Calling Moondog SALT / ABA question

[grumpyoldeeyore]

I mentioned to you before our SALT was supportive of our doing ABA - she doesn't have personal experience but saw a big change in DS after we started and we lent her some info. She was going to recommend ABA in her report for Stat assessment, but it arrived and is little more than a hint and only if you know what she's getting at. We rang and asked about the missing recommendation and was told that the report was not her first draft, her manager had made her change it and take out all refs to ABA. So now it just says that DS started using single words after starting ABA, but nothing about continuing with this approach, the significant changes she saw - i mean she was just blown away by how different he was after a few weeks of ABA. I know we could kick up a big fuss - insist on seeing first draft etc - I don't want to get SALT in trouble but obviously this is DS's future on the line here - she'll probably be told to be more circumspect in what she says in future which would be a shame as we get little enough info from professionals as it is; but really I just want to get our Stat Assess process back on track as if all the reports are just going to be written to fit what the LEA want to provide the whole thing has become a total farce. Are there any rules about SALT conduct re Stat Assess reports? I have looked in COP and Ed Act etc but just wondered where you thought we stood in terms of complaining our SALT had been nobbled!

As far as I am concerned, you make recommendations in the best interests of the child. I certainly bear that in mind when making contributions to a statment and often refer to ABA. in light of the overwhelming evidence for using ABA, it would be unethical of me not to!

The evidence for ABA is overwhelming. A useful tactic might be to ask why, in light of overwhelming evidence for using ABA, she has not done so.

Very useful tables and charts detailing tihs in the very readable Sense and Nonsense book I have recommended.

If you give me your email address I can send you specific references to include.

I'd also be making a very careful note of all of these conversations and phone calls, even writing to say you want it confirmed in writing that your SALT has been made to change her initial report.

Thanks Moondog - I have the book as per your previous recommendations (its great) and have noted the conversations. I did speak to someone who deals with tribunals who said we couldn't really push for a recommendation as they did not have to recommend a particular approach although agreed they were protecting the LEA rather than our son; but we could present our evidence of the conversations at tribunal. I doubt we will get more out for them without a fuss and I think we'd be better concentrating on the tribunal. I think we will take the tack of writing to say we are disappointed and inviting the manager to come and watch an ABA session - so its in writing that we know what has happened but perhaps not turning into the green biro complaint writer I felt like on Friday. We have evidence from our nursery and ABA provider so perhaps we can get by without it. Just felt so outraged last week.

Starlight, can I be cheeky and ask for a look at your part 3 too? I am in the middle of re-writing dd1's statement - due in the end of this week, and it would be such a help to see a "good" example of what we are supposed to be doing!

Could you email me on silverfrog 13 @ gmail dot com

thanks (apologies for brevity - am typing from
my phone on holiday - what a week to be away from home!)

I'm reading the post with interest as we are in the middle of a statutory assessment for my son atm.

We are starting a ABA/VB programme and would love help funding it. I have been repeatedly assured that my son will get a statement, but none of the reports will have ABA/VB as a recommendation. We didn't mention it explicitly in our parental report as we were still debating whether to go forward or not, but have requested intensive, evidence based intervention.

I'm hoping that we will be able to reach a compromise (very small "borough", never been to tribunal), but reading threads on here I'm beginning to think I have been a little too trusting.

If anyone has anything that might be of help - particularly what is achievable I would be very grateful.

email is [email protected]

Did they give a reson why Jaxx?
Ask for this in writing.

Do you post on ABA UK Yahoo group?
Very useful.

Thanks starlight I will email you as that would be very helpful as we can't afford the big lawyers. We had a good visit with ed psych today and nursery really talked up the ABA to him. We like our SALT and I think she has probably said as much as she can, we're going to sit tight and see what the other reports say - due within next 2 weeks - tactically we might gain more by seeming to be reasonable. I can get DS medical file and hopefully she'll have recorded her obs in there, she is on our side but constrained. Strictly speaking looking at COP they are not supposed to pre judge provision - although oddly it seems to be only the parents who have to abide by the COP! Our paed was sympathetic so his report might be helpful. Ed psych says DS should get a statement in his view and his is key report - of course he's not actually allowed to say that in the report but has, he says, to write the report so that is the only logical conclusion. He wasn't anti- ABA either, accepted it was working. But wait to see what ends up in writing.

So a good day in that I feel we might get a statement without a tribunal so just down to the one tribunal as to what goes into the statement! Sad when that constitutes a good day!