Severe Dyspraxia and schooling- Anybody?

[JakB]

Hi, JakB here. I have a fabulous friend who has a little boy who has severe dyspraxia among other difficulties. Does anybody have a similar experience? She is struggling to make decisions about school- one professional is saying that his problems are almost entirely coming from a profound speech and language disorder so he needs a language unit, others are saying that his 'delays' and difficulties in other areas mean he needs another setting- maybe a school for children with SLD. Any advice?
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I think I would be tempted to go for langauge unit first. We were refused a language unit placment as ds was considered too autistic. IME language provision has so much more access to SALT whereas I sometimes feel ds3's language problems are not so well addressed in MLD.

Can she look at both?

Think they think his other difficulties won't be addressed in a unit. So difficult

Yes, she's seen them all. She feels he wouldn't get enough 1:1 and help with play etc in the unit. She went to see the SLD school this morning and thought it was great but worried about specific SALT input. Worried the MLD school wouldn't have enough of either, if you know what I mean

It is true that he could move between provision. Although I think that depends on the LEA and the childs ability to move well between placemnets.

Perhaps she should go for SLD and fight to get a specified amount of SALT in statement.

Has she considered mainstream with support. In special schools there isn't necessarilly 1-1 support for each child but with a statement in mainstream there could be specific 1-1 for a named child. I have a 6 year daughter with learning difficulties and severe verbal dyspraxia. She is in mainstream with support and although it has been up and down she is doing okay. Her speech has improved as she has lots of good models from the other children. Also a speech therapist goes into to see her each week to do 1-1 work and train the TA what to do. I think whatever provision we choose for our children there will always be compromises to make. Your friend sholud look round all the options and go with her instincts. Remember no decisuion has to be forever. Good luck.

He sounds a lot like my Ds2 who has no diagnosis but what seems like severe dyspraxia to me along with speech and language difficulties. Whilst I agree the speech and language is v. important, my feeling is that in DS2's case, his motor planning problems and physical problems also contribute to his language problems and need to be addressed at the same time. I think it is important to get a placement with adequate help for the physical side of things although good SALT input is essential too.

If he goes to the language unit they need to take his motor problems into account in all aspects of the teaching - for example - my son has some difficulties with visual perception and that means he can't always name a picture because he can't work it out what it is, not because he doesn't have the vocabulary. If he has speech difficulties (my Ds2 has a disorder of speech sounds) I would find out whether there are any SALTs specialising in that at either school as again, it is important that the child can get better at being understood as well as improving actual language.

Also I have found it hard to deal with the motor skills, teaching him basic skills like feeding and dressing. Ds2 has recently started at a special needs unit and it is a big relief to me to feel they can lead the way on things like potty training etc. Whereas I feel that given the right suggestions I can work on language more easily at home. Your friend may feel happier dealing with one side more than another herself.

Lots of great advice and experience here. Thanks so much. Will pass on and get her to sign up here in her own right! She's so fab and her little boy is incredible.