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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

Interesting double page in today's sunday times

28 replies

mogwai · 12/06/2005 20:00

Scandals of our special schools, or something like that.

Very thought provoking in our house this morning. Minette Marin's article spot on, as usual.

OP posts:
kalex · 12/06/2005 20:01

Can you do a link?

Original poster
mogwai · 12/06/2005 20:38

a link?

I can't even work my mobile phone!

OP posts:
heartinthecountry · 12/06/2005 20:52

What section mogwai? Am looking on-line and can't find it.

Jimjams · 12/06/2005 20:53

it was in news.

Original poster
mogwai · 12/06/2005 20:54

news review I think. If not, it was in the main section

OP posts:
heartinthecountry · 12/06/2005 20:54

Found it! here

Original poster
mogwai · 12/06/2005 20:55

what did you think jimjams?

OP posts:
coppertop · 12/06/2005 20:55

Someone sent me a link to it but now I can't find it. Is it the article that mentions the Jacksons too? (Luke, Jacqui etc)

coppertop · 12/06/2005 20:56

Crossed posts with HITC.

Jimjams · 12/06/2005 20:56

something that shocked me from the same page was that if ds1 goes into residential care as an adult we will have no say over what happens to him anymore He will be under the care of SS. And considering how completely useless SS are, I find that very worrying.

It wasn't very clear about what happens if we remained his carers- I think SS could sideline us if they wanted.

Jimjams · 12/06/2005 20:57

Thought the description of Special schools still being run by elderly matrons was bizarre. Ds1's school couldn't be further from that. (and the other SLD school we looked around was hardly run by elderly matrons either).

Personally I think inclusion for ds1 was a joke. Long live special schools.

Original poster
mogwai · 12/06/2005 20:58

yes that bit was surprising

OP posts:
coppertop · 12/06/2005 21:00

I think it made a good point about there being a lack of provision for children who are (according to the LEA) too bright but special schools but don't have the social skills to cope with mainstream.

Jimjams · 12/06/2005 21:00

some of the the stuff about the jacksons was wrong as well. Acutally am off to find out if they knew it was being done (they don't always).

Original poster
mogwai · 12/06/2005 21:00

and the bit about the LEA deciding whther the child needed a statement or not, this being at odds with the fact that they also provide the money - that hit the nail on the head.

In my last job, it was widely known that the EPs had been told not to give out as many statements, year on year. They were under a lot of pressure to play down the child's needs

OP posts:
coppertop · 12/06/2005 21:04

A minor point but I also didn't like the use of the word "handicapped" either - but then perhaps I'm being a bit too PC. I thought that the usual term now was "disabled" or "with a disability".

onlyjoking9329 · 12/06/2005 21:04

no jacqui didnt know it was in the paper, it was an old telephone interview she did and like jimjams says it wasn't all correct, the photo was an old on too

Original poster
mogwai · 12/06/2005 21:05

thats unbelievable

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 12/06/2005 21:06

yes i disliked the term handicapped which they used lots and would not have been a term that jacqui would ever have used

onlyjoking9329 · 12/06/2005 21:07

she was in another paper today too but i forget which one

coppertop · 12/06/2005 21:20

They used an old interview?? I would be seriously p*ssed off about that!

pixel · 13/06/2005 00:03

This seems to have been in several different newspapers. I'm just hoping it means the end of the hideous 2020 campaign.

Was it right about Ben Jackson being in a wheelchair. I'm sure I don't remember that from the documentary I saw. In fact I thought he was the one most like my ds, lots of spinning and jumping up and down.

heartinthecountry · 13/06/2005 09:58

CT - the first thing I noticed about the article was the journalists use of the word handicapped. You would have thought they might have cottoned on to the fact that everyone else (IPSEA, Disability Discrimination people) was using 'disabled' or 'disability'. Oh apart from Baroness Warnock who did use the word handicapped - but was quoted from the 60s FFS!!

Not really surprised they used an old interview from the Jacksons - unless the rights to the interview/photos are limited I believe they can be used whenever they like.

Fio2 · 13/06/2005 10:23

Its amazing that they have actually closed a few special schools where i live and guess what? they are having to increase class sizes at other spoecial schools. They are also having to build a large extension on my daughters school as the intake of children is increasing each year.

Ran by matrons with no training? snort! I think our headmaster would be most disturbed by that comment

Fio2 · 13/06/2005 10:25

I really hated how they highlighted "retard" and "mentally subnormal" aswell, but thats just me being sensitive. I didnt like the fact they think we "dump" our kids in special school either

I really think alot of what was written was quite ignorant but my brain is foggy this morning