smiley Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Hiya, I've heard a couple of post mention Autism Teams going into schools.....does every area have a team like this......i'm curious..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oracle Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Every area should probably have some sort of team by now. It's not manditory, what is? But they are encouraged. Where do you live? Carole Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lil_me Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Durham does, they are fab Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jomica Report post Posted October 5, 2005 We have them too. Some are helpful, others not. I sometimes think some of ours have a "one size fits all" kind of approach, which doesn't fit my son. I haven't found them very supportive, to be honest. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hectorshouse Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Different areas call them different things, some have a specific autism team, some have a communication information disorder team, but each lea are meant to have some kind of ASD plan and team ... the reality isn't always the same tho. HHxx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mossgrove Report post Posted October 5, 2005 We have an autism team in our area. The main weakness in the system isthat it is entirely at the school's discretion as to whetther to involve them or not, so that cannot always tell it like it is. Simon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oracle Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Simon so far as I am aware it's entirely at the discretion of any school to include an Autism Outreach Team. This is one of the biggest issues that we Campaign about. At the moment is is quite legal for a school to sit unaided with a child who they have no understanding or awareness of, and they can not be forced to have input from an Outreach Team Madness or what? Carole Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiley Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Hi Carole - I'm in Hampshire, north hants. Quite literally on the border of Berkshire (at the bottom of the garden ) and Surrey. My school's LEA is Surrey..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted October 5, 2005 we have advisors in each 'wedge' (section of the city) - ours is superb, Com wouldn't be in school without her, he certainly wouldn't have the level of specific support he now has. I think they are just etting up a team here as our ed psych, who is also very hot on ASDs, mentioned he's going to be part of something with the word team (didn't quite catch the rest) with people from CAMHS. our privately run LEA is better at football and business studies specialist schools than SEN - we're usually miles behind unless it's going to save them money; like inclusion - we're one of the top LEAs for inclusion! Zemanski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lil_me Report post Posted October 5, 2005 I think you can self refer to the ASD team up here, not quite certain on that but I am sure it was mentioned somewhere along the lines. We have 2 experienced advispry teachers and one Ed Psych on our team, can't fault them so far. The only downside I have found is the school ignoring the advice in some areas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted October 5, 2005 We have a team - thats about all I can say Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brook Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Our outreach team are great and always very willing to help out Now the downside it's getting the school to take on board the strategies and advice and to use them consistently. I think these teams get a bit fed up with all their efforts going to waste. Well in my area anyway! Brook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted October 5, 2005 We have only met one lady from our LEA's Autism team and she is great, and has been a massive support to our family and my son's school. I'm in the same area as Mother Eve ! Did we strike lucky, I wonder with who we got ? !! wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted October 5, 2005 As Caroles pointed out, the biggest problem is that there's no national policy and nowt in terms of expected levels of performance. In my area, the outreach programme comes under the SALT teams remit - and everyone knows how thin SALT resources are... As far as them getting in to specific schools go, it's down to the discretion/goodwill of the head or governors - preposterous! Schools have targets on just about everything EXCEPT their inclusion policies. In an age where integration is the prime objective of Govt (even taking into account the recent back pedalling), that's ridiculous. There should be a clear and cohesive National policy on integration generally, and I think it's becoming more and more apparent that ASD's in particular need to be looked at in isolation, as there are specific difficulties that just aren't apparent in other areas of disability. Having autism 'teams' is a good initiative, it's just pointless if there not empowered to actually achieve anything where they run into opposition. There are enough 'toothless dogs' running around in this field already. We need some with some BITE!! L&P BD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarerQuie Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Not sure if we have one in Hampshire or not.However,my son is at a special school with great expertise in ASD's,so it isn't an issue for me-at the moment.xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Simon so far as I am aware it's entirely at the discretion of any school to include an Autism Outreach Team. This is one of the biggest issues that we Campaign about. At the moment is is quite legal for a school to sit unaided with a child who they have no understanding or awareness of, and they can not be forced to have input from an Outreach Team Madness or what? In our area only the school can refer to the Autism team, not the parents (we tried)- this is something I would like to see changed. "We only call them in if the school can't cope" was previous Senco's famous pronouncement when I suggested this. By the time the school realised it was out of its depth and called them in it was too late. There was an unbelievable amount of paperwork to complete before they could even set foot on the premises. So we had the farcical situation of the advisor coming in to talk to the teachers and suggest strategies for a child who was no longer there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted October 5, 2005 Ours has definitely got some 'bite'! she totally shot down any 'erring' and 'butting' from the school, and basically explained that my son needed a, b, and c, and it was the school's duty to provide it. ( she gave a very good asd expert view of why a,b, and c was necessary for an asd child ) It did seem that everyone at the review bowed down to her superior knowledge. Go M !!! I think we are lucky in having this (and I do appreciate it ) Not sure how much 'official' sway she has, but it's always worked for us. wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisann Report post Posted October 10, 2005 Our outreach is team is fantastic when they do input into the school unfortunatly it's up to the school if they choose to take the information on board!Crazy but sadly true Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
