Bye bye ABA!

[StarlightDicKenzie]

DS starts his SS tomorrow. It's a very Special SS chosen SO carefully and a result of visiting probably every SS that exists in London.

It's a large-ish school with opportunities and we are splitting the family unit for a while for him to attend without delay. It was a battle to get him into this school as they have high expectations for achievement and behaviour and I know that had he not had the ABA his chances of attending now would be zero.

BUT, I'm sad to be leaving such an amazing period of our lives filled with progress and hope and frankly gutted that it couldn't have been accommodated in mainstream as it would have worked, especially for someone like ds.

The truth is though that our LA isn't ready for ds, or us or for anything that might challenge the status quo and god knows I've tried everything.

So the next chapter begins.......

Good luck small starlight i hope your new school is fab.

Your ds is very lucky to have a family that is so determined to find the right setting for him.

Good luck all of you

Did you win the tribunal or are you paying yourself? Either way, good luck to ds.

Hope everything goes well and exceeds expectations, Hope the family is back together again soon.

Like you said, the next chapter begins.

Just because he's going to a SS now doesn't mean he needs to stay there forever. You're not ruling out MS in the future.

Good luck. And all the best little star.

Thanks everyone. avoid We still have to go to tribunal for this but if he is to have a chance of receiving the intervention necessary for him to make the transition into their yr1 class in Sept he needs to start ASAP. We are funding it ourselves for now and hoping the tribunal understand.

The situation makes more sense if you understand some of the complexities that I can't put on here at the moment.

Indigo thank you. I'm not a MS fanatic but many of our kids really 'could' access it if the system was better. But it isn't. And that's not my, my ds' or even many teacher's fault.

That makes sense. When is Tribunal? Are you feeling confident?

Yes. I'm confident, but that doesn't win tribunals and neither does being right.

The date is a bit volatile unfortunately, but we're getting there one step at a time.

Good luck to your DS and I hope your family will be together soon.

Well, I hope you get your justice this time. Being right should win tribunals!

Hopefully one day this'll be a story for the grandkids that ends happily. I wish you all the luck in the world for this next phase.

My own son is now heavily supported in mainstream but I can visualise a time when that support is reduced and watching his integration is like watching a butterfly emerging from it's chrysallis. It's an amazing experience and nothing compares - I'm really hoping you'll be able to experience the same as the year progresses.

Are you going to tell the Tribunal that integration into mainstream eventually is a key goal of your chosen approach? I think it's important as it lets the Tribunal know you are asking the LEA to spend money in the short term in order that their total costs are reduced in the longer view. LEA's left alone only think April to April. It was a point I raised in my own Tribunal - that I wanted the teen version of my son to be far less expensive to educate and support (my lost wages matter to me!) in the long term & that I wanted him to be a self-sufficient adult like his mainstream peers and that the support I was asking for was the way to acheive that. (As opposed to the PRU where he's eventually have wound up if things continued).

Yes, thank you Bochead. That is our plan. I believe it is realistic and it isn't as if I don't have REAMS of information on ds and his likely prognosis although it is also true that no-one as a crystal ball.

The way you have put it is fab though. 'I want the teenage ds to be less expensive to educate and support than he otherwise will be etc.'

And Boch, - I'm expecting grandkids with ASD !!!

DS has a Grandma with AS. She's a primary school teacher

Is that helpful to him/you?

I thought the teen DS= cheaper argument was frankly blagging it 2nd hand car salesman stylee BUT did as solicitor had advised to try it and the the tribunal lapped it up.

It's what I hope for obviously but none of us have a crystal ball.

Re the Grandkids my son says "we are the real X-men".

Good luck for tomorrow Star.

I expect a full report tomorrow evening on how wonderful (and suitable) it is

Don't you want a later rather than earlier Tribunal show you can demonstrate progress in this setting - even if the costs of this fall to you for longer?

So this is the ultimate action!

Excellent.

I feel for you perception. Sometimes the mountain just seems impossibly high, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't start climing one step at a time. And even though the gremlins throw rocks down at you, sometimes, just sometimes you find a working disused ski-lift!

BTW, - I also have the flu, so if above makes no bloody sense it's not my fault.

Wet, - I PMed you.

Good luck for tomorrow to you both!!

good luck for tomorrow star, hope you're all back together soon

Good luck for tomorrow Star. Yes it is a new chapter and a new start for your DS and room to breathe a little while for you :)

I wish your little boy all the success in the world for his first day. Please let us know how he got on xxx

Wishing you and your DS every good wishes for tomorrow. :) x

Good luck. Am waiting to hear what happens. Very exciting this new chapter.

Hope you feel better soon Star.