SALT advice needed - Renfrew Action Picture Test and ASD

[KOKOagainandagain]

DS2 has been a patient with salt for about 5 years for pronunciation issues. He was seen by a new salt who tried to discharge him (and failed). She phoned me to discuss another visit. The school have done a complete about face since application for SA and it starting and despite past statements are now saying that all is fine to visiting profs. This has not worked with all profs visiting in school (EP, specialist behavioural nurse, OT) but SALT seem to have been sucked in along with the ASD specialist teacher.

The school are really pissing me off now as they seem to be attempting to challenge the working diagnosis of the consultant paed by pretending that his having friends (due to the efforts of parents arranging play dates for similar children) is a new thing and demonstrates progress. He has shared a birthday party with another child (goes along with what the other child wants) for the past 3 years but this was reported as positive progress by the ASD teacher.

I asked why she had repeated the RAPT when this was 'age appropriate' in 2011 and she said that she did an extended version with extra questions that tests the sorts of things (such as inference, ability to understand others feelings, higher level language etc) as the ADOS will test these.

I have done a google search but can't find anything that supports or refutes this. Is what she said true or is she bull-shitting me? Is this the best test to use? Should I ask her to send me the results of the full assessments done in 2011 and 2014?

TIA

Hopeful bump

Sorry if this is 'obvious' but I am desperately trying to fit this in with half-term and both boys plus ongoing shit with my mum which is beyond surreal. God knows how I will get them up north next week

I met with mum's appointed SW the other day who ended (after the usual attempts to dismiss) by saying that for what it was worth, she agreed, that challenge could change things locally and told my mum that she had a good advocate. It is so obvious - why is so hard to get what she is entitled to? Maybe the SW is one of the good guys but I do know that ultimately she does not have power to decide. I am so used to the written record in sen that I don't know who to write to now - there is no obvious point of contact. Ward manager?

Forgive the confusion - my brain is not working.

'Should I ask her to send me the results of the full assessments done in 2011 and 2014?'

Yes. Why shouldn't you have the information. It is about your child after all and you need to be in the most informed position to advocate and do your duty right?

However, lots of these tests DO have additional questions/levels to account for increases in age/maturity.

As for the rest, ask her in writing why she chose this particular test given the score last time. Get her to account for it and justify it in writing.

It's a test of structural language. Which isn't necessarily impaired in ASD. Though possibly worth doing again if it showed problems on it before.

a catalogue
And Renfrew blurb

Maybe she's doing the bus test too?

Thanks for the links and advice

I have been distracted by locating and filling in numerous forms to make an emergency application to the court of protection

DS2 previously did the squirrel narrative assessment. Shouldn't he have the peter and the cat assessment now that he is 8 and in ks2 rather than the bus screening test?

Keep I have no experience of Renfrew for this age (dd2 had it age 4) just wanted to say it sounds like you are up to your neck with sorting family stuff. Hope you make progress on all fronts soon!

Sorry you were probs quite hopeful to see a productive reply.

Anyway....