more if you can clarify that.

Edited June 26, 2011 by AdamJ

[AndrewBurling]

Sorry for not being clear enough. I'm the said fifteen year old with ASD. Autistic Spectrum Disorder or High Functioning Autism. Its hard too be clear whilst using a mobile for writing that.

[darkshine]

Hello Andrew, are you saying that in your opinion, specialist schools are a waste of time for kids/teenagers with AS/ASD's, OR that its just a waste of time for you? Or maybe both? Or was there another point you were trying to make?

 

Sorry for asking so many questions

[RainbowsButterflies]

I'm still not quite sure what you're asking...

 

But, there are a wide range of people who have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder - the spectrum in the name tries to express the variation. On one end of the scale are people with severe learning disabilities. On the other end are people with average to above average IQ.

 

More able people with ASDs have high functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger's Syndrome (AS). The technical difference between the two is whether there was amy delay in talking. However, the current thinking is to abolish the term Asperger's Syndrome so some diagnosticians could be using the terms interchangeably now.

 

Have no idea if that's what you were after...

[AdamJ]

I've read it several times now and I think what Andrew is saying is, why not just give the remainder out of the £135,000 money allocated to his care directly to his parents? They would be able to make better use of it than the Special School, on the assumption that the the special school spends £100,000 on staff costs per pupil, leaving £35,000 spare.

 

Andrew, I think the flaw in this is that the special school has an awful lot more overheads than just staff costs. I could provide you with a fairly comprehensive list of those overheads, if you have any doubts about this. There wouldn't be anything like £35,000 spare.

Edited June 27, 2011 by AdamJ

[AndrewBurling]

Darkshine Is correct. I functioned fine at my last school getting friends with total ease.

 

I did mess around though and Irritate the teachers which led me Into a load of Detentions. So I left but I could go back.

 

Anyway In short what I'm saying Is Specialist schools shouldn't exist. Thoose £135,000 should be given too the Local school too Improve that.

[ScienceGeek]

As you say in your title though, it is a spectrum and it varies, just because you haven't benefitted from the school that you go to doesn't mean that others haven't. Not every child on the spectrum can deal with mainstream schooling and taking away the option of a specialist school that may meet their needs better I think is wrong. Some children need that specialist schooling, smaller classes and teachers that understand them, that they may not necessarily get in mainstream schooling. For some children, mainstream just isn't possible. I would rather the funding be there for those that need special schools than them missing out on education altogether because they are too afraid to go into school. Education is a right not a priviledge and we have the obligation to make sure that we have the provisions to cover all students needs.

[AndrewBurling]

And I would agree too that sentiment also but both things have merit.

 

The problem Is AS Is used collectively as If were all the same. Which Is definitely not the case.

 

Specialist education Should be taken as a more extreme action. But it does depend on the child, for example people were bullied whereas I wasn't.

 

I will when I've got access too my Laptop write a better piece than my bunch of thoughts and Opinions.

[Lynden]

I think that like all schools, specialist schools suit some kids and not others. My son is in a special school and it's 100% right for him. I'm also a Governor at his school and like AdamJ has said, there is no 'leftover' money and it is 100% spent for the benefit of the kids.

 

Lynne

[AndrewBurling]

For someone like myself too live In that environment I find It unhealthy and helpful.

I see them helping a small minority.

 

I'm high functioning Autism and at a school for It but Its pretty much turned into a EBD school. For example from 4:00 - 11:00 a Child was Non-Stop screaming and breaking up.

[sesley]

Its wonderful to read the point of view of a young person like yourself with autism its interesting and valid point of view that the d should be dropped. My son now he is learning about himself he is 11 said D means disabled and i said no lets leave that word out which, stands for disorder and say challenge instead.

 

The cost to send you to your school does seem a lot,but you parents have done what is best for you,even though you don't see the benefits now,you may well do later, you still have 3 years of school left,you are lucky to be with people that understand your autism better than in a mainstream school,which often do not have the expertise for people with learning challenges leaving many frustrated and often excluded.

[AndrewBurling]

Yet the problem lies In the fact I was happier at my Mainstream and had no problems fitting In. I was quite popular In reality.

 

The main task is too accomplish Is making parents wary of sending children too specialist education.

 

If your child Is telling you he doesn't like his "Specialist" education and preferred mainstream or home education let him have a go. He might just suprise you.

 

I find It funny how I though place like my current school were better but In my opinion I find mainstream the lesser of two evils.

[darkshine]

Yet the problem lies In the fact I was happier at my Mainstream and had no problems fitting In. I was quite popular In reality.

 

The main task is too accomplish Is making parents wary of sending children too specialist education.

 

If your child Is telling you he doesn't like his "Specialist" education and preferred mainstream or home education let him have a go. He might just suprise you.

 

I find It funny how I though place like my current school were better but In my opinion I find mainstream the lesser of two evils.

Hello again Andrew As someone else said, it is good to hear a younger person's views. I am 30 and went to mainstream school because I only got diagnosed a few months ago.

 

I think I see your points, and that if you are wanting to learn "how to be like everyone else" (so to speak) and you think you have the ability to try - or the will to try - then I think you are old enough to know your own mind about this.

 

Parents aren't always easy to talk to, and they certainly aren't always easy to convince, but maybe it is worth another chat with them about things?

 

Special schools are important, but as you pointed out, that may not be the right place for you.

 

Sometimes the hardest thing for people (and I think for ALL people) is seeing the whole picture - have you asked your parents why they think you should be at this school? Cuz they could have reasons you haven't thought of... They may be right reasons or wrong ones, but maybe it could help you to understand their reasoning, and perhaps work out how to talk to them about this?

 

Best

 

Darkshine

[AndrewBurling]

I went too mainstream throughout primary and for 3-5 Years of my Secondary.

 

I'm still getting high grades and haven't attended my lessons as I find them degrading too my Intellect.

 

I was Diagnosed at 12, and I was diagnosed as very Mild. And considering anger pushes you up the AS scale as such I believe I may not be AS.

[darkshine]

I don't know how easy it is for you to discuss with the people in your life, but it could be an idea to think of a way to broach this with them, if they aren't already aware of your feelings then they should know how you feel Andrew. If talking isn't easy try writing it all down.

 

I found it impossible to talk to my parents at your age, but I now know (later in life) that they wish they had known what I was thinking and feeling...

Edited June 27, 2011 by darkshine

[AndrewBurling]

The talking method has failed So I was planning on writing a piece that shows the full extent of everything that goes on and the problems of this school.

[sesley]

do that then. often as parents we are bad at listening to our what our children want because we think we always know whats best when we don't always. your parents are thnking they are doing the best for you to get a good start in life,though a good education.The school they have choosen for you proberly did not come, without a lot of research and thinking.so far they have done a amzing good job,because you are able to express yourself on here very well with your thoughts and your stats on costs etc. so go easy on them while you talk to them and show them by your written thoughts what you feel if talking is too hard.

[darkshine]

I think that's a good idea too

 

As sesley says, your parents will have thought the decision through, so if you don't understand this part I still think asking them to explain why they chose this school would help you understand them a little more.

 

I think most parents would like to be able to understand their children, and if they were getting something wrong they would like to know. The reason I keep saying that knowing their reasons will help, is because it gives you a chance to tell them what you think of that, and it gives them a chance to review the situation.

 

Because this is happening to you, you might not always see why this is the case, and even if you don't like their answers, you might be able to understand them, which will help them to understand you too.

 

Good luck Andrew

 

Ps - maybe a test run of your letter might help? There are a lot of parents on this forum and it might give you insight on how parents view what your are saying, and practice at justifying and explaining yourself when they ask questions... That way you'll have a better idea of how to express yourself to your own parents, when the time comes.

 

Best

 

Darkshine

[Lynden]

Can I just say, as a parent, that if you plan to write to your parents, you should concentrate on why the school doesn't work for you - rather than why you feel specialist schools don't work in general as that will detract from your own personal experience with the school.

 

For any parent, their main concern usually whether their child is happy and if their school works for them, not if it works for anyone else as everyones needs are so different.

 

Lynne

Edited June 27, 2011 by Lynden

[AndrewBurling]

Thanks guys. Will Post the test run before i email it.

[Enid]

The talking method has failed So I was planning on writing a piece that shows the full extent of everything that goes on and the problems of this school.

I would do that. My son is your age and has an ASD diagnosis, and attends special school, he also has a diagnosis on Moderate Learning difficulties, although he is actually quite clever! will be interested to read your posts.

[AndrewBurling]

It should be up around Sunday time all things permitting. Otherwise It could be months.