Why is there a separate section for special needs in Education?

[depankrispaneven]

Wouldn't it just be simpler to include something referring people to the more active SN section further down the page? And indeed to put that section immediately underneath the Education section?

Oh, and as an aside, there would be no issue of traffic if we didn't have separate boards because posters feel that people with younger children cannot contribute meaningfully. I'm on a select committee for children and young people.They don't only let me contribute to matters concerning under 8's because my DD1 is 8! Similarly, the local authority phoned me and asked me to be a governor at a special secondary school. They didn't bar me because my children are primary age. I still don't understand why we aren't able to give support to posters with older children.

So are you saying there should be one board? If so, I agree. I have never said though that people of younger children can't post on threads involving older children/adults.

I'm not saying you have. I'm saying other posters you refer to did.

Yes, I think there should be just one board for SN support, and one board for SN issues/chat that disappear after 90 days for those who don't like their posts to hang around.

I never post in SN legal. That has nothing to do with who might post there. If you had posted on SN children (and IMO they are children provided they have a mother) I most likely woukd have responded as that is where I tend to go.

That's good, just didn't want anyone to jump on the band wagon and think I had. As for the people I refer to, yes some left and as I have already clarified, might be getting mixed up on the ins and outs of that arguement but I see there's others on this thread not happy or uncomfortable with sn section for whatever reason.

I would have thought that the main reason for keeping the separate SN section in education is that the main SN section doesn't show up in Active convos, so many posters may not realise it's there when they need advice. The Education/SN topic can act as a 'doorway' where more experienced posters can signpost the SN section if it's appropriate.

I don't think it is very fair to say that any defence of the SN section (especially when it is essentially correcting misinformation) shows how cliquey the boards can be, or that it would make anyone feel left out or worried about posting.

Imo, it would be far more damaging to leave the incorrect version (that people were hounded off because their children are too old, old to stop posting).

I'm sorry dev, because this looks as though I am having a go at you personally. I am not, and have always posted on your threads if I have seen them, have you as a friend on FB and have tried to offer support there too when I can.

We've all posted threads that get little support, or been told the opposite of what we want to hear at times. It doesn't mean people don't care.

I'm sorry Facebook became my new mn, I used to have fun there, told many jokes, had quizzes and stuff, must seriously start the fun again I just now have to work out who you are as you have obv nc! And your right I did feel it was a personal attack until you clarified it wasn't but it just goes to show how wording, tone etc can be picked up wrongly and how it now makes me uncomfortable, maybe some of the others are just like me.

It feels massively unfair to have you come on and tell us how other posters who you do not name 'feel the same', then recount past events inaccurately (to say the least), simply saying 'oh my memory is hazy' when challenged. Why bring other posters up? It's not fair.

I think it starts on page 2 of this thread all you need to do is re read.

That's who you are talking about dev? The two posters on this thread who haven't yet demonstrated or linked to examples of what they accuse and no others?

To many pages for an iPhone and bad eyes lol but going back to sen education and sn? Some parents may only be on the first steps with their children. ie just having issues brought up in school that could well point (and quite often does) that their child has a deeper SN?

these parents may not be ready to step into the sn world let alone admit there are issues and a lot of the time "it's the school not their child" scenario kicks in.

sometimes it is a gradual acceptance and as a lot of things come to light upon starting education a separate sen section is a gentle way to get used to the idea before entering the signposted an children.

none of that I suspect makes sense! :)

It's not just about 2 posters on this thread, me or those who felt they had to go,it's about the way people feel they have been treat, the way they see things, the way they interpret things. No evidence is gonna prove that. Now I'm beginning to feel like I'm on trial. I may be able to link where I feel I have been hounded off, accused, bullied as well as times where others have been in a similar position. However these will be historic and may take ages to find. I don't recall every thread title. As for my memory I don't even know what was for breakfast, never mind what I had yesterday. As for arguing other peoples battles I've learned my lesson. However when people feel similar through my own experiences I will bring it up. After all I feel it was massively unfair the group that ganged up on me for retaliating to something that was said to me.

Two threads which show MNSN posters telling other posters that they were welcome with their 'teen issues' and in fact, getting quite upset that we weren't seen as an appropriate support network:

May 2012

November 2012

TBH I think it is a credit to MNSN posters that despite being severely criticised again and again, they are still falling over themselves to make those critics as welcome as they can and asking for proper information in order to try and make the changes necessary to ensure those posters don't feel unable to post.

And as a complete digression...

coff33pot How the devil are you?

I too, feel that this is a circular argument.

A section for teens/adult children was asked for. Done.Then complaints that it is too quiet (thread links are available to support this claim). MNSN posters offer support, but are told that they couldn't possibly support because they haven't been there.

MNSN is a place to get and receive sort, so suggestions are made that those posters can support parents who are facing situations that they have experience of. Responses of 'I've got too much trouble of my own to support other people. I need support.

Renewed offers of support are made. Offers refused. You couldn't possibly support because you haven't been there.

This issue has been raised since before 2009.It will never be solved. When DD1 hits transition, and ask those that are similar in age, we'll all talk about transition. Then complaints will come that there wasn't support for posters when their children went through transition. We'll offer support and get told 'your children are only teenagers. Ours are adults. You can't possibly know how to support -you haven't been there.'

In fact, I predict, that in 2033, when DD1 is 30, if I offered support, I'd be told 'your DD is only 30. Mine is 43. You couldn't possibly know how to support -you haven't been there....

Haha, good timing on my part, i was just going to post how sick and tired I am of this implication that there is some sort of vendetta going on on the sn boards.

How about

disabled/special needs - support for carers (encompassing all age groups)

disabled/special needs - chat

disabled/special needs - parents

I think that hearing some of the arguments, that keeping a sn section in education, with a sticky at the top directing people to the sn section if they feel they need further support, is a good idea.

Would that work?

Alive lol and missed you all so thought I would make a resolution to poke my nose in pop in more often anyhow said hi on SN board x

I was also gonna ask about the difference between carers and parents?

As for the age old circular argument I did try to say it's down to perceptions and lack of tone etc, misinterpretations etc . I for one never explain anything well and it's always picked up wrong, maybe it's like that for others. It's hard for me when my words are interpreted then I'm quizzed on what I said. It doesn't matter what I say or do it's gonna be wrong, so it then makes me afraid to type.

'Carer' is a legal definition. You are a 'carer' if you spend 35 hours or more per week looking after someone who is 'severely disabled', with 'severely disabled' defined as:

eligible for, but not claiming, or claiming:
Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate, Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension, Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP), or Personal Independence Payment daily living component.

So, I'd say that you are a parent, first and foremost, but once you are caring in a way that is significantly beyond that required for typical children/young people/teenagers/adults of your child/young person/teenager/adult's age, then you are also a carer.

I refer to myself as DD1's carer because it reinforces the point that the luxury of choice is not ours - she needs care and that prevents me from working. I think 'Stay at Home Mother' implies that a choice has been made.

Perhaps I would have chosen to be a SAHM anyway? I'll never know, now, because I can't choose otherwise. I tried to return to nursing, but had to reject my course and placement offer because the course required that I was available for all shift patterns and there was no way to fulfill that with DD1's SN transport.