getting diagnosis and keeping school happy

[bebopallula]

It seems there are issues regarding funding from schools for diagnosis...Whilst discussing the option of having a diagnosis, I was met with the response of, 'I hope he doesnt need one of those tests, they're really expensive!' My ds has been having difficulty from the very start of school, yet diagnosis was never offered. I am now very concerned about how he will continue to develop in the future, he says he hates school and is disallusioned, it is so sad. I have listened to the school telling me to wait and see and he has caught up, but there are still underlying behaviours and ways that affect his learning. I have always known of my sons unconventional ways and been managing to handle it, and at times it has been very hard. I decided to read about Autism/Asperges and there are so many traits that are the same, I felt emotional just reading it. I am going to meet his SEN teacher and his teacher again and ask for a proper assesment. Somehow, I feel this may be a challenge.? The last meeting we said that we would review his progress, as he was acheiving ok, however he still gets Support in class. What is my best plan of action? I will meet them again and insist on assesment and perhaps my GP?

School can't give you a diagnosis and neither can anyone else who is employed by school or the Education Authority.

A diagnosis can obly be made by a medical professional either NHS or private.

What school are probbaly referring to when they say that the 'tests' are very expensive is the tests and assessments that are carried out by Educational Psychologists. These are employed by the Education Authority and cannot make a diagnosis - they can only assess the difficulties and make recommendations for support.

If you want to seek a diagnosis then you should raise your concerns to your GP who will be able to refer you to a Paediatrician who can make a disgnosis.

If you want extra help at school then you should ask school to contact the Educational Pyschologist and consider applying for an assessment that may lead to a Statement of Special Educational Needs that will deliver extra support.

If school won't do this then you should make a request directly to the Education Authority yourself asking them to undertake an assessment that may lead to a Statement

Forgot to say - Don't try to keep school happy.

School will only be happy when they are not spending extra money supporting your child and extra time seeking the support he needs.

It's your child you need to keep happy and the only way to do that it is get him the help he needs.

just to add have ds with aspergers and after many years of school being no help and camhs with a 18month waiting list just for referal and another twelve months for the assessment then applying for statment took one year then had to go to tribunal for special school that took another year.

i didnt wait for camhs i went privately for the assment as i felt that time was toooooo long on nhs. private assment took 6 months start to finished report on my lap and cost £2000 so that will give u an indication to make your desion op. to be honest if you can find the money i would go private these children only suffer emtionally the longer its left and you need to start the ball rolling the school wont do a thing.The older your child gets the more he will appear different to his peers and will strugle more. DONT WAIT.

Wet August gave you excellent advice. The only thing I'd add to is to go to your MP with a list of stuff that bugs you written down and this checklist:-
autismsigns.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/18-point-check-list-of-possible-autism-signs/

It's written by a world authority on Autism and is meant to flag to GP's when a child should be referred for formal medical assessment. Don't leave the building without a referral in your hand. Stage a sit in if you have to