Global learning difficulties

[armani]

So we have recieved a dx from pead of global learning difficulties. Dd has been assessed by OT and has delayed motor skills below the 1st percentile. Dd is in yr 2 and currently working at p levels towards the NC. SHe has been discharged from physio and been ref to SALT. SALT discharged her around a year ago as they said she would not engage in the therapy, although they reported she has significant needs.
School are in the process of ref to EP, although I am aware this can take a long time. I feel like I am failing my daughter. She gets very frustrated, lashes out, gets angry easily and I have no idea what I need to do to help her. School are dismissive of my worries about her behaviour, although they recognise that she has made no progress from reception to now (y2). She has an IEP and recieves one to one for an hour a week. She also has TA support in a small group three times a week. Despite this she has not progressed.
What can I do to help my dd? Does anyone have any experience of this or any ideas? Thanks.

We have had fantastic results with a method called ABA, as has a friend whose boy has GDD. You could try it out, as no-one else seems to be helping much!

I'd back up what Sickof says.
The foundation stone to everything is motivating her to engage and then to learn. Only behaviour analysts have a clear scientific understanding of this and the way that a child with commuincation and learning difficullies will use challenging behaviour to communicate thier needs (ie need to be left alone, need for attention and so on).
ABA as a specialty is in its infancy at present so you will not find this help easily available or known about unfortunately.
It may help to look at the newly founded UK society for ABA.
Here

A lot can be done to help children like yours. I know because my colleagues and I work with many similar children, incorporating the principles of ABA into their education and s/lt (I am an s/lt)

I note thre is no diagnosis of ASD mentioned, but even so this is an excellent book to start learning about ABA.
Here

Hi, thanks sickofsocalledexperts and moondog for the replies.
i have not heard of ABA before but i will look at the links so thankyou. Dd has no dx of ASD as of yet but we are at the beginning of our assessments. We have only met with the pead once, although salt have been involved for three years.
Moondog, sorry i should have added this to my op, dds failure to engage in the speech & lang therapy is to do with her attention decifit. She is also being assesed for ADHD. She was discharged last year after a week of intensive therapy, which she did not cope well with. She would become hysterical, scream to go home etc.

dd currently attends a mainstream school and has been described as willing to learn. She enjoys school and wants to learn, she enjoys colouring, drawing etc.

Sorry if I am dripfeeding, I am trying to get my head around and understand all of this.

Oh ok.
It might help you in all your tiring involvement with professionals that what you need is people who can help you now with her presenting difficulties and not people who are gonig to waste time and energy 'assessing' and then compiling fancy reports telling you what you already know.

If you keep that in mind, you might save yourself and her a lot of additional stress.

The downside side is that with GDD you won't get ABA funded by LEA or LSA trained etc - without asd as part of diagnoses.

OP - my son has got global development delay, it will be probably changed to learning difficulty soon. He is very delayed in gross motor as well - for this OT programme has been invaluable. We do a lots of exercises incorporated into play activities to help him. We had to go private, the NHS OT was useless. So if you have the possibility, find private OT trained in sensory integration.

If your dd has SALT needs, this needs must be addressed and met - complain about the lack of provision.

The best way to stir the hornet's nests ( as it's clear her needs are mot being met) is to apply for statement of special educational needs, check out Ipsea website for this.

Apply yourself. Don't be put off - everybody will tell you she won't get it, she is not the worst off bla bla bla - don't listen. Even if LEA declines to assess your dd for statement, it will kickstart things, as school will want to look as that they are trying very hard and you'll be amazed how quickly they'll start reacting.

Also, if you are on low income you can get educational solicitor via legal aid - and take LEA to tribunal if they won't want to assess your dd.

Have a good read of Ipsea website - there is a lot of info including sample letters.

And good luck, I know how scary it is to start fighting for your child. Don't forget you fight for her, the school's priority is tight budget.

That's not trua Babike.
I know plenty of children without ASD who receive behavioural interventions from educational staff who are trained in this field. In many parts of Britain, this help just isn't available because of lack of knoweldge and capacity but it certainly exists in several places and is very warmly received.

My pals with a boy with GDD and no autism got ABA funded, but only after using a very good legal advocate.

When they started he was impossible to control and non-verbal. Mainstream were about to chuck him out.

Last time I visited,he was on the phone to his dad and came out with the following sentence: "sorry, Dad, I can't hear you because we have visitors. Excuse me, could you keep the noise down, I'm on the phone"

This is a boy of 7. At 5 he had no words, nada, and the school had no idea what to do (a bit like your situation).

I think ABA actually works better without the autism hurdle.

'I think ABA actually works better without the autism hurdle.'

Yes indeed!

That is great to hear! I have been looking and did not find anybody without asd diagnoses to won tribunal for ABA - great news. I agree it works, of course, our tutor has been trained in Denver model and she's been a godsend.

Denver model totally fab!