Finally after 9 years of pushing and questioning and fighting I have today received the proposed Statement of Educational Needs for my 13 yr old. I have asked and pushed since he started year 1 did he need an assessment. I was consistently told that he was top of his class and others were more in need of an assessment. In Northern Ireland most schools are only allowed two referrals for assessment a year!
I convinced his primary school to refer for assessment for DCD when he was in year 4 as it was medical rather than Ed Psych. When we were seen by community paeds I brought up my concerns re possible Autism they agreed and referred for assessment, in Feb 2020 he received his Autism diagnosis but Covid and lockdowns hit and no further help was provided educationally. He started grammar school in 2021 and fell apart, it has been a total disaster for him with his sensory issues to noise etc. His new school have been amazing with strategies and pushed the Education Authority for statementing. I got that draft statement through today, once accepted he will get classroom assistant hours and support to help him navigate through school so that he can reach his full potential as it also states he needs to be put on the gifted and talented register and needs challenging educationally. I don’t know why I’m writing this, it’s just a relief that finally he will be able to access his educational potential. I did have a little cry and a large glass of wine this evening.