SEN conference for parents and professionals

[LidiaD]

?Towards a Positive Future? is a two day conference which will focus on providing encouragement, information and hope for parents of, and professionals working with, SEN children. Attendance at the conference will encourage parents to take control, to share, inspire each other and make sure SEN children get the support they need and launch a new professional network that will empower, enthuse and enable practitioners to be heard and shape the future.

There will be a wide variety of seminars covering a whole range of special educational needs issues, including:

• what the health, education and social care reforms will mean for your children with SEN;
• how Academies can find ways to meet the needs of students with complex needs;
• the legal implications for children with SEN including current and future funding arrangements;
• how you can access independent experts;
• what Tribunals are like;
• how to prepare for a Tribunal hearing.
• transition to University for students with SEN

?Towards a Positive Future? takes place on 14 ? 15 October 2011 at Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury.

To view the line up of speakers and to book your place, please visit:
towardsapositivefuture.wordpress.com/

Hi, I've just read an advance copy of the book that;s being launched at this conference - Towards a Positive Future.

It's an easy-to-read book by Janet O'Keefe that gives a valuable overview into the world of SEN support and the difficulties faced by parents in trying to access it.
It sets out in simple terms the current system for readers and gives some good advice about how to seek the right experts for your child. It also offers pointers for those experts themselves.
The book explains the most common social and communication disorders and helpfully illustrates them with personal stories garnered from her broad experience as a Speech and Language Therapist who has given evidence at SEN Tribunals many times. The stories will have a resonance with many parents and remind the reader that special needs should always put the child at the centre of the process.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this book is the section towards the end where Mrs O'Keefe challenges parents and educators not to blame others for society's failures but to take action themselves to make the landscape better for our most vulnerable children. A very interesting and extremely useful read recommended for both parents and professionals.
Tania

Pardon me if I am being funny but............the actual initial post here wasnt about the sale of a book????

And I dont blame 'others' I blame the government, the nhs and to some extent proffessionals that drag their heals. They are responsible for 'societys failures' so perhaps its them that should be made aware of this book.

No offense meant on the above poster for her informative post just my view only :)

I agree coffpot. Whilst I was healthily suspicious, but prepared to be open-minded at the start, and had moved a long way to feel positive about the idea of the conference etc. I cannot help but go back to my suspicion that this is a marketing exercise for the SN Industry.

Parents can and do take action but if you actually have any understanding of the 'system' you will know that it is stacked so hugely against them that they are individually pretty powerless. And this system that works so hard against parents is predominately made up of 'professionals'.

I didn't mind the conference plug, but I mind very much the book plug.

Anyone going along?

I might have considered it but I have a tribunal deadline looming.....