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Anyone got an autistic child in the UK army

7 replies

Mumfun · 29/06/2008 07:03

A friend has an autistic son and they are in the UK army. He hasnt been to school for 2 years as the army refuses to make provision for him. The local education officer in the country they are doesnt want to know.

Its a difficult situation because the family needs the dads job but it is obviously a really bad situation for the child who really wants to go to school.

Anyone got an autistic child in the army and got them an education. How did you do it?

OP posts:
mumwhereareyou · 29/06/2008 07:08

Tell them to contact AFF, they have special needs lady who has two children with special needs one of which has austim, i believe.

Which country are they in at moment, i think from what i can remember from when we were in the army, left in Feb 06, that most children with special needs are posted to UK for better facilities etc.

Mumfun · 29/06/2008 09:10

Hi

They are in Germany.

OP posts:
Mumfun · 29/06/2008 10:04

Also I think there is a big concern that the husband will not be employable by the army if he has a child that has to be educated in the UK and they are not mobile for x numbers of years!

Also what AFF please

Many thanks!

OP posts:
mumwhereareyou · 29/06/2008 10:29

Hi

I don't think that is the case i think generally hubbys career might not progress as fast as normal, but know of at least 2 families who are based in Uk and have been for at least 7 yrs becasue of childrens disabilities.
I think if they ask to speak to Phil at AFF she might be able to reassure them.

I know it is a lot harder whilst stationed abroad because the schools and the whole environment aren't really set up for it,unfortunately.

Would also suggest, AWS and SSAFA might be able to help.

Also suggest you post this on Forces board they might be able to help.

Romy7 · 29/06/2008 23:02

OK - he needs to get himself on the SSAFA special needs newsletter list, he needs to register his son as a dependent with sn with CEAS, and he needs to speak to SCE who run all the schools in Germany. Where are they?

If his son has a dx, was statemented in the UK, then SCE would have evaluated the statement and discussed whether the SCE provision was appropriate, and put in support to make it so. or he would have got a UK posting.
Having a dependent with sn in the UK army CAN affect what posting you get (because of the child's needs, the army need to make sure that the family is provided for appropriately and do not end up where there is no provision, rendering them a welfare risk) but it will NOT affect promotion or career, unless the serving person is in a minority trade where he has reached a rank that they do not have any appropriate tours left.

If the son was not dx and statemented in the UK, then the SCE school would have carried out the statementing process - in this respect a parent has exactly the same right to request an assessment as they do in the UK from the LEA.

The problems happen because serving personnel erroneously believe that having a dependent with sn will damage their career, and they hide it. everything snowballs.

if the family have made the decision to HE, that is a totally different kettle of fish, and NOT the same thing as the army failing to make provision. The army never, ever, refuse to help arrange education for a dependent. if SCE said they could not provide ed because of the child's needs, then the family could have had a UK posting. if the family chose to proceed abroad and HE, fair play.

Happy to provide further advice to help sort this out. i assume they have already been in touch with SCE in Germany, and CEAS in UK? and have turned down a UK tour?

there's an additional needs conference for all services every two years - they've just missed one.

Mumfun · 30/06/2008 16:35

Thanks so much for your help. Will give information to friend tonight!

OP posts:
Romy7 · 30/06/2008 17:02

mumfun - aff is the army families federation, they will have a rep wherever they are in germany. however, the advice will still be the same - speak with ceas and sce. i'm sure the aff rep or aff sn advisor (based in the uk) will advocate if necessary (ie if the relationship with sce has already broken down), but the only way to solve the education issues are to liaise with ceas.
he really, genuinely doesn't need to be concerned about his career - at this stage the welfare of his family are the priority. i assume he hasn't been on op tour and left his wife to deal with this on her own?
hopefully they can start talking and get this sorted out - even if that means accepting a uk tour whilst they discuss what the dx means for their family.
(if it helps - i am currently in liaison with ceas to work out if my dd2's needs can be met in a specific o'seas location - a year in advance. they need to get a flag on his record!!!)

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