Don't know what to do

[someoneoutthere]

DS had an assessment today to move back to mainstream school from a SS. When we got to the school, we found out that they had no idea that DS has SN. Now how could that be? We attached his latest report from his SS school with the application form and we clearly stated that he has autism. They obviously did not bother reading the application form and called all the kids applied for a place for an assessment. So after doing a 20mins assessment (which I think DS did pretty well in, at least managed to do half of the things they asked for), they told us they are not interested in special needs and it's unlikely that DS will be offered a place. I am so proud of DS that he actually did a lot of things they asked him to do,e.g. write your name, count how many things etc, but I feel so upset to put him through that for no reasons. I know that here in the U.A.E, the words 'disability discrimination' only exists in papers, nothing I can do to change it, but I can't help feeling sad. Sorry just had to rant.

Dont apologise for ranting! I would be absolutely livid.

Thanks starfish, I am so upset atm that I don't know what to do or what to say.

I would be furious too, what an absoulute waste of all of your efforts! I have no advice I'm afraid but you have every right to rant.

Tell ds that the assessment showed him to be far too good for that school and you are sooooo proud of him.

And BE proud of him.

You must be livid and heartbroken. SO so sorry.

So sorry that the school were incapable of reading the form.

He did really well coping with an assessment he knew nothing about, well done to him.

Maybe complain. I know it will not get him the place at school, but their attitude sucks.

God, this is like something out of the dark ages ("not interested in disability"). I hope you are coming back to the UK soon - might not be perfect, but at least the law is vaguely upheld! Going to PM you

I dunno, I phoned loads of independent schools near where I lived. Not able to afford any of them but exploring options. Not ONE was prepared to even give ds a go.

I didn't get upset about it though because quite frankly it is better to hear 'Oh, no, we don't want to take children like that' than 'Of course your ds would be welcome here' when thinking 'oh, no we don't want to take children like that'.

As sad as it is, it was relief to have some honesty and not have to end up down a path in good faith that was likely to be harmful to ds.

Not "interested" in special needs? [shocked] What a horrible way to respond! I would have at least had more respect if they had said they simply didn't have the resources - "not interested" makes a child sound more like a product they're not interested in purchasing, rather than a child they'd prefer not to educate. Appalling, either way, really. But yes, can see the point of rather that than welcoming him but not helping him.

Well done to your son for getting through the assessment though. And well done to you for not beating them about the head and shoulders with a clipboard. (ok, I'm just assuming you didn't! )

At the end of the day if they arn't interested in disability's it's not the sort of school you want DS at. It's wrong.. but at least concider yourself to have dodged a bullet there are lots of places that will be interested in your son places where he will be made to feel welcome.

My son sat the exam's for an grammer school last october I mentioned his ASD and they told me that as long as he could "pass" the exam the same as a normal child then he could have a place.

All parent's where told if they got A,B or C it your child would almost certainly be offered a place and to put thier school down on your form as the first choice. If you got D,E it was still possibly be worth putting it down at an option but not to hold your breath.. anything below that don't bother.

The exam was such a horrific experience for him and they seemed totally unwilling to give him any help because of his ASD. I was made to leave him at the gate and couldn't come with him, he was in a massive room af about another 400 kids taking the test and he got very confused. He ended up crying and missed the 15 minutes of the test while a teacher "shouted at him" for being a baby.

Despite all this he managed to score a B ... but a tell you what that school was NO-WHERE on my list not after that.

You need a school who will give your DS the support he needs, i've realised now the right school isnt the one with the best grades it's the one with the right enviroment.

Thank you everyone for your support as usual, I always know where to come when I feel down about DS. Although my initial reaction was like leiela that I don't want DS to go to a school where they are not interested in him, it's really a sad situation. We have not got many options here, no mainstream school is willing to take children with SN. We applied to five schools (all being international school and have good reviews about how they are good with SN kids), this is the only one called us with an assessment and now we know why. On paper all these school say how they have open policy about SN, but in reality they don't want to take on any kids with SN. They are all private schools, so they can make their own policy. DS is doing so well in his SS school that they think he is ready to move back into mainstream with support, but we just can't find a school who is willing to take him on.

Perhaps you can get someone from his ss to help - they may have good links with ms schools (I know we are in a different country but DS's SS works very closely with several ms schools). Could they organise a dual placement?

DS's SS has been trying to organise a dual placement for Ds for nearly a year now. It's just the bloody schools here, don't want to take on any SN kids. I guess they don't want to pull their grade down or make special adjustments. We actually will have to pay for the 1:1 if he does go to a MS school, but we thought he needs to be around typically developing kids. We are very happy with the SS school, he is learning a lot, he is doing really well. A dual placement or a MS school with an ABA therapist is the best of both world for him, but the schools here are so different than the UK. I am seriously considering writing to the British High commission because there is one school here that actually receives support from the Embassy.

So we got the e-mail today confirming that they can't offer DS a place at their school. I have requested the details for the committee responsible for dealing with complaint. I want to make a point, I know it's not going to make a difference, but I just feel that I need to do something.