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Home education children with ASD; ANYONE???

9 replies

neasels · 03/01/2008 22:04

Hi

My DS3.5 is about to be diagnosed with High functioning autism and we are in the process of starting the statementing process for his support. I have been forewarned that his diagnosis is in no way a gateway for a statement and I have to face the reality that he may not get one.
I told the LEA that I would 100% be HE if he didn't get one and of course they seem to think I am bonkers!!! Social side debate, which to be honest isn't on the top of my son's agenda, his safety and emotional development is.

Anyone else faced with this dilema?

Thanks for listening xx

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Nat1H · 03/01/2008 22:18

I thought you could choose to have your child statemented. I had NO problem at all with this process (although I am an ex-teacher and used a lot of 'teacher language' in my arguments.)If you need any help, give me a shout.

mamadadawahwah · 03/01/2008 22:53

ah, if only getting a statement was a matter of choice.

I know of children with a diagnosis of asd who are not statemented, partly because the parents were laxadaisical and some of them because they believed their school that said "they" would do it for them.

Nat1H hits the nail on the head. the language you use in making your parental application is uppermost important.

You are going to have to convince that your child needs more help than a child who does not have a "disability" and that in order for your child to access the curriculum, help is needed. this will include speech therapy (good luck) OT (even more good luck) and of course a full time aide if you think he needs one.

LIst your child's difficulties in as much deetail as possible in your application bearing in mind that all you say must tie in with what they want to hear.

basically, the long and short of it is, your child will receive when the LEA deems that he is going to be a "nuisance" to a regular and often untrained teacher in ASD.

If your child is going to a special school, you might not get much in your statement over and above what is being offered by the so called specialists in these facilities.

special schools think they have all bases covered and that they can provide what your child needs.

in my experience this has not been so. for example you wont generally get a 1:1 aide in a special school because the classrooms are already geared for a low teacher/pupil ratio.

its a minefield but you can do it, and the sooner the better

yurt1 · 04/01/2008 09:01

Do read Home educating our autistic spectrum chidlren - paths are made for walking- published by jessica kingsley. Lots of case studies (most HF/AS) and a usueful summary of education law.

needmorecoffee · 04/01/2008 09:10

me. been HE'ing my lad with Aspergers/HFA for 7 years. He didn't get any support at school and if he'd remained there would probably have killed himself.
Best thing I ever did to be honest and he has improved behaviourly beyond all recognition. The improvement started the day I took him out.
I would really recommend HE for a child on the spectrum.

sabaidii · 04/01/2008 09:22

Have 9 children, 8 are sn. I from Laos, no understand Lea, statement anything. I no have help in Laos just family. my kid great. I christian and hope. Family strong because no have money. No have anything. Kid no go school.

needmorecoffee · 04/01/2008 09:24

what type of SN Sabaiidi?

macwoozy · 04/01/2008 09:38

I have considered HE my ds. He's 7, has HFA and has a statement. He's currently in a language unit attached to MS school(hopefully short term). He was placed here, not because of language difficulties(although he does have difficulties with social side of communication) but because MS couldn't cope with his challenging behaviour. It's not ideal, he hates it, but I'm at a loss as to what to do. There are no SN schools closeby that are suitable for him, so I have considered HE as a last resort, but it's a very scary prospect.

sphil · 04/01/2008 11:46

We home educate DS2 (5,severe ASD) part time. He is at special school 3 mornings a week atm, with a home ABA/VB programme the rest of the time. He starts at m/s after Feb half term, 5 mornings a week, though he will still spend some time at the special school within this timetable (the schools are next door to each other).

Our situation is different from yours because we have a statement - easier for us because DS2 is at the other end of the spectrum. So far, we've managed to work with the LEA and both schools to get what we want. However, my feeling is that the m/s school will push for him to go full time after a while and that's when the fight may start, as we are very committed to the ABA programme.

Anyway the point of this long-winded post is to say that I had a lot of help at first from a Home Ed group at
www.he-special.org.uk. There are many parents on there who HE their DCs with ASD - and I would say most of them are HFA or AS. They are very hot on legalities and procedures - worth a look, I'd say.

neasels · 04/01/2008 17:42

Thanks so mauch Nat1H and everyone else! I guess I am going to really have to highlight every single possibilty of behaviour and 'weakness' as such in order like you say for them to take note.

I shall in deed give you a shout if I get stuck or just need to have a good ole moan!

You guys are really great to a newbie here!

Ta xx

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