Is everyone, everywhere ND - I seriously am confused.

Not sure how as nothing has been clarified and need can change.

Yeah. I’m a realist. I also see the positives of it going through.

People have told me my diagnosis is wrong too - it isn’t. I was diagnosed by 2 clinical psychologists trained by the National Autistic Society and then again by a consultant psychiatrist with 30 years experience. However, a few random friends (with no relevant qualifications) think they know better.

What about my son? He is non verbal, not potty trained and is diagnosed autistic at four. I have a suspicion he wouldn't get one of this plan goes through. 🙄

Currently going for an EHCP.

I do object, teachers aren't qualified to decide if a child does or doesn't have autism (or the many other various other things so many like to vehemently claim children they know definitely don't have).

You're posting on a highly charged thread about send. If you're going to make flippant comments about EHCPs for behaviour, then yes they will get picked up on. Especially as some people will read that and interpret it exactly how you said it.

editing to add, I wasn't trying to imply you think they're naughty, but this absolutely how people who think Sen kids just exhibit naughty behaviour and just need a good slap/better parenting will interpret it.

Im not even a teacher! Im the TA. Yes,
I do diagnose in my head. It helps me with supporting children. It works. The behaviour of a child with autism is rarely dealt in the same way as child with PDA.

A highly charged thread? I work with multiple children everyday. I’m allowed to put my experience forward. I’m also happy to explain my lazy language. If you’re upset by it, you can either ask or you can be rude about it. I’ve heard worse. I agree with the white paper. I hope it goes through.

You absolutely shouldn’t be diagnosing children in your head!

Also PDA is considered a behavioural profile within the autism spectrum rather than a separate diagnosis!

Going back to original op. Not sure there is a correlation between being good at sport and not being clever.

It is quite possible to be clever and sporty at the same time. My adhd son is both clever and sporty thanks very much. And yes he is diagnosed and on medication, that’s just get him through the archaic school system. And looking back at the generations so was his grandad.

ADHD has major evolutionary advantages which is why it’s so prevalent. They were the hunters, explorers and leaders and they are still the leaders and entrepreneurs of the modern world. So it isn’t going anywhere.

You’re a little behind. There is a push for PDA to stand alone. Unless you’re in America? They don’t recognise it by itself. England though are going in that direction.

I do what I want when it’s me supporting a child. You’ll hate it when I tell you I often do it within a few hours of watching said child!

Surely at some point if you're a sane legally competent adult. Any ND you have you should seek to best manage so you can deal with the world on your own?

That is deeply concerning as most policies for staff in schools will make it clear staff are not to diagnose and to leave it to the professionals. Most be parents would have huge issues with this.

Major health frameworks and the NHS do not recognise PDA as a separate, independent condition. Official diagnostic manuals classify demand avoidance as a behavioural profile or trait commonly found within the autism spectrum, rather than a distinct disorder

Luckily my school like me! They put me in the most needy classes because I’m good.

PDA will most definitely stand alone. I mean I could say it’s not PDA and it’s because of trauma in her family life but you’d disagree with that as well! (It completely is)

I need to go to bed now as tomorrow I have 13 send kids to settle into class after the weekend!

I know there's a push, that's not the same as it being the current nhs position.

You agree with the white paper? Oh dear. Well good luck when you have many more Sen children to support and no additional funding to support them.

Teacher /ta/caretaker - none are qualified to determine if a child has asd or not.

The school environment that children are in today is very different.

• In the 70s/80s it was more predictable (learning for memory).
• Individual or double desks were most commonly used. Nowadays it's 6 or 8 children around one table. If you have a child with ADHD or who needs to fidget - they now disturb their neighbor and are a problem. Previously this wouldn't have been an issue.
• The lightning is very different today - and contributes to sensory overload
• Classrooms were less busy / had less stuff that could overwhelm/distract
• The number - and amount of time - children get has vastly decreased. Children used to get a morning break (15-20mins), lunch break (60 mins) and an afternoon break (15-20mins). They now get a morning break (15mins max) and a lunch break (30-40mins). This is a huge difference to children who naturally only have a short attention span and need these breaks to regulate.
• A 4 year olds attention span is only about 8 mins. A 6 year old about 12 mins. A 10 year olds 20-30ins. Reception phonics lessons are about 15mins increasing to 20-30mins by the end of the year. That's 2 - 3 times longer we know their attention span is.

And then we wonder why "so many" are finding it hard!!!!

There are people like you who underestimate what teaching staff do at school (you’re the first I’ve spoken with) We work above and beyond for what? £12 an hour. Luckily most professionals recognise us as being the heart of the classroom. I hope no TA has to ever listen to you.

I also have a better understanding of the white paper than you do. You didn’t even know about PDA. I’ll check my contract tomorrow. I’ve yet to read we can’t diagnose in our head!

I once encountered a SENCO who claimed I'm dyslexic because if you do a screening test it says I may have a mild form of it. I argued I didn't and all my difficulties can be explained by other things that have actually been diagnosed and documented. She refused to believe me even after I was tested properly and all throughout the report it said I'm not dyslexic

But this is the same woman who claimed I can't be autistic because her dad who may have it is nothing like me. Which he obviously wouldn't be because it's a spectrum and generally speaking, males and females present differently. Most odd how many people who actually know me have picked up on my autism

👍🏻

Some people with autism never become legally competent.

You were lucky to go to a school with well behaved kids. I certainly didn’t. Looking back I can think of a bunch of kids who would likely be diagnosed with autism or ADHD now. Back then the ‘different’ kids were bullied relentlessly and the ADHD kids ruined lessons and made teachers cry before eventually dropping out of school without any qualifications.

I don’t think there’s more ND people. There is definitely a lot of lax parenting and not enough authority given to schools and teachers. Too much effort is put into keeping the minority in mainstream education when there needs to be an alternative that caters to behavioural issues. Inclusion shouldn’t be to the detriment of the majority.

Well it’s in KCSIE which you should be reading yearly that “Only appropriately trained professionals should attempt to make a
diagnosis of a mental health problem.” Whilst I’m aware ND is not a MH condition it should be treated the same. You are there to support need not to diagnose children and it is hugely alarming if you are.

I agree!

Why not? Even though my son wasn't diagnosed at that time both his nursery teacher and TA knew he was autistic.

So you support his needs with an eye on ND difficulties whilst referring him for diagnosis.

What if a TA decides a child isn’t autistic or doesn’t have ADHD when they do? The damage goes both ways.

I know they aren't meant to diagnose but my son is pretty obvious. I would possibly not diagnose if it was a lot more subtle but most TAs in their heads can make a good guess.