assessment for statutory statement FINALLY

[mixedemotions123]

just wanted to give some hope to any mums out there that have been refused an assesment by their LEA. We applied 2 years ago for one for my ds who had meningitis as a baby, and has had learning difficulties ever since. At the time he was in yr r and finding things incredibly hard. We were told that he was very highly at risk of being dyslexic, had global development delay, traits of autism, add, and dyspraxia. We applied for a statement, but didn't even get the assesment. My son is now in yr2 aged 6.11, and following a dx of asd, we reapplied to the LEA re statement. We have just found out that this time they are going to assess him. I have questioned myself so many times because at every hurdle, some professional dismissed our concerns as parents, I sometimes felt that i was the one with the difficulty not having faith in my son and his abilities. So my message to anyone in a similar position to us is, DON'T GIVE UP FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILDREN. I realise that this is not necessarily going to result in my little boy getting a statement, but at least with the asessment going ahead, it feels as if this time round, HE MATTERS.

Thats good news mixedemotions. Good luck with it all.

That's good to hear mixedemotions. Lets hope the LEA don't make you wait too long before they make their decision, looks like you've got over the biggest hurdle though

thanks all, I know that this is not going to be easy for us, but ultimatley it has to be easier than seeing my ds fall further behind, and seeing what little self confidence he has disappear completley. Thats if he gets the statement, who knows what they will decide. He was referred to a special needs nursery when he was 2.6, but same old story, no places available. It has taken us four years since then to try to get his needs appreciated, and in that time, he has become increasingly aggressive, very frustrated, lost all confidence in himself and it breaks your heart. We have also been told to give him Risperidone by the psych, it seems to be doing the trick with his aggression, and the anxiety level seems to have lessened. I just hope that with the medication, and a statement(if he gets one) he could come out the other side and be a lot happier.

Glad to hear this mixedemotions, I really hope this helps with the transfer to juniors. I hope he gets the support he needs.

Socci, so it was as bad as it sounded

Good news about the statement! Sorry it's so bloody hard. Socci, you know my proposed statement had no provision either?

Well done for getting the LEA to agree to assess. A statement should eventually follow on from this.

When you do eventually get a proposed statement I woudl strongly suggest you speak to IPSEA about it before doing anything further.

Their web address is www.ipsea.org.uk. They are very good when it comes to advising parents with their childrens' special needs educational provision.

thanks for your messages everyone. We have received the letter and forms that we have to fill in this morning. I will contact IPSEA and get them to check things when they start happening. I know it is early days, and it may still not give us the result that we are hoping for, but at least they are not brushing it under the carpet this time. (so far anyway!!!!)

just out of interest are any of you familiar with the ASD Help programme ? we have one in Hampshire on 17/3. Just wondered if any of you had been on one of these one day courses?

I've never heard of the ASD help programme. Whereabouts in Hampshire is it?

The HELP! program is an NAS one for older children diagnosed after 5 or so (you'd need to check). Earlybird and Earlybird Plus come before that. Either your CDC or the NAS should be able to tell you if you can get any of them in your area and which one is appropriate.

thanks Davros, I will check. I am being a bit thick I know, but what does cdc stand for?
Macwoozy, the programme is in Eastleigh, Hampshire, which is only 10 minutes from us.

also, early bird and early bird plus is not something that I have heard of. What are they??

CDC - child development centre.

nobody has mentioned any of these things to us at all. The only people we are in touch with are child and family guidance (child psychiatrist is there). I will have to try to find out more I think!

Definitely suggest you try to contact Child Development Centre or your equivalent as you should get put in touch with Developmental Paediatrician and Clinical Psychologist. My advice is avoid Psychiatrists if possible!
Also definintely contact the NAS, have a look at their website, there's loads of info there, www.nas.org.uk And if you can get Earlybird then that would be great. I've never been on these NAS courses as they didn't exist in our day (sob) but I believe they are a set of sessions over several weeks where parents share ideas and info but also get "training" (for want of a better word) in behaviour management, using visual timetables etc, communication etc and I think you also get videod at home. Others on MN know more......

thanks Davros. We have seen a clinical psychologist before. He felt ds was pdd as he only met 2 parts of ADI completley, and 2 it was unclear wether he met the criteria or not. It was the child psychiatrist at child and family guidance who has dx him as being atypical asd. Those are the only people that we have had contact with. As far as the CP goes, he has made no contact since the ADI, and as far as I know, he will not be seeing us again. All a bit confusing really