Thread 22 Starmer - Running up to local elections

[BIossomtoes]

Here we go. Previous thread.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5305431-thread-21-starmer-casting-nasturtiums?page=40&reply=143731831

It was a tweet from the National Autistic Society - they werent nearly as sweary as I was!

LibDems are saying Reform will axe Council SEND funding if they get into power (reported in Guardian, today).

That's what I'm asking, is he getting mixed up thinking that mental health comes under SEN or does it actually come under SEN now.

The press conference should have asked him what he meant by "general behavioral disabilities".

You are making excuses for him.

I have shown you the exact quote and the responses from the NAS and Learning Disability Today.

It was a cheap shot at both GPs and SEND children.

And if you had been following the sort of bilge RFK jr has been pumping out about autism then it should strike a note of concern.

Why do they give Farage, who is in a party of 4 MP's only ,
the vast amount of airtime he has?
I have never understood this.
Even when he gives out blatant untruths they are still there , not challenging or fact checking him.
Just why?
@itsgettingweird I would love to fill in that BBC survey and I think I may live not too far away from you (based on MP) so I can live in hope that I receive one!

No I am not making excuses for him. I don't know where you have got that from. If the press had asked him what he meant then he would have had to be specific.

My son does not have a general behavioral disability whatever that is he has autism.

As you well know @2dogsandabudgie people with an autism diagnosis are individuals who may display a range of differences and needs.

I don't think the issue is what Farage does/doesn't know. He doesn't give a shiny shit about how SEND is diagnosed. He just makes up crap that he knows will attract attention and appeal to his sort of people. That being those who will believe anything he says without checking it out. And, as already said, the media don't call him out on it, so once it's said, it becomes fact in the minds of his target audience.

Quite. The tone of his party's local election campaign is "look what these councils are wasting your taxes on" with SEND being one of his targets because it genuinely has become an issue for many LA's, just not for the reasons he is suggesting.

Has Farage suggested a register for autistic folk yet ? No need to sign up, they'll work it out from your medical records.

Meanwhile here's James May, gin and loads of kittens (possible TW as he mentions losing his cat, but it's worth if for how beautiful they are).

Yep. We went through years before he was referred for ASD pathway at 8yo.

The another loads of years where they tried to say physical was the autism they hadn’t yet diagnosed and I’d had to fight for them to assess.

He was 15 when his genetic diagnosis was given.

Jesus spent 50% of his life without an ASD dx and 75% without the genetic one. The genetic one sounds worse but he was 8yo when the physical stuff really became clear. But because it’s degenerative it’s much more obvious now

Farage did reference Gps putting patients on 'a disability register' - I am not sure what he meant by that. There is no national register.

Some LA maintain a SEND register and a register for disabled adults - neither entitle a person to benefits. The registers are voluntary and help the LA plan services.

Our GP surgery does maintain a Learning Disability Register but again that is to ensure that the person receives the right sort of support - eg my child wont ever have capacity to follow medical instructions or answer questions, her guardian (me) has to be present and take responsibility for treatment.
Again not related to benefits. God knows why he'd suggest that would need to be assessed externally.

Either he has no idea what he was talking about or he was deliberately misleading for political purposes.

I had a BBC survey a couple of days ago. One comment I made was that there should be some children's tv on mainstream channels. Perhaps people would understand what children see and learn a bit more, and to be honest, we could cope with one less gameshow or antiques programme.

“Technically” I got DS autism diagnosis over the phone.

In realising he had an initial choices assessment, was out on the asd pathway, we filled in the questionnaire and so did his school. He had the ados. Camhs rang me and asked some specific questions afterwards. THEN rang me to confirm the diagnosis before sending a written report.

Assessments weren’t done over zoom but it’s true to say some consultations are done via phone or post covid zoom. So I’m sure he’ll find a way to explain that’s what he meant when we know he didn’t!

Yes SEMH (social emotional and mental health) comes under SEND. If you have any difficulties in that area you are likely to have a special educational need and/or disability.

MH conditions are classed as disabilities.

Some children with an EHCP (education and health care plan) will have their primary need recorded as SEMH.

Not by a GP on the basis of a Zoom call though?
Surely the ADOS was carried out by a paediatrician or psychologist?

Yes. That’s what I’m saying. No diagnosis is made by phonecall or zoom. But they can be “given” that way and I think if called out he’d just say he didn’t mean what people say he meant.

He’s a weasel. He knows it won’t matter if he corrects anything on record once he’s said untruths people won’t I hear it.

unhear it

I am furious with Farage and his diagnosis via zoom comments. It is really, really hard and a long wait to get support/ diagnosis.
CAMHS is a woeful wait if your kids are struggling. There is a very real feeling of kids who have any mental health conditions whether relating to SEND/ SEMH of getting chucked under a bus right now.
Re local elections my local FB pages are all either Starmer AI videos, sleeping lions that need to wake up to save us and only Reform can make it better.
There are a few pearl clutching Conservatives who can’t believe we have a non Tory for an MP so think we are heading for a Communist state!
We have Mayoral elections too so it is all feeling a bit fraught.
Labour generally are non existent here but we have a Labour mayor ( who is lovely) they are not running again. They only won on second preference so we may go back Con as we are now fptp as last gov changed the system. Although,LD have a fair chance.
My own councillor ward is a bit rubbish ( for me) choice wise so I might have to scribble non of the above or draw a rude picture on my ballot paper.

That sounds tough Roblox

Things are escalating world wide, worrying times

Fighting has broken out between India and Pakistan in the Leepa Valley in Kashmir. Heavy weaponry deployed.

India/Pakistan came up this morning. Very worrying.

Yes, it’s very worrying, not least because they’re both nuclear armed states.

But Pakistan does tend always to back down when India threatens. They know that India could crush their armed forces quite easily. That’s why Pakistan has tended to act like Iran, by supporting proxy groups and interests.

Farage is v pleased to be in the cover of The Economist. Could they have made him look more like overdone gammon steak?

(Deleted my account yesterday, as I let something get to me that I should have ignored. Hence another variation on my name).