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BusyLizzie100

Is there a good place to raise autistic kids?

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Hi all. This may sound a bit daft, but we're considering a relocation and need help in deciding where to!

 

We haven't got buckets of money, but we're thinking about 'downshifting' so we can get the boys away from town and into the countryside and start enjoying life a bit more. I fancy a big old farm house (don't care if it's rundown), but I'll settle for somewhere where the local authority is switched on about autism.

 

So, is there anywhere we should avoid? Or have your authorities done right by your kids? It's a bit pie in the sky, isn't it, but we've got to start somewhere and getting the support right has got to come high on the list.

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I can only speak for myself and the school that my son is in as i have heard the authorities arent that clued up around here. We live in Bedfordshire, in a small village and my son goes to a small village school (57 kids in whole school) and they have been brilliant, they are so clued up, the reception teacher who is also Senco is great and brought it to our attention that he might be autistic and now that he is in class 1 is teacher now has a son who has Aspergers so the support is second to none. Every seminar i go to they pay to go aswell (school funds) and actually listen to the parents point of view. My son has 15 mins one to one reading daily, 1.5 hours on a Monday for lanuage understanding and 2 hours on a Wednesday for motor-coordination and he hasnt got a statement they decided thats what he needed. Brill huh

Jayne xx

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Lizzie

 

It looks like we're going to be in the same boat within the next 12 months, and haven't found anywhere yet.

But I can tell you (if mods allow) that we've had to fight the Leeds LEA every step of the way for any help for Com. But then it is one of the flagship privatised LEAs, so no surprise there! :wallbash:

 

good luck

nemo

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Weren't Bedfordshire the Authority who had all of their top LEA officials removed by the DFES?

 

Oracle

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well we did it 7 years ago...........moved to a old farm , did it up , and it,s been brill.....we don,t have any neighbours and I can scream and shout as much as I like........we live in east cheshire and when I talk to others our lea have been very fair............you never really know though if you,ve just been ###### lucky though do you????? :huh:

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I live in South Oxfordshire and I'm experiencing struggle after struggle for provision, basically my experience of this Lea is if you don't ask you don't get, if you ask you don't get, if you beg you don't get, if you threaten tribunal you get something.

 

Lauren

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We are in Leicestershire LEA and have no complaints at all so far about Education. Health is hit and miss, depends who you see, there are a couple of good ASD paeds and CAMHs people midst the mire and SALT and OT provision is mediocre. There is no dedicated ASD-type assessment centre or streamlined servce like Nottingham or other places have so there is an element of luck.

 

My son is four and Leics seem to have put a lot of money into earlyi ntervention and Early yrs provision which is the stage we are at. Our locality seems particularly well resourced. The primary school my son is at have funded him fulltime support indefinitely at SA+ and I know the primary down the road has a couple of children requiring 20 hours LSA support on SA+. From reading this forum I know this experience can be rare and realise how lucky we are. We had no real problems getting DS statemented and he has been awarded 25hours a week LSA support though the school are going to continue with 30hrs for the moment.

 

Leics Autistic Outreach and the Early Yrs SEN Team are both fantastic and apparently the Autistic Outreach team is reknown nationally. Think they could do with double the amount of staff for the workload though! However the Specialist Teaching Serivce is being reorganised, cuts are being made and posts being made redundant and I know a lot of parents and professionals are concerned about the future of Autistic Outreach.

 

As my son is four I only know about Early Yrs so I'm not sure what it is like for older children. I've heard less good things about provision at secondary level and if you talk to the Leics Autistic Society they have less than edifying stories about the struggles some parents have gone through to get correct provision for their children. There doesn't seem to be much autistic-specific specialist provision countywide though, there is one primary with a ASD-unit and one secondary I think both on the opposite side of the county. Not sure how this tallies up nationally. Rutland is the county next to us and they have just opened a ASD-unit in one fo their secondaries which has 15 places and the school in geenral is supposed to be ASD-friendly. Rutland is lovely and rural but hideously expensive!

 

We were thinking of relocating to Devon or Cornwall last year when my H changed job but knew the provision there for DS wouldn't be as good as it is here. Not sure that here is 'good' but it seems better than some

 

Lx

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Just a word of caution...

 

Within the same LEA there will be different teams covering each quadrant. And these teams can act completely differently :(

 

Kathryn and I are within the same LEA, but different quadrants. Our children had almost identical problems and are the same age, yet my quadrant team came up trumps with a special school place, and Kathryn's team did absolutely nothing :(:(

 

Bid :bat:

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we live in rural cheshire, yet to find a clued up school. we lived in south manchester and they were on the ball totaly, but the area is not rural and pricey?

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I live in Durham, and TBH isn't too bad at all, some lovely rural areas, where I live is quite rural compared to most city areas.

 

LEA is firm but fair, and the local support group is great

 

CAHMS fab, Ed Psych team fine, ASD team excellent, downside is no OT support ... YET

Edited by lil_me

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We live in NE Scotland and I have to say, so far, we haven't had to fight for anything. We were referred when Logan was around 12 months, and by 15 months were receiving regular speech therapy and physio - we would have had OT also had she not just left the post.

 

Our paed has been brilliant, as has her registrar. Our Ed psych is fab - to be honest the only one thats been hopeless is the phsyio.

 

The local developmental nursery here is great too. Generally, across this corner things dont seem to be too bad. I definitely have no complaints - and its one of the main reasons why we're still here and haven't moved to London (my hubby works there during the week)

 

Lynne

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I mentioned a few months ago about having a town for people with AS. The place I have in mind are the Fenlands of Cambridgeshire. They are a rural location where house prices are quite cheap, and only about 10 miles from Cambridge with its computer and high technology industry. Does anybody know how good Cambridgeshire LEA is at dealing with AS?

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My only advice is to not move anywhere near a county border. I am in Hampshire and have worked in a school in Hants but near the Surrey/ Berks border. Terrible trouble trying to link consultants and hospitals, OT, Physios as all seem to be everywhere. Nearest hospital was Surrey - any accident/emergency at school would mean straight to Surrey hosp yet some children received there ongoing longterm healthcare from hants so no hosp records available. Same for North Hants/Berks borders. Can't get crosscounty communication let alone provision!!

Love kat

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CMJ - I live next door to Bournemouth and to be honest - the neighbours are pretty quiet. Not sure if that is because parents don't know what should be going on or - more hopefully it is because the LEA know what they are doing. Lord Filkin held it up as a good LEA but that was because they had managed to reduce statements!

 

I despair - there does not seem to be that Utopia

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Just a word of caution...

 

Within the same LEA there will be different teams covering each quadrant. And these teams can act completely differently :(

 

Kathryn and I are within the same LEA, but different quadrants. Our children had almost identical problems and are the same age, yet my quadrant team came up trumps with a special school place, and Kathryn's team did absolutely nothing :(:(

 

Bid :bat:

 

Well as you know Lizzie, you are in the same quadrant as me with the same wonderful team. :ph34r::ph34r::wallbash: - so moving might be a good idea! I wish I could assure you that things will get better but as you know provison here is woeful - particularly for older children. Apparently there is funding available in the county for 3 ASD units within mainstream schools, one secondary and two primary, but apparently there is no school willing to have them. :angry::angry:

 

K

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Kathryn - shall we debunk together??

 

I heard the same about the ASD units, and also that even though a particular school may be interested, they have to put it the parents and the governors for a final say, and that's where the no comes from.

 

My understanding is that they've ploughed the money into recruiting more outreach teachers, which is only right seeing as the outreach team was woefully under-resourced and under-staffed anyway. One of the new team has now visited ds1 twice this year!!! That must be a 500% improvement! That's all very well for him, I know, but I expect the outreach team (advisory teachers) don't deal with further education - do they?

 

Lizzie

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PSA and i are in the same borough and share the same LEA case worker. She has had a harder time with the LEA then i have although i think the LEA may of gotten worse in the last 3 years. As i have mentioned in a previous post that DD8 school don't want her assessed for ASD as they fear that they may lose her. DD8 school have worked wonders this year that she has been with them.

I am dreading what options are available for DS when he gets older. As at the moment his speech is very much like DD8 (very severe) i know what i want but the problem is that at the moment the CDC paed won't refer him to the Nuffield hearing and speech centre at King's Cross......(due to potential costs)

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We live on the Wirral and have been pretty pleased with the support we have had so far, they are certainly more switched on than many areas. Like anywhere some schools are better than others.

 

Both our Autistic boys (8 and 6) are in an Autism-specific Special School.

 

Simon

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In one sentence...

Stear clear of Wales! :angry::angry::angry:

 

Does that say enough?? LOL

 

I've had to fight and fight for everything my son has needed via the LEA, including getting him statemented, getting him assessed and getting him support. This was all prior to dx but since then (Nov '05) they have been ok-ish. now they have it in writing, they can hardly argue with my requests! :P

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I don't think there are any good LEAs when it comes to provision for AS. Any success stories anyone has had are probably isolated cases either through chance or arm wrenching. Does anyone live in the shadowy underworld of Ulster? I'm interested in knowing how well the educational community of this strange nation are clued up about AS.

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Is there more likely to be better, more clued up provision if an autism research centre or similar, like the one in Cambridge and the one in Sheffield, is within the county, I wonder?

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Maybe there is in Sheffield, but there's not much (in fact no ) AS-specific schooling in Cambridge. Pretty good outreach team, but no AS/ASD units, so if you don't fit the special school criteria, you have a 'choice' of lovely big comprehensives instead.

 

If I'm utterly wrong about this, BTW, would someone PLEASE tell me, as the Autism Outreach team won't???

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Kathryn - shall we debunk together??

 

Good idea, tell me when you find somewhere that also provides well for adults! :ph34r:

 

Alternatively, you could stay, and together we could become a huge thorn in the flesh of the LEA. :devil::ninja:

 

Is there more likely to be better, more clued up provision if an autism research centre or similar, like the one in Cambridge and the one in Sheffield, is within the county, I wonder?

 

Well our county contains a specialised assessment centre which takes referrals from all over the country, but I don't see much evidence of expertise filtering down and influencing provision. :ph34r:

 

K

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Kathryn, if that specialised assessment centre is the place that ds1 went to, I'm gobsmacked. Surely it doesn't take refs from countrywide???!!! :o:o:o

 

There really is no hope, then. What are the Outer Hebrides like??

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Oh I'm thinking the same as well. DH wants to move to the country and thinks it'll be better for ds to have more space. But I wonder what schooling would be like. Would they be more or less clued up? We might have more space but face more prejudice at school

 

I'm in the same quadrant as Kathryn but same county as Bid. That's Hertfordshire. I didn't have to fight too much to get a statement but I know so many who have and are. I am fighting now to try and increase his hours, but until he fails I doubt this will happen.

 

Comprehensives here are huge. So is it better to move sooner so that ds can have a peer group who know him before he goes to comprehensive or stay here while things are going OK. I know a few parents who are trying to move their kids out of mainstream into special school but of course it's not happening.

 

SO who knows if a place will be better or worse.

 

A friend has just moved to Northamptonshire and she said that Hertfordshire is so much better as far as getting a statement and especially for the early years. But in Northamptonshire they have ASD units attached to primary and secondary schools

 

pim

Edited by pim

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Today I came seriously close to considering relocation.

 

If it wasn't so bloomin hard moving I would but I know the expense and the upheavel would be almost as bad as what we're dealing with now.

 

Aaaaah, if only we could all go and live in LaLa Land... :balloon: .... bottomless pits of money for education, therapy on tap (for the kids AND the parents), ASD road signs.... forum pubs... picket fences.... :balloon:

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Kathryn, if that specialised assessment centre is the place that ds1 went to, I'm gobsmacked. Surely it doesn't take refs from countrywide???!!! :o:o:o

 

Well from the South East, anyway. There have been one or two problems with funding and it's struggling to stay open.

 

There really is no hope, then. What are the Outer Hebrides like??

 

Cold and wet , I expect. But the autism provision is probably wonderful. :lol:;)

 

K x

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I don't think there are any good LEAs when it comes to provision for AS. Any success stories anyone has had are probably isolated cases either through chance or arm wrenching. Does anyone live in the shadowy underworld of Ulster? I'm interested in knowing how well the educational community of this strange nation are clued up about AS.

 

Canopus

 

What would an LEA have to do for you to consider it a 'good' LEA?

 

Simon

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1. Ensure that all staff have a thorough understanding of AS and ASD. This applies to teachers, LSAs, and EPs.

 

2. Bend over backwards to meet the needs of kids with AS and ASD.

 

3. Listen to parents and kids rather than the so called professionals who still subscribe to Kanner's refrigerator mother theory.

 

4. Tell the out of touch politicians and civil servants in central government to get stuffed when it comes to things like finance, SEN statistics, poxy rules and regulations etc. that prevent schools and LEAs from providing services for kids with AS and ASD.

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1. Ensure that all staff have a thorough understanding of AS and ASD. This applies to teachers, LSAs, and EPs.

 

2. Bend over backwards to meet the needs of kids with AS and ASD.

 

3. Listen to parents and kids rather than the so called professionals who still subscribe to Kanner's refrigerator mother theory.

 

4. Tell the out of touch politicians and civil servants in central government to get stuffed when it comes to things like finance, SEN statistics, poxy rules and regulations etc. that prevent schools and LEAs from providing services for kids with AS and ASD.

I feel strongly about educating all those you mention in point 1.

Your second point - agree.

Point 3, Kanners's refrigerator parents theory does, I believe still lurk in the back of the minds of many, i.e. that the parents are to blame. It took me some time to 'let go' of the old parenting style that suited neurotypicals and truly embrace autism, but for me I felt it was the only way to go.

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1. Ensure that all staff have a thorough understanding of AS and ASD. This applies to teachers, LSAs, and EPs.

 

2. Bend over backwards to meet the needs of kids with AS and ASD.

 

3. Listen to parents and kids rather than the so called professionals who still subscribe to Kanner's refrigerator mother theory.

 

4. Tell the out of touch politicians and civil servants in central government to get stuffed when it comes to things like finance, SEN statistics, poxy rules and regulations etc. that prevent schools and LEAs from providing services for kids with AS and ASD.

 

Our LEA isn't perfect by any means, but they are doing OK on the points above.

 

1. The special school is Autism-specific and the level of commitment/training amongst staff is very good.

 

2. The school/LEA dont get everything right all the time, but they do seem genuinely concerned with doing the right thing rather than putting ticks in boxes.

 

3. The school occasionally feels it knows best rather than soliciting opinions from parents but the 'Refrigerator Mother' theories are nowhere to be seen.

 

4. The LEA does appear to be dragging it's heels when it comes to implementing initiatives aimed towards increasing the proportion of children integrated into mainstream education, and has incurred the wrath of the DRC and others for 'segregating' (Their phrase) children into Special Schools and Specialist units.

 

There are issues that need dealing with, for example the high level of Secial School provision means that some schools make little/no effort to understand the needs of children with special needs. But overall our LEA seem to do a better job than many.

 

Simon

Edited by mossgrove

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hi we have just this in that we moved house to a nicer area.we used to live on a busy main road and had a canal behind our house it was in a small village but had a very busy road in front.louis kept going out on to the road....we have now moved to suburbia if you like....very quiet....nice new perssimons house(no problems with the house) with nice new neighbours who dont know us.....lol...and we live on a crescent so we have no through traffic only the people who live in our street drive in and we have traffic calming measures.....all nicley thought out for a wee boy with no sense of danger.......we also have a gate at the bottom of our garden that opens on to a nature reserve..all good stuff...semi rural....does this sound like the sort of area you are looking for.....although we are in central scotland.....we couldn't move lous school as his enhanced provision wouldn't have gone with him.and we would not have risked losing everything that we have battled to get him in the last two years...and it was a battle.he now has a aspergers teacher 4 days a week...and a special helper in class...but it has all taken time to sort out....good luck with you house hunting it is worth it....but consider a compromise between rural and suburbia they are there.....love noogsy

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I'm in the New Forest (Hampshire border) and cant speak for the LEA bit yet, but can say that the early intervention and health has been great in every respect except a shortage of speech and language therapists...

within months of suspected ASD I had speech & Language and portage, then OT, special playgroups and several support groups - the networking between health and education has been really good too. Only just starting on the school bit but all the parents I've met seem happy (and those that had problems had been given alternatives they were happy with) and I have been encouraged to look at several schools and across into Bournemouth too (two Beacon Schools)

 

So, I am a newbie, but it seems good here so far..... :D

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