Kemi badenoch now against autistic children

[Hunnymonster1]

What is wrong with her? Just read that the children commision is saying average wait like to get diagnosed as autistic is 4 years.
So kemi banging on about how parents are pushing gor diagnosis because they see how much extra money etc autistic children get at school is wrong.
The fact is I woukd think judging by lbc many kids are not getting the support that they need.
So js this about her saying the conservatives need to save tax by not helping people or children with autism and mental health issues.
Bare in mind she said similar about maternity pay last week makes me think she's like Liz truss wants to cut alot of stuff
How the hell can anyone support this?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/kemi-badenoch-autism-tory-leadership-buckland-b2628845.html

She certainly knows which way the wind is blowing. She knew the GC crew would vote Tory if she was loud enough about it yet didn't actually do anything.

At the time she was lauded as being very intelligent and articulate, now the crew are 'confused' and she's not so articulate.

Notice the way she only tells the hard truths her supporters want to hear: Muslims, mothers, the disabled and so on. People unlikely to vote for her who are often marginalised.

What did she have to do resolve the issue she raised? Build a coalition of supportive colleagues, bid to the PM for legislative changes, navigate a bill or SI through Parliament. All standard Ministerial work that never happened. She didn’t get timed out but failed.

All of the above. And repeal previous legislation by Labour such as the EA and the GRA, neither of whihc there was sufficient support for, nor was Tory policy at the time.

You have a very simplsitic view of politics.

not really. She was the government minister but wasn’t influential enough in the Cabinet to change something she was brave enough to declare to the world at large was a significant issue?

No. She couldn’t make a change or a case for something that she said was critical. Her failure was simple, because she is not the kind of person who bothers to do the hard graft of making change behind closed doors as all ministers must.

You think government ministers can repeal any legislation they decide?

Righto.

Looking forward to Labour quickly solving the SEND crisis then as it's all so simple.

Isn’t the point of government to make legislation if it wants to effect policy change?

My point to you is that KB didn’t even get into the space of effecting legislation in her cause. Why? Because that means having other support you and promote the policy objective you have.

Now, you pointed out that this was not actually government policy; and it is complex. But these are not reasons to not effect a change or try. Governments have long histories of making radical changes- including the last one and making law.

My point is that KB is just simply someone who plays half the game, raises an issue, but never resolves or makes policy. She is a game player with a contentious issue; but delivery is not something she can show. Given the scale of her responsibilities in the last Government it’s suggestive that she will simply carry on her role of insightful agitator, or more prosaically, all mouth and no trousers.

Nothing in the pamphlet even hints at resolving issues within the SEN system.

It's a cost saving exercise, not a serious attempt at a long term strategy.

Just as Badenoch saying schools employed superfluous staff (TAs) and did too many "peripheral activities" was solely aimed at cost cutting, not an informed attempt to discuss education policy.

Let's take aim at woke pushy parents worrying about MH and those disabled kids using transport and 'equipment'. Utterly transparent.

Also agree with basing it on need. I would wonder though, in a child who masks, even with a diagnosis, how do you support? Because each child will present differently. How do they find out the support a masking child needs, even with a diagnosis? Hopefully someone cleverer than me can educate me

Also something I wonder about. I've seen quite a few parents saying their child initially weren't diagnosed but they sought another opinion and eventually got diagnosed. I hope there's some oversight to ensure that children that all child who should have a diagnosis are given one. I wonder if there's enough oversight of the entire process? Though with the current wait times, I doubt there's capacity to enforce that

I wonder what my autistic relative who is struggling on their on and very depressed is getting that none of us know about. What are these amazing advantages that she speaks of? It is very difficult to get PIP for people who are seen as high functioning but still have difficulties with executive function and maintaining relationships . Employers and universities like to say that they are autism friendly but the reality isn't that friendly.

I was listening to a podcast earlier with an ex-Minister talking.

To get a bill put on the legislative agenda you need to get your Secretary of State to sponsor your bill and convince the other Secretaries of State and the PM that's a good policy. Once it is on the legislative agenda you then need to work with others including HoC staff who will help you draft the bill and members of HoL plus politicians in other parties so your bill can go through with minimal amendments.

KB is known from rubbing people up the wrong way particularly those who question any of her proposals/comments.

Thank you. You would otherwise think that an actual government minister was oppressed by invisible forces that prevented her from doing something. The more obvious answer is she is not up to the job.

Maybe but there was no way in hell the most collaborative minister in the world was going to get the equality act amended during the last parliament.

It was no where near anyone's agenda, wasn't gov policy, and would have been regarded as too contentious by the pm and ministers.

You can't just introduce something very new and radical and smooze it through.

Brexit, vaccines, legislating to keep inside their homes, writing a budget to borrow money for tax cuts. All radical.

Why don’t you admit this woman is not up to it? That’s she’s basically unclubbable and didn’t deliver on anything she was given to do? That is her record.

As for her grift on trans issues and autism, she can continue safe in the knowledge that she need do absolutely nothing; now officially at least she bears no responsibility for single sex policies or promoting women’s rights.

So you believe my daughter shouldn’t have adaptations in meetings, at school, the NHS… why?

I said any child with needs should have them met?

Your ridiculous and incorrect post inferred that many people are getting sick of autistic children getting adaptations when they wouldn’t have before. That is something you made up and clearly something that you didn’t agree with even though you started that post making the disingenuous declaration that you think any child with needs should be met.

Autistic children need to learn about their ND and to have a diagnosis. Autism isn’t just owned by those who have a learning disability too. Anybody with an autism diagnosis can be described as profound or severe as you need to meet high thresholds that indicate autism impacts life significantly/ severely.There is no such thing as two camps of Autism or mild autism.

So you’re saying that those with hidden disabilities shouldn’t be given reasonable adjustments or have their disability recognised .

Why?

People are getting fed up of people with autism getting accomodations hence this thread. I didn't make that up, othet posters on this and the other thread have said the same (see also things like disney access pass for a real world example).

I do believe all children must have their educational needs met.

Profound autism does have it's own descriptor and no not anybody with an autism dx can be described as profound.

Your post is a pretty good example of part of the problem. People with autism aren't all impacted to the same degree and don't all require the same adaptations. Some who require minor adaptations want to be considered or parents want them to be considered as disabled as those who require many adaptations and have severe needs.

I haven't written anything about two camps for autism.

No, read the thread. I've wrote that they will come for those with hidden disabilities first and for those with visible disabilities it will be harder to remove provision. I've also said that this is wrong.

I've said that the current system needs to change as it's unsustainable and gives advantage to those with money and those who know how to use the system and said the system is unfair to those who can't afford solicitors or private reports.

Maybe read posts and the thread before critising.

Disney fast track arrangements have nothing to do with Badenoch's pamphlet.

The idea that adaptations - be that transport or equipment- are handed out freely without establishing need is for the birds.

Have you ever applied for additional support for a child @Perzival?

Disney das pass in America has changed so that by definition it is only given to those with severe autism or cognitive impairment (not exact wording but you can Google it) this has caused much bad feeling not only between non disabled and disabled as is the norm with accomodations but between disabled groups also especially since by definition those with physical disabilities and those without ld shouldn't get the accomodation (some clearly are but if you go into any FB group around this you will see the arguments) this is a very good example of where disabilities are pitted against each other or viewed that way.

I have never said accomodations are provided without need.

Yes actually, personally for my child I've put in for three tribunals, had two pre action protocol letters wrote and had an ombudsman complaint upheld. I've also volunteered locally and for an English based charity supporting families with issues around sen. How familiar are you? Ignoring the issues doesn't help anyone, the systems broken.

All my children have both an NHS autism and ADHD diagnosis and I have both myself. One of my children has an EHCP.

I have never needed or used a solicitor or a private report.

Most families with ND in the mix are battling all the extra cost ND brings and struggling to provide what their children need. Very few will be in the market or want Disney tickets. 🤔

That doesn't mean that others don't. Diagnosis is different to ehcp legislation and having an ehcp doesn't mean having a well written specified and quantified plan that details all needs and provision to meet them. If your child has this with just nhs reports it's the equivalent to winning the lottery. Have you ever had to challenge for jr? Are you confident every need is detailed?

Badenoch's pamphlet goes no way towards improving the SEN system. At it heart it simply wants to remove transport and equipment.

Its sole purpose is to fire a culture war between parents - suggesting disabled children with established needs are receiving adaptations which somehow diminish opportunities for 'your' child.

It's nonsense.