How do you get a diagnosis and help???

[BosworthBear]

My neice is 11 and has been assessed as almost 3 years behind in her educational development, via her stats (almost is important because if your not 3 years behind then apparently you don't get special needs help in Blackpool!!)

Her language is delayed by about the same amount (SIL is a child speech therapist) and she seems to be emmotionally immature, her short term memory appears impaired (IMO) but she is a very well natured girl who appears happy in herself.

Her parents believe that she may be dyslexic and are about to pursue this route to see if it offers any help.

My concern is how to get the assessment she needs, to find (if possible) the underlying cause, and hopefully in time to help her education and short term needs - this is an area I am not familiar with since my children are both preschool - please can anyone give any help, advice or guidance???

I would see GP for referral to Developmental Paediatrician AND speak to school/LEA about getting an Educational Psychologist involved. Best to have some assessment before plunging into a course of action that may not be correct/relevant. They could also see someone privately.

Also get the school to back up request to see develpomental Paed(Where I live that tends to bump you up the list)

They may be willing to seek private help for an assessment, how do you go about finding a recommendation in the Blackpool area that the results of which the school will recognise? does anyone have any experience in this or of this area?
Thanks
D.

I don't know about Blackpool, but where I live the LEA only accept their in house dx for statementing etc.

Socci Believe, me my friend had a dx from Gillian Baird and they stiil had to go through borough services. You can use a private consultation as help in evidence for statemnet.
However this is jsut where I live and it must vary from place to place.
I think they prefer their own dx because it gives a clearer bench mark for level of need if every child in the LEA is seen by the same team.

Also I seem to live in an LEA which doesn't mind looking bad at tribunal!!!!

We have the same in house thing here, DS1 was dx as AS early this year, but we moved and before we can get help / DLA etc we have to be assessed here- nine month waiting list. All this time his bahaviour worsens and the effects are harder on all of us. We're hoping to go to BIBIC soon (an agency is considering funding us), seems as if it our only option

I'm sure its illegal to dismiss a private assessment but you'd have to go to Tribunal do prove it and who wants to do that???

Mind you, thinking about this and tying in to the other thread about being "registered disabled".... how a local authority classifies and approaches any individual's disability is connected to something called an FNA (functional needs assessment). This gives a score and puts you into some banding thingy. Its all done quite secretively and parents are not consulted NOR are other professionals outside the local authority. When you are seeing Paed, SLT etc they, apparently, are "scoring" and some people round here have asked what the numbers are at the bottom of reports. As parents have no input you have no opportunity to question it or present evidence from outside your authority, even somewhere like the Bobath was ignored in one case here. It was a bit of a potential campaigning issue round here that came to nothing. Ho hum!

Message withdrawn

Socci Not upset at all, its just that the law and reality can be poles apart.

If you dd has a dx that the local paed agrees with then there should be no quibbling with the dx.

What is a CASBAT team Socci? I know your dd has been offered an assessment placement and I assume that this is where she would be statemented and that the staff there would have input in the process.

Never believe that a dx=statement. Many LEA's do not statement HFA or AS children if they can claim their needs can be met on School Action or School Action+.

I know more children with asd without a statemnet than those with a statement.

R&B No not East Sussex, SE london/Kent.

Apparently Blackpool are re evaluating their special needs policy on education along with changing all the SEN schools.

I was told only yesterdy that Blackpool is the easiest place in the country to get a statement.

Was that from a healthcare prof in Blackpool or a parent there??

bump

davros- is that the standard SS CARE assessent numbers (1-5) or something. I was shown a report that said ds1 was in the category for second highest need (2 I think) (highest being needed to be removed from home)- but have no idea how they arrived at that. I have a care review coming up soon- may quiz them- give me some questions to ask.... will check reports later for hidden numbers!

I'm not sure if its the same but I suspect so. I think the FNA term is quite well known......