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Original poster

To take my SEN child to the beach?

250 replies

coronaandtired · 07/04/2020 18:30

DS is 7 and autistic and we live ten minutes from the beach. He is struggling greatly with being made to stay at home and is used to going out to the beach park etc every day. He also has sensory needs and obviously the beach provides a lot of input.

I'm not sure what the guidance is for SEN kids or if they are exempt from the 'only go out for exercise or to buy meds/food' rule. I wouldn't take DS unless I knew they were exempt, so don't think I'm going to just load him into my car and drive down there!

Just wondering if anyone has heard of a relaxation of the rules in this regard?

OP posts:
Lynda07 · 07/04/2020 20:39

Typhoonmarie Tue 07-Apr-20 20:34:00
If I lived 10 minutes from a beach and it was big enough and quiet enough to keep well away from people I would definitely be going there for exercise autistic child or not!
......
Me too.

littlemixarerubbish · 07/04/2020 20:40

@ThanosSavedMe I know that. I'm a key worker. I want everyone to stay at home who so that people like the OP can take her son out to where he needs to go in order to manage his health and well-being, as well as for the key aim of reducing the spread of the virus.
Quite a few people on here now have posted sections of the official advice that show that the OP is indeed able to take her son out. That's all she needs to know.

DTAJ · 07/04/2020 20:41

Are there any healthcare professionals currently involved? Or possibly a social worker? If so it may be worth trying to get in contact with them and ask if they have been provided with any information around exemptions.

For those asking why they should be exempt, it's to hopefully stop families reaching crisis point. Everyone is out of routine and a lot of people are struggling with that. Add on autism and/or learning disability and it makes it 10 times harder. Some of these people won't understand why their routine has changed, why they are no longer going to school, going out for drives, going out for walks and whatever else you want to add.

If going out for a 10 minute drive is going to help that person to stay settled then wouldn't you rather that than risk the person reaching crisis, possibly becoming aggressive and requiring support from the police because their families can no longer manage it?

People aren't going out by choice for a lot of people it is the only way of managing. There is very little support going in to homes at the moment and no respite. Families are going to burn out quick and they are trying to find any way they can to make things a little bit easier.

Nomorepies · 07/04/2020 20:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

ultrababy · 07/04/2020 20:43

Exactly what gamerchick has written. There are no exemptions to Coronavirus. This is what we're all dealing with. Why would a child with SEN be any less susceptible to it? Your thinking makes no sense to me. The beach may be empty because everyone else is adhering to the guidelines. They're not all staying in so that you can have space to go out?

Soontobe60 · 07/04/2020 20:44

If you can walk there then go ahead. However, just think about how he would cope if he or you had to be hospitalised due to covid.

eggsandwich · 07/04/2020 20:44

I had the same discussion with my son’s social worker and was told it is absolutely fine to take him for a walk along the beach as long as you keep your social distance from other people and that it follows government advice on exercise, my son also has special needs so I understand that he must be struggling by now.

OhCaptain · 07/04/2020 20:46

Regardless of driving/walking to the beach, why are you looking for exemptions??

Unless he’s immune from Covid19, it’s safer for him and everyone else to follow the rules and socially distance.

nellythenarwhal · 07/04/2020 20:48

There are some batshit people around.

I'd go to the beach when it was quiet but change the visit so it wasn't a long visit with picnic for example.

You aren't unreasonable to ask if there's any exceptions. People are too quick to drag people down to their level of misery at the moment. There aren't exceptions but if they tighten regulations here, I assume that dog walking would be an exception.

If you can walk then that's better than a car but you're not breaking the rules if you drive there.

Triotribulations · 07/04/2020 20:51

Friendly post Smile The link:

www.linkedin.com/content-guest/article/coronavirus-regulations-guide-exercise-send-parents-julian-norman

is great. Not least because it explains what 'reasonable excuses' could apply for a child with SN. I think it has been posted before but people obviously haven't seen it for the vitriol that is being hurled on this thread.

I have a son with autism, adhd, sensory processing problems +++ and severe anxiety. He is still, amazingly, oblivious to anything going on. Genuinely. I could justify this with explanations as to how/why he has remained unaware, but it would take a while. But believe me he is oblivious to lockdown, so if I walked with him out of our front door, he would see people deliberately cross the road to avoid us, see people wearing gloves and face masks, he would realise his beloved park is closed etc.. This would make his already crippling anxiety untenable. So I take him in the car to the beach/ specifically to places I know we won't see anyone. Not just for lockdown reasons which I am respecting because I am adhering to the guidelines, but to shield him from lockdown!

OP, as another poster said, you sound sensible and it is unfortunate that you posted here as there are so many who do not understand the reality of walking down the road with a child with autism, and that you may have to get in the car to truly avoid people. If you are feeling uncertain, have evidence of diagnosis/ sunflower lanyard/ prepared response in case you are stopped. Sending you love and solidarity because this thread has rattled me so goodness knows how you must be feeling Flowers

YangShanPo · 07/04/2020 20:55

After all one bout of exercise is seen as essential for the MH of most people and an acceptable risk for anyone not shielding at the present time. SEN children who are a low risk group to catch the virus and are going to a local area where social distancing is possible seems like an acceptable risk in terms of the benefit to their MH.

eggsandwich · 07/04/2020 21:05

Why are people talking about road blocks to stop cars going to the beach or even asking why she is looking for exemption to go out,.

She has clearly stated that she lives 10 minutes walking distance from the beach so its not as if she is driving to get there, and I’m also sure that as his mother she will make sure that they are both kept at a safe distance from other people so there should not be any risk, I think we all need to just calm down a bit, yes Coronavirus is serious but its not like she wants to take him round the supermarket to do her weekly shop.

TabbyMumz · 07/04/2020 21:07

"No, you can't do this. We know it's tough. But there aren't exemptions"
Yes, she can. You can go for a walk every day. You can even drive there if its local and can get there after a short drive.

Sirzy · 07/04/2020 21:07

eggsandwich she said she was 10 minutes from the beach she didn’t specify if that was driving or walking

GabsAlot · 07/04/2020 21:09

im in essex the nearest beach ha had all its pay and display car parks cordornerd off closed and on all the seafront-if you cant walk it dont go

TotallyWipedout · 07/04/2020 21:10

As I said upthread: batshit.

Nobody is going to catch Covid on an empty or semi-empty beach. They wouldn't catch it on a beach with reasonable social distancing.

While we're at it, nobody would catch it or transmit it by sunbathing.

Can we please get a collective grip?

heartsonacake · 07/04/2020 21:12

The guidance for SEN kids is the same as everyone else. There are no exemptions. Why would there be?

You can take him to the beach only if you walk there (you cannot drive there), and continue to walk while you are on the beach.

You cannot sit down, have a rest, have a picnic or have a play. You simply walk there, you walk back.

Alsohuman · 07/04/2020 21:13

you cannot drive there

Yes. You, can.

RTFT.

IamHyouweegobshite · 07/04/2020 21:15

My dd has asd, so completely understand the sensory need, etc. Personally if it's a short drive away, I may do this, but I'd expect the beach to be busy. My local park apparently was heaving today. One suggestion, what about getting a sandpit and water table? Or one of those high rise trays where you could put lots of different textures in?

TotallyWipedout · 07/04/2020 21:16

Hearts, it's true that there are no special rules for SN children, but the rest of your post is decidedly not true.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/04/2020 21:16

”14. Can I drive to a national park or other green space to walk?

We advise you to stay local and use open spaces near to your home where possible – do not travel unnecessarily.”

A beach near @coronaandtired‘s house is an open space near her home. She doesn’t need any exceptions to or exemptions from the rules, because walking her son to the beach is clearly WITHIN the guidelines.

GabsAlot · 07/04/2020 21:16

not if the parking is off limits

GlomOfNit · 07/04/2020 21:17

Could people please stop parroting 'there ARE no exemptions' - there are some to the general restrictions, actually. Some children with EHCPs (meant to be all of them, in practice it's the most vulnerable and those least able to cope with cessation of routine) are in school because they cannot manage NOT to be at school. Children who are 'looked after' by the LA are also, ideally, meant to be at school.

Jesus, the unkindness on this thread.

Davros · 07/04/2020 21:22

I definitely saw something today that said something about extra exercise for people with SEND, I'll try to find it. I didn't read it so can't be sure what it said.
This might be useful if it hasn't already been posted:

[email protected]

NEWSFLASH3 APRIL
The Council for Disabled Children (CDC), following the Minister’s request, has launched two new email inboxes aimed to answer questions, collate resources and share information on Coronavirus and the impact on children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). They are designed to be used by professionals, practitioners, parent carers and families of children and young people with SEND.
The new ‘CDC questions’ inbox, [email protected], provides the opportunity to ask questions about how Coronavirus will impact on children and young people with SEND as well as other questions relating to the impact on families; the education, health, social care sectors; and the voluntary and community sector. We will collate Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and share them with the Department for Education (DfE) and Ministers as appropriate, in order to publish an FAQs newsflash each Friday.
Since we launched the CDC Questions inbox on Monday we have received several questions and are in the process of engaging with the DfE and other sector experts to raise issues and develop responses. These will be shared in our FAQ next week along with any further questions that we receive. In the meantime please find below information from a range of sources that can support you in the meantime:
If you are a parent carer with a question about your individual circumstances you may be able to find an answer here:
• contact.org.uk/advice-and-support/coronavirus-information-for- families-with-disabled-children
• disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk/coronavirus/
• For up-to-date Government guidance

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