Appointment with consultant pediatrician?

[crace]

Our school has arranged an appointment with the above for our 11 year old ds. We're from the States and we've had countless appointments for diagnosis of his autism. Since moving here, it's not really counted but the schools tell us we don't need anything as he's not severe enough for a statement and it would be hard to get etc etc. We've pushed it anyway and getting to see a pediatrician for a diagnosis at least, so we can access services etc that he's not eligible for now.

What will happen at this appointment? What are they looking for? I will be really upset if he gets refused anything - as yes it's getting better with age but he still needs a lot of support in the classroom and at home, re: self help, still messy with toileting and would wear dirty clothes endlessly.

Anyway - what will happen?

Hi crace i was told that just one person can't give you a diagnosis, i could be wrong.
My ds saw a Pead who did some play with him and watched how he behaved but mainly she asked me endless questions about ds progress from my pregnancy up till present day. We are having assessment in 8 weeks for diagnosis but it's a team of specialists who will asses him and for 3 days.
Someone else may be able to tell you more on here, HTH

Thanks monkeypie, I have a feeling this will be a similar deal then. 3 days?! What do they do?

Yes the 3 days are 1 day a week and it's for 2 and half hours. Can't remember the full list of specialists(they will be hiding behind false mirror) who will be assessing but ds will be in artificial nursery at hospital with nursery nurses who know what they have to try out so he can be seen doing as much stuff as poss. I think he stays for lunch one of the days too. To ds it will just be playing but they will have an agenda for him. I either then get given the outcome on the last assessment day or a week later.

Hi there, and thanks for the advice - it was a dawdle in the US, he was diagnosed by a "round table" of different professionals who all agreed and came up with his dx. Followed up by a child psychologist and many other OT, PT, SPL and other professionals we came across. He's 11 now, so I am not sure how long it will take, but I want him to access some services that I feel he could benefit from!

Thanks for the welcome, been here 4 years now and yes it has taken this long! Nightmare. I am from New England I live in a pretty small village in Kent, and remarkably have made a friend who is an ex pat that I stumbled upon. Small small world.

Monkeypie, best of luck, I remember I was a bundle of nerves when my ds had his first assessment but he thought it was great all these people to play with!

Do you have a file with details of all your child's development reviews from the states? It would be worth showing the community paediatrian any resutls of tests that your child has had in the states.

Community paediatrians are usually really helpful people. He or she will refer you to relevent people.

I have more paperwork than I can cope with! He has been receiving care for 7years so I have all the stuff from school observations (the States are really good about that) plus different people who saw him. Loads of stuff really... just digging it out!

Hi crace

This is a standard comment trotted out designed to put parents off applying for a Statement:-

"but the schools tell us we don't need anything as he's not severe enough for a statement and it would be hard to get etc etc".

Balls to this!!!. The school cannot decide either of these points. It is not done on "severity" but on statutory need. Statements are hard to get but it is possible to get one and for ASD it is an essential part of the educational need.

IPSEA are very good at the whole minefield of the process that is statementing and there are model letters you can use on their website (www.ipsea.org.uk). I would write to the LEA regardless and appeal their decision in the likely event they say no. You as his parents have far more power than school does when it comes to applying for a Statement (school cannot appeal if the LEA say no).

HTH and good luck

Attila

That's very interesting, I had no idea. Gee what a surprise though Great, I will definitely pursue one.

Also if the school apply for a statement there is no timescale.

Once a "parent" applies for a SSEN then a timescale kicks in and the assesment has to be completed within about 60 days excluding school holidays (I think).

Also worth noting, in Ed Law, the word "parent" is a far broader term than that of biological parent.

If a child lives in your household then you are usually a parent as far as the education act is concerned.

Great news! How do I go about requesting a statement from the LEA? Is this after we see the doctor?

Hi crace,

You write a letter addresed, to your local director of education.

There will be lots of template letters you can print off on the web but you can also write your own.

You need to word it something like:

Re My son (full name) d.o.b. who is a student at XYZ county primary /secondary school.

As her/his parent I formally request an assesment for the production of a statement of Special educational needs.

Yours etc.

I would take that in and deliver it by hand to the office of the director in county hall and get a receipt.

Asking for a statement can be a very powerfull tool. Even if you do not subsequently get one.

In one case I was involved in recently a child was struggling in school but the school would not let the ed psych (or anyone elsefor that matter) in to see where there was a problem.

Once the parent had appled for the statement the school had not choice, they had to allow the ed psych in to asses the child's needs.

Don't delay waiting to see the doctor, but if the paed has formed a view they can be a very powerfull ally in getting your child's needs met.

HTH

Thanks for that - will get right on that. I feel like I am running out of time - have a baby coming in late May and want things sorted out asap before he starts secondary in September!