I discombobulated.
In cases that we help to prepare for Tribunal about the first question is 'what independent reports do you have?' and the ideal is Ed Psych, SALT and OT, and maybe physio for hypermobility.
But even when the answer is 'none' I don't think I have seen such a lame set of responses from the professionals like GPs and school staff before.
When I found my own kids had SEN, my first job was getting the indie reports. Then I told the school.
When we get independent SALT reports for kids with ASD (and assorted similar language delay) they NEVER say that the therapy should be in a 6 week block, or stop at all, because ASD doesn't vanish after 6 weeks.
And then we go to tribunal and (typically) weekly therapy plus continual class-based programmes get awarded because it is so easy to see that ASD doesn't just go away. Actually, these days the LAs that start with 'block of 6 weeks' usually change their tune before tribunal. ASD doesn't stop so why should SALT?
To be fair, an ASD friend who went to special school has become so proficient in mainstream-language, that he has a job, is married, and you wouldn't know. He has had to learn all those tricks of body language like when to look up and when to look away, to match the volume of the speakers around you, to stand the same distance apart...
He had to learn those things through the conscious channel until it became automatic, like teaching a mainstream kid please and thank you. So fair enough, he stopped SALT at 18.
But no, no, no - we do not have 'signed off'.
The battle ground is more frequently over whether the programme should be classroom-only and delivered by teacher/TA, or whether we should add separate small group sessions once a week to learn social skills like turn taking. And if there is a well-below-average score for, say, vocabulary or expressive language, our independent reports tend to advise direct therapy once a week with a qualified SALT.
Similarly, our indie OT reports certainly recommend things like pencil grips and writing slopes, touch typing and keyboards. An NHS OT would probably come up with these too. The indie reports are more likely also to suggest exercises to strengthen fingers and all those core muscles which we need so we can sit on a chair and write.
But now these indie OT reports also go through all the things that help deal with the sensory issues that get in the way of staying in a calm-alert state. So some kids need deep pressure in the palm of the hand, some need ear defenders, or a break out room that is calm and quiet. I heard of one who could happily do a secondary school lesson of 1 hour as long as he got up and did 'press ups' leaning against a wall.
There are always two things to think about with each learning difficulty
- how do we change the learning environment so that my child can learn
- what therapy can my child have so that it is easier to learn in a typical environment
So if I had a spare box set of Patent BootsUpTheBackside they would be made available to you to give at least one each to these lame professionals who are supposed to be helping you.
I really hope some of this has helped...