Discrimination

[Msqueen33]

Three DC. 9, 6 and 1. 6 yr old has autism. Last term middle DC 6 (asd, ADHD) said about doing two clubs. A construction club type thing and an art club. Elder sibling went to one of these clubs aswell so they'd be together. DC has ft 1:1 in school but is fine in a more relaxed environment but school said no to clubs. We did ask if she could try going alone without support for one session and if it didn't work we would re-evaluate. We are very flexible. I'd happily wait in reception if DC got upset. We've relayed this to school. They've messed us about on a few other issues. We know DC isn't always easy. They want us to personally pay for a 1:1. I'm a sahm and we don't have loads of money. They wouldn't even give DC a chance to go nor were they interested in me going with as support. We received a formal letter plus cheques returned. Dh is fuming and shouting discrimination. Is this unfair? DC is not allowed to go to any after school function disco etc without one of us going along. We live five minutes from school so am happy to pick up if things don't go to plan.

BTW having a parent in to support isn't usually the answer; nor is charging the parent staff costs.

Is that to me, noeuf? If so what do you suggest I do?

No it's just a general observation. The thread has covered a wide range of examples, and I was just adding that it's not always a great solution.

No it's just a general observation. The thread has covered a wide range of examples, and I was just adding that it's not always a great solution.

Of course local authorities always follow the law - not. You are talking to parents of children with sen. If local authorities followed the law there would be no need for tribunals.

Thanks, I'd have to close, I think, if a parent or carer didn't stay. I run it on my own with the help of a volunteer student.

Coffee im thinking more about in formal education settings, just going a bit off track

Phew!

Haha at always following the law!

Sadly, I think that as the clubs operate outwith the "school day" the law as it stands is very open to interpretation. The programmes are without a curriculum, not year specific and most importantly, entirely optional. Do I think that all students should have the right to attend a programme like this?

Absolutely!

Is it going to happen without an almighty row?

Not bloody likely - at least not in my lifetime.

For those of you saying it isn't discrimination, consider this.

I am autistic and frequently require support when doing 'extra curricular' activities like going to the cinema. Things that you don't have to do, but things that are optional and enjoyable.

Does the cinema a) charge me at least double what they charge non-disabled people, on the basis that they need to provide me with a member of staff to ensure I get one to one support?
Or b ) say 'that's tough, going to the cinema isn't compulsory so we don't have to let you come in at all!'
Or c) allow me to take a carer of my own in free of charge, so I pay the same as everyone else?

Crohnically please forgive my ignorance, as I live in Canada and things here are done differently.

It is my hope that the answer to your question is (c) but I am curious as to how it is managed.

In our province (Ontario) there is a special card that an individual can apply (with medical certification) that allows a carer to enter free when the individual with a disability pays the full fee as is appropriate. These cards are not free, I pay $30 every 5 years for my daughter's.

Do you have something similar, or will a cinema, for example, allow you to self-identify and bring along the support you require?

Oh, and with reference to the cinema example, you forgot the 4th option, which with school programmes is the one most widely discussed.

Would the cinema pay for you to use a support person on their staff and of their choosing (as in many cases for after school clubs, the expectation is that the student will continue to have a 1:1 aide provided by the school).

It is certainly not the straightforward situation it should be...

Yes, the answer's C!

There isn't one unified scheme across England (yet).

If you are receipt of disability benefits/blue badge for parking, then most places will let a carer in for free. However, there is a grey area (as I am in) where you are too disabled to manage by yourself but not disabled enough to meet DWPs rather strict criteria for support/rather uneducated advisors (despite having a recent diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome, the advisor swore blind that I have no issue with social interaction, even commenting on my appropriate use of eye contact! Which I never give!)

Anyway, I digress. Some councils issue disability identification cards, mine doesn't but signposted me to another card scheme, where I got evidence from my doctors and got a card for a small fee, it will need replacing every 3 years.

Cinemas in particular subscribe to a national card scheme called the CEA card- but that is only to be used in cinemas.

Yes, there is D.

But what people 'forget' is that in schools case, they have to spend X amount of money on each child with a statement or ECHP- so depending how much of the 1-1 support is centrally funded, and how much other support the child needs, it may actually be possible to stretch the funding to cover after school clubs. Especially if it's deemed to be something the child needs (so for an autistic child, it could be argued that a club based around a particular interest could be helping the child with social skills, not sure if after school clubs can be written into IEPs but I know we have written free of charge lunchtime clubs into them!)

They sound completely unreasonable. I think what you suggested (waiting around the first time so if there's a problem you are there) is the best solution. I'm very sad for your DD that the people who should be championing her are unwilling to give her even one chance.

She will face this for the rest of her life so maybe you could show her that sometimes you need to stand up for what's right and that you will fight her corner.

Hi I thought I would resurrect this thread as I have a similar issue.

I found the Ipsea pdf as mentioned above.

Briefly background:

DS is 10 and has adhd and his social skills aren't great.
DS had an altercation at after school club and ended up being injured by another child. He had been taunted by said child, and had then slapped the back of this child's head. This child had then pushed him off a bike and caused the injuries ( said child will have conesquences etc). DS lied about the slapping retaliation and not for the first time in an altercation the school are unhappy about his lying.

I was summoned and the head and deputy expressed serious concern about the lying (secondary school next year etc etc) I said I thought that with DS's particular foibles I would have thought that it would be best to let him cool off and not 'incriminate' himself by lying on impulse about an event he was still emotionally 'in', and that on most occasions like this at home I don't speak to him about incidents until a few hours later when he has had time for reflection and perspective - at which time he is invariably pretty truthful and sanguine about the whole thing. Head said he was 'in my office with an ice pack and seemed perfectly calm'. I've since spoken to our psychologist at CAMHS and she agreed with me about 'reflective time'

Anyway the upshot of this was a spectacularly blurry statement from Head and deputy that they would have to consider whether or not he should be in after school club as they 'do not have the resources to keep DS safe and happy and other children safe and happy'. I was pretty aghast at this and they qualified the statement by saying that I should consider whether he was in a state to go to after school club if he has had a bad night or is upset about something'. I understand that and in fact have often not put him in in this situation. At the end of the day I'm freelance and flexible but there's a limit to what you can do in the school day, and what about if I was a single parent relying on it to work a rigid work day(as so many of my friends are)?

What about his social skills? they're rubbish and keeping him out of yet another extracurricular activity because its too unstructured feels wrong for a 10 year old. He's terrible in unstructured time but he needs to opportunity to have it before secondary school.

I'm now a week later and pretty annoyed. He should be in after school club this afternoon. I'm sending him...

I'll be speaking to leadership team tomorrow - any advice?