Tribunal and ABA provision

[sammythemummy]

After a bit of snooping I've found that my LA has awarded five families with ABA home/ school programmes without a tribunal...

Do you think this is a positive sign??

Please say it is... I don't think I can afford a tribunal :(

We got awarded dd1's ABA school without tribunal.

Fabulous, yes, and I will be forever grateful I didn't have the stress of actually going to tribunal etc, BUT it still cost us a packet.

We had the home programme first, of course. Then we paid for the specialist ASD preschool, to prove dd1 couldn't cope in the type of provision the LA wanted her to go to.

We had private SALT, Ed Psych, and OT reports, as well as using a solicitor. And sefl funding at ABA school for a while, when the ASD preschool became too detrimental. I dread to think what it all cost.

My LA settled well before tribunal (settled in April - Tribunal scheduled for July), but we had to back them into a corner to get them to make that decision, iyswim.

Which LA are you? Some have a better track record at awarding without making parents jump through all the hoops than others

Congratulations Alarm, although it sounds like you have had to spend a shed load of money :(

I've been advised to get a indipendent EP for reports, do you think that's crucial in supporting out case?

I'll pm you my LA

I think independent reports are probably essential, yes. LA reports will practically never conclude that ABA is the most suitable option (although I do know of a couple of families who were awarded ABA without any fight whatsoever, due to lack of LA provision).

It was shedloads of money, yes. And we were lucky to be able to afford it. SOme of the costs can be cut though - eg home ABA programme elivered by yourself, using an advocate (Fiona Slomovic always gets recommended) instead of a solicitor, etc.

Thanks for the info.

We are working with F right now.

Can you recommend an EP please?

We used David Urani, on the basis of reputation with ABA cases (if he recommends ABA, then LAs tend to listen). It's a toss up though, because he will only recommned ABA if it really is the only suitable option (which is why LAs tend to listen if he does recommend)