ABA Tribunal in May

[mumof2terrors]

Dear lovely parents

The Bas*ds that are baker small are going to be going against us in May please please help us :(

Now I am stressed.

Are you on the ABA Yahoo group? There was a long thread about it/him recently (at least I think it was, it was either here or there), which might be useful. I'll try and find it if you want?

From what I remember, BS use the same old tired arguments against ABA - which can be relatively easily overcome.

And I'm sure many of us can help you prepare your strategy too. What's the background - usual story of you having rocksolid evidence of progress under ABA and them arguing against it?

Yes bialy

The Lea have named one school for him they won't budge at all.

We have been messed around for nearly 2years. They won't reassess either and are saying he is severely affected by his autism.

We have found an independent school that are willing to take him with support, but again BS maintain the argument that this is where he will attend and as most of you are aware most private independents don't have kids with statements even though most have plenty of children who are undiagnosed.

A letter from baker small has recently been posted on aba uk. Have you got a good sound tribunal team? Ed psych. Salt and ot assessments help. Good luck!

I have got ed psych coming end of March a brilliant advocate just need to find an Aba friendly SALT and OT

Zumbalena, I would think it in the OPs interest to request your first post on this thread removed. Linking a name across forums is a potential Hazzard for her.

Just a thought.

We used Jackie Harland SALT for our tribunal (settled without tribunal in the end). She was very good, very knowledgable and positive about ABA. She's at the London Children's Centre, Harley street.

You're right that an independent school is under no obligation to meet provision in a statement, but that doesn't mean an indie school won't take a child with asd - and if you have found one that can meet his needs and are happy for him to go with ABA tutor (? assuming that's what you want), the argument will probably come down to cost. Presumably your chosen school are backing you and saying they can meet his needs, with ABA?

Are you looking for the LA to pay school fees and ABA costs?

The fact they haven't assessed him in two years is very much in your favour imo! How the hell can they argue their school is the most appropriate for him if they don't have a picture of his needs?

You really need agnes on this, she's the real expert on this.

Who is your advocate (initials?)?

Star, I think the OP uses the same name on both forums?

Am happy to remove. Dunno how....will take care in the future

Oh. Okay.

Fwiw, the solicitor here mentioned isn't the brightest cookie in the tin and tribunal panels are getting increasingly fed up of his antics!

I am looking to pay the fees. I just want the cost of the placement plus transport costs.

My advocate is the one and only FS

The school however have no experience of special needs or statemented children although they do have one child in year 1 who has asd and is supported by an LSA paid for by the parents

FS knows way more than me! We used her and won.
We were not up against BS tho, but they hired BS just after FS wiped the floor with them

Mumof2terrors....you are in brilliant hands then....why do you worry?

I think BS tends to win cases where the judge is less confident/knowledgable, and then spouts an awful lot of trademark BS that plays on their insecurities.

These judges are increasing due to the bringing in of salaried judges to meet increasing demand.

its all the hype surrounding MS also we have been messed around so much I feel this is our last chance before they put him in a unit and force this awful school on us.

There's only hype because he works for a lot of LAs and that's only because he can pander to their insecurities (ABA tutors aren't qualified teachers like you o-so-special promoted out of the classroom for being crap autism experts), and they key fact that he's cheap!

What a way to make a living! That was worth all those years in university and training? What job satisfaction must you get shafting parents for LAs?!

I think I'd rather be a banker!

FS is cool, calm and collected. You have given yourself the best possible chance.

can i get all info they hold on my DS?

they fund 12 kids at ABA school and 1 home program, and only one placement was won through tribunal

I will put in another FOI for costs especially the one program they are funding, aba a schools are in the region of 60k but we only want a fraction of that