MABC motor skills assessment - anyone familiar?

[Anothernamechanger1]

Ds (10) was diagnosed this year with dyslexia privately. He also has ASD. School has been hit and miss. I applied for ehcp which was rejected as he wasn't in school enough at the time 6 months ago. Head has said they need to have in place 3 lots of school action plus before they can re apply. Anyway, he is very clumsy, always getting hurt, walking into the doorframe etc. His hand writing is so so bad and he struggles so much With it . He's very bright which is great. He had an ot assessment done 6 months ago and was re tested, throwing, catching, drawing within a snake on paper etc. They suggested he had a processing problem. Anyway they sort of just left us as our ot left. Someone else took him on, she will be going into school to do the above assessment? What can this show? What is it she is looking for?

Any help or advice I would be greatful.

Tia

[Anothernamechanger1]

Bump

[CaptainSnort]

Is this the movement ABC 2?

This is a test for motor skills difficulties, they use it to test for dyspraxia.

[Anothernamechanger1]

I'm not sure, are they the same thing? Can an ot diagnose dyspraxia though?

[CaptainSnort]

I think so yes.

An OT can't diagnosis dyspraxia in our area. They run the tests and write reports which goes back to community paed and diagnosis will be made at a panel meeting. It's different in different areas though.

Often the test won't be used to diagnose, but to highlight areas of difficulty and make recommendations for support.

[Dannygirl]

I believe but I am not 100% sure that there will be a threshold in the motor skills test that will point towards a dyspraxia diagnosis eg if your child scores on x percentile or below they would give that diagnosis. My DS was diagnosed by a paediatrician but confirmed by an OT after motor tests such as the ones you describe. What part of the country are you in? Good luck

[Anothernamechanger1]

We are in the south east. The paed he is under so far has been useless literally awful. So not holding my breath!

[CaptainSnort]

Yes in DD's report it said you have to score

[Anothernamechanger1]

So what would it mean if you were above that? They just leave you at being 'clumsy'?

[tartanterror]

No idea about that specific test but if they talk about "motor planning" problems I think that means dyspraxia or tendencies in that direction. There's a massive overlap between dyspraxia/motor issues and ASD so the tests should provide some useful info. I think it has to be an OT plus paed to officially diagnose - rather like a SALT does the tests but both "diagnose" ASD? We decided to try out a listening programme to help our DS' sensorimotor problems this summer. It's difficult to say but he does seem to have benefited in some ways - mainly balance and being calmer/braver. Might be worth looking into - either iLS or The Listening Program can be done at home. There's a good book on DCD/dyspraxia by Madeleine?? that might be worth a look

As an aside your school is giving you information from LA policy (often illegal) but the SEN law is much clearer. A child qualifies for an EHC assessment of they "may" have SEN and "might" benefit from a plan. ASD is considered an SEN. So you can apply for the EHC yourself without the school or their iep info.

I've been doing a lot of homework on this as DS is doing well academically but his SEN is in the social & emotional and sensory/physical "areas of need". I was advised by IPSEA to gather all the evidence I could of behaviour indicating stress alongside that for the physical problems: damaging clothes, refusing to work, breaking pencils, fidgeting etc. Ideally this is in the form of the school's own reports - best if written - but I'm planning on using my notes with quotes from parents' evening typed up too. Also note down things professionals say in calls and meetings as they often say much clearer things in person than they are prepared to write down. In our case I'm asking for support for DS before the small signs of stress develop into the more serious school refusal/mental health problems that ASD children are susceptible to. I've no idea if this will get much action but I'm fed up with the school saying things like "too able to qualify for help" and "our social skills group would be no good to him so he will get no help"

[tartanterror]

Sorry forgot to say if your son was out of school due to "refusal" and he has ASD the LA should defo be agreeing to assess!

[CaptainSnort]

A score between the 5th-15th percentile indicates " at risk of having difficulty" and a score >15th percentile indicates no difficulty detected.

[Anothernamechanger1]

Thanks all. They wouldn't assess for the ehcp as they said they can't assess him in school, which made sense. Attendance board were involved. He missed half of year 5. This year he hasn't missed a day and is in every day all day which is amazing in itself. The school is able to deal with him because there are so many things in place. For example he struggles to sit still in class, so they gave him a wobble cushion. Well I can't see him wanting that when it comes to secondary school next year where there are 1700 pupils!! The ASD diagnosis was also private when he was 5. The nhs won't diagnose that either as he scored too high on the adoss assessment. Yes he has an imagination, yes he can play, yes he can look you in the eye when he knows he needs to, because I have spent a lot of time teaching him all of this. At aged 10 he will still cry a lot, if something goes wrong. He has a mega temper on him which involves him lashing out. For example this week in pe they were playing football and the other team won. He said they were 'show boating' which made him cross so he started to lash out, his teacher (who so far seems quite in tuned to him) pulled him away and spoke with him and calmed him down.

In class (because of the dyslexia I think) he will get somethings wrong and is adamnet he is right as that's how he sees it, causing the anger and refusal to work. He spends every lunch time in the ASD unit eating his lunch. Some times he's allowed out, depends on his behaviour. He struggles on the playground as its loud, busy etc and he has major issues with unjustice so is always getting involved, can't walk alway. Physically he's always hurting himself, does things and I think how on earth did he manage to do that?!

I'm so scared of him going to secondary as its massive, I think he probably will be picked on as he just can't walk away, and I walk past the pupils of secondary every day and they are huge!! Unfortunately ds has inherited my small stature and on top of that a summer baby.

[tartanterror]

I don't know the details but this sounds like you should definitely apply for the EHCP yourself. I was told to expect to have to appeal when they refuse to assess and probably again when they refuse to issue a plan. It seems to be part of the game and if you are prepared for it, it's less of a blow. From what you describe you definitely need to start the process which will take ages but I think you're right - it's not going to suddenly get better at secondary! Apply on the basis that you want specialist secondary provision. Please do go on the IPSEA website and book a call back. You definitely can do this - no one else will help him

[Anothernamechanger1]

I did apply!! Earlier this yeR and it got refused as he wasn't at school. The school are going to re apply when they've got the paperwork to show what they have put in place (the 3 lots of 6 week cycle of the school action plus)

[Ineedmorepatience]

They are in danger of failing your son tartan is right that the school is following policy and not the law!

If the EHC needs assessment is not started soon then a plan will not be ready in time for him to start secondary.

There is clear evidence of need if he was unable to attend for most of last yr! You really should push them.

Good luck

[Anothernamechanger1]

They are saying they can't apply for it until they have proof of what they have put in place for him, what hasn't helped. It will be around half term to Easter that they will apply for the ehcp. They are saying they don't think he will get it as he isn't 'bad' enough and that there are children at the school 'worse' than him that couldn't get one.

[Ineedmorepatience]

They ar following local authority policy not the law!

[Ineedmorepatience]

And we were told many times that Dd3 didnt need a statement as it was then but lo and behold she now has one and has been out of school for 12 months.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Him not being in school was not a good reason to assess him! It was your LA dodging their responsibility!

[Anothernamechanger1]

Did you take her out of school once you got the statement or do you mean she isn't coping with school so she is out for now? Right now if they went in to assess him he wouldn't get it. Some days are brilliant at school and be Sod's law that would be when they go in. He will be worse once he's settled into the year and the work load increases which I know it will, esp in the new year I know the pressure of the sats will ramp up.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Dd3 was unable to attend before the statement was finished, we decided we needed to take some time out to recover and then we slipped into home ed because she was so much happier!

[Anothernamechanger1]

I think he would be happier academically at home but as a lone parent it isn't an option as I need to work. Although I guess it depends what happens in the next year for us......

[tartanterror]

IPSEA told me that most "requests for assessment" are refused, but that they are accepted on appeal. It seems to be the LA's way of managing the number of cases that they are running at any one time. The appeal has to be in within 2 months of the refusal, so it sounds like you need to apply again - expect to be refused and then appeal. Please speak to IPSEA!

[Anothernamechanger1]

Hi yes it's over 2 months ( silly as would've been the summer holidays!) so yes I have to do it from the beginning again. Do you know if there's an advantage coming from the school or from me? Or does that make no difference?

[tartanterror]

Ah - if over the holidays count up the weeks as the assessment process deadlines are extended over the summer. IPSEA will be able to tell you if it also applies for appeals.

I was told that applications from parents are given, as much, or more weight than school applications- go go it!