DIAGNOSIS AT LAST!!! Where from here?????

[clarisa]

Just to let those of you know who have been brill on giving me advice or just the ear!!! , ds has had formal diagnosis now. He has asd, tourettes, dyspraxia and sensory intergation disorder. I am still happy to keep him away from school (as he is refusing to ever go back, and I feel they have never been understanding to his problems, rather enjoyed looking at him as a naughty boy 'as he had not had an official diagnosis'UNTIL NOW). Our GP sent a letter covering this. Where do I go from here??? I have applied for a statement of education, as I want him to go to this brilliant 'special needs' school, but they can only take a child with a statement. Do I have the right to keep him away from the school in question??? Do I need to contact LEA and advise them he will not be going back????? I'm not sure how to go about things......And know that no doubt a lot of you mums have gone through the same dilemma. Will await your replys!!! Clarisa xx

[Peachy]

If you're home educating him you can keep him at home until his statement is through- exactly what we did with DS3 in fact. have a look at the education otherwise site for information.

[clarisa]

Thanks Peachy xx havnt been through this b4... just good to get advice from someone who has!! Now you say home educating...... do you have to do this officially in some way?? or do you just spend certain amount of time a day with child doing basic things like math, english etc???

[Peachy]

Home edding is very much set by you and your child.... i'm not much of an expert (Ds3 has a good IQ but is ahrd to access so a lot of his work' was very basic crayon to paper, or safety stuff). NMC (needmore coffee) HE'd her as son for years so if you can find her I bet she'd give you good ideas. Also filly and a few tohers on here are very dedicated home edders that you might find on the education section.

Because he's been in the school sector you will need to notify your LEA that you want him deregistered (think carfefully about this- if you do it now its one thing, if you try and do it after the child has been palced in a SN unit its a whole lot more difficult!). Again I think the education otherwise site has sample letters for you to use.

Your son is lucky to have you. HE would probably be idea for my ds1 ( I ahve 2 on the sprectrum) but it's not something I feel ic an do for him at the moment- lots of goodreasons (he's highly aggressive / new baby on way) but he does also loathe school and dreads every morning. It's a horrible thing to witness isn't it?

[clarisa]

Peachy....Many thanks for taking the time to get back to me, it is very much appreciated. It use to break my heart with how upset ds got whilst I peeled him out of bed in the morning to go to school........ and how he'd say he hated me for it.......and how if he hurt himself he wouldnt have to go. After approaching certain teachers advising them of diagnosis I see why............They were very negative/didnt quite believe he had diagnosis, maybe it was easier for them to look at him as a naughty boy(which is definately what they did.) They were never willing to give ds correct support, I'd give them ideas of things to put in place and so did quite a few professionals, these things only to be swept under carpet as soon as possible!!!!

The village school had never come across a child with autism before ( and obviously must have had there own ideas as to what a child with autism is like!!! Maybe green with five ears or something!!!)

Why do people find it so hard to accept that a child doesnt have to look different to have a disability. Makes me so bloody angry!!!!

[Peachy]

Ah sounds as if you are in a similar palce to us, village school with powers of selection (Church run) that has a contract to take children from a very small specific catchment- which we live smack bang in the centre of. They ahve by far the worst rep for SN in the area and the best for non-SN kids (and I have one who is NT and thrives there), but they've been a nightmare since day 1 with the other 2 in various ways. DS1 only got his dx in year 1 so went in as simply another child, but ds3 went in with a statement and potential dx (has been ameded from severe speech delay to severe speech delay with HFA recently- he's quite complex, bright potential but accessing it is another thing altogether- presents as severe ASD at school). With him they've been biding their time (not very well, took them 2 weeks to call review) unitl they get him out. Persoanlly I can't wait!

[clarisa]

Oh yes sounds very familiar!!! I have two other children there....and because they excel they are not seen as a 'problem'.(as they do not have problems). They come across as every child in there school needs to be 'problem free' or they see them as a big problem, bit like a cloning labratory!!!! These schools shouldnt be able to get away with this!!!!but somehow do

[Candlewax]

Hi Clarisa

If I were you, I would NOT deregister your son from school. If you do, the LEA will not rush to help you at all. Keep your ds on the school register and write to the LEA and request an assessment for a Statement of Special Educational Needs. Have a look on the IPSEA website, there are lots of standard letters on there that you can copy and also, the people on their helplines are very helpful. Have patience though if you use the helpline, it may take some time to get through.

My ds is currently not at school and I have kept him registered and I am going through the assessment process at the moment.

Have you been to see anyone medical who would be able to state that your ds is off school because of medical reasons? Anxiety, stress? I was asked by the LEA EP why I was keeping my ds off school, I was happy to tell them that if they could get him back into school, I would applaude them. I have only been asking for help since September! My ds does have reports from CAMHS stating that he is depressed due to school and also my GP has offered to write a letter at any time, should the need arise.

Another thing, DO NOT tell them that you want him to go to a special school (unless it is an LEA one) as that will frighten off the LEA if they think it is going to cost them money and then you will have to go to appeal after appeal. Play your cards tight to your chest. In the first instance, all you want the LEA to do, is to agree to assess and as long as you just say in your letter or parental evidence all about your son's difficulties and NOT what school you want, they might agree to assess on that evidence alone. IPSEA are definitely someone to give a call to, they will be able to guide you through the maze and it is a maze. Getting the LEA to agree to assess is just the beginning.

Good luck.

[discoverlife]

We have found that the agressive, frustrated, tearful, tired little boy, no longer exists now that we HE. Your sons needs obviously are not the same as ours but you may find that there is enough of a change to make HE'ing a permenant possibility.
If you want to have a try out at home whilst waiting for the Statement process to start (good luck on that one as most LEA's seem to be cutting down on statements) have a look at some helpful sites.
education otherwise
joyfully rejoicing
HEASParents in touch