Fighting (not very well though) for a Dyspraxia diganosis (sorry long)

[sandym3g]

My D is 14 and all through her school years she has had problems. At her primary school she was given a few tests which indicated that she might have Dyspraxia and needed to investigated further. I told the next school this and they ignored it. But she was told to try harder etc and in tears in parents evenings. We had given up the fact it could be Dyspraxia ourselves because we had been told by teachers they didn't think it was.

Years went on and she started senior school. The school picked up on a problem and when I mentioned that she had this test when she was younger they told me that she was too old for a test via the school. So we got on top of it.

I went to a Dyspraxia forum at a school and it was like they were discribing my child! So I went back to the school with info of how they could support her. Was told "oh she doesn't have dyspraxia." the sen that had 23 years of experience had experience with 2 other girls with dyspraxia and my girl wasn't like them so she couldn't have it.I left in tears.

I went to the doctor who refered me to the pediatric specialist. When he said that he couldn't diagnose it I asked for his opionion. Although he couldn't put it on paper he said "without a shadow of doubt she's dyspraxic!" and sent a letter to the school to suggest a ep report should be done.

The ep report was done and it seemed that she was listening to what we were trying to say. But when we met with the school she was on their side it seemed when previously she was backing our corner. We both aggreed that we should go for a diagnosis though. Then at least she would get the support if needed. The doc said that the ep should write to the mental health board and that came back as "nothing to do with us" The ep went on maternity leave. I tryied to chase it up but nothing came back apart from "we haven't forgotten about you" and that is it. I haven't chased it up as much as i should have done but I know that it gets me stressed and that isn't good for my M.E. so i've been avoiding it.

Now it's options time at school and they inform me that although she had been doing well at her organisation skills had been laking again and that they have had to give her lists again. Why did they take them away then? It's like saying that rug is clean so it doesn't need cleaning anymore. They said that they would be supporting her. Doesn't look like they have been.

It seems like everytime I try to get it sorted the officals can't seen to work out who can do a diagnosis. Very fustraiting. Especially as I know because of her writting she won't get the marks in her exams that I know she's capable of. She's not allowed a laptop unless she's statemented.

what about occupational therapy, have you seen them, I believe they can diagnose dyspraxia, you can ask your gp for a referral. They would also be useful with regards to getting her help in school and providing therapy.

it sounds like the school are fobbing you off, you or your dh need to remember that a teacher, however well experienced cannot and should not be making a diagnosis or denying one You need to start being a little forceful, not rude, you know your child better than anyone and she needs some help.

what does her iep say? What sort of support is she currently getting and do you think it's enough? Have you thought about applying for a statement?

there's some useful reading here, sen code of practice and some useful sites here here and here

The doc spoke things over with her team and they agreed that the mental health team should be contacted. As you see in my post they washed their hands of it.

I seem to be pushed from piller to post over this. Going around and around. Nobody seems to know who would be able to diagnose her.

Sorry everything been so hard for you.

You can get a laptop without a statement. It's totally up to the schools discretion. Although they might need you to provide it.

But it is to the schools advantage for your daughter to do well in her exams.

Her exam paper can also be transcribed after she's written it if her writing is illegible. Google exam accesss arrangements.

Nor do you need a dx to be on the SEN register. School need to do whatever she needs - absolutely nothing to do with dx.

The best person for dyspraxia is a n occupational therapist not a gp or Ed psych.

I know that in this PCT and in some others that you can self refer to occupational therapy. Problem with that is the waiting lists can be quite long. Had you thought about a private assessment? I don't know how much that might be - someone may come along and give you a ball park figure.
Armed with that report you might find that Dr/GP etc might sit up and take notice. It is always questionable whether the school would do anything with it as they don't seem to be supportive at all.

Sorry very long.

Sandy - Unfortunately schools have got your daughter through to year 9 with little or no support. You will have a fight on your hands to get them to put anything in place now, but it's not impossible.

A diagnosis may help, but a Dyspraxia label itself won't get your DD support, you need to focus on her needs.

Indigo is right your DS doesn't need a statement to access a laptop in school generally or for exams.

Teachers can transcribe after an exam, but schools are reluctant to do this as it is resource intensive and takes a long time.

IME Schools are generally reluctant to provide laptops for children on a day to day basis, though they will provide them for exams. Which leaves me questioning why if the child needs one for an exam, do they not need one on a daily basis?

An OT can test writing skills/levels.
Schools also have to test writing/computing skill to apply for exam concessions.
But you may find that they don't necessarily agree, for example DS(15) was found by OT to have writing skills at -0.2 percentile level, appropriate to 7 yr old. Difficulty forming letters, concentration required to form letters/write had significant impact on writing and content etc.
School tests showed significant differences between writing and typing skills; amount of work completed in same time limit, content of the work.
However, while OT recommended laptop, school stated his writing was legible he doesn't need one day to day but can have one for exams!

On IEP to use computers for 'large amounts of writing', they won't determine 'large amounts'- has only has access when whole class is using IT.
Applied for one quoting DDA, school allocated one to DS Sept 10, but conditions of use, plus the fact he didn't know where it was kept, meant it remains unused.

We had meeting with LEA and school on Tuesday. Brought up issue of laptop again, one has been in place since Wed in those classes where he does the most writing.

The academic level your DD is working at may have an impact on what help the school will provide going into GCSE's. If she's predicted A-C's she probably won't get any help unless she starts slipping.

If she's D/C borderline there may be help/support available, you may have more luck accessing a laptop.

If she's predicted below a D, there doesn't appear to be much incentive for schools to support DC's.

Sorry for the negativity.

Minx

OK

The school is talking bollocks. You do not need a statement to access GCSEs on computer.

She will need to be assessed by whoever does their exam access arrangement testing. I suggest she does a handwriting test (either the 20 minute speed test or the DASH ten minute test). This will give an average score. The legibility will need to be taken into account. They then need to do a piece of writing with her on the same topic with her using her WP and or a scribe.

She should also do spelling test - again I recommend the WRAT 4 Spelling test or VERNON.

To qualify for word processing or a scribe she must have a writing speed substantially lower than the norm (14 wpm) and/or for her handwriting to have a good percentage of words that are illegible. There needs to be a substantial improvement in quality of language and speed when she uses her WP or scribe. If her spelling tests are lower than standardised score 84 then she can have the WP with the spelling switched on (but bear in mind that she will lose all the spelling marks given for any exams). If not then she can access exams using WP with the spelling disabled.

For WP with spelling then a Form 8 will need to be completed and authorisation with JCQ needs to be done on line. This is not an easy task and it all takes time. To substantiate why this is necessary then there HAS to be 'a history of need' and whatever is given as an exam access arrangement has to be 'normal way of working' and this needs to be proven. Outside inspectors come round and do inspect all the school's paperwork. Therefore you HAVE to get your daughter on the SEN register as soon as poss to establish the 'history of need'. You'd be amazed at the amount of year 11 parents that suddenly start claiming their child has SEN and we have never heard of them just so that they can get a concession in the exams. Deeply pissoffing.

Hope this helps.