Autistic daughter, what do I do now?

Indie_Kid

simbalou wrote: »

Have had a phonecall from dwp this morning to verify 2 questions on the form, I'm pretty sure I said what I had already written down on the application but I started doubting myself as soon as I put the phone down and was worried they'd think I was a fraud if I didn't answer exactly the same.

I can't inagine anyone (myself included) being able to remember exactly what they wrote on the forms.

Good luck.

Savvy_Sue

I know the advice is always to keep a copy - apart from anything else, it makes renewal so much easier!

System

[QUOTE=simbalou;
I would love to swap schools but my son has different difficulties and I know the school is right for him but I don't know how I would logistically manage with my kids at 2 different schools.
[/QUOTE]

depending on the issues transport to school can be arranged via the local authority, if thing go as we hope this should be available to DD.

Savvy_Sue

CHRISSYG wrote: »

depending on the issues transport to school can be arranged via the local authority, if thing go as we hope this should be available to DD.

That's a very good point - transport should be provided if the nearest suitable school is more than 2 miles away (for primary) but also if there are 'special needs' which make the logistics difficult you should have a good case, as long as each child is at the nearest SUITABLE school.

Young_Aged_Pensioner

simbalou wrote: »

I think as a family we've adjusted so much to her behaviour that it doesn't seem unusual anymore, it's only when other people comment or stare that I realise we aren't the 'norm'!

I feel the same I have been trying to get help for my daughter now 11 since she was at nursery she is now currently in the process of being diagnosed only because I took her to the doctor since the school was doing nothing after making promise after promise.

laurel7172

DO contact her future school. They won't make her wear a hat labelled "special", I promise.

While parents are obviously the most important carers, children spend a lot of time at school, and there is help there for autistic children. I work in a classroom with an autistic child who used to be out of control. With the help of some good TAs, who have been on specialist courses, mainly to help that particular child, well...the difference is amazing. In our school the SENCO pretty much does the Statement paperwork, in consultation with the parents. Don't turn down any support going...if all goes well, the school will understand her need for consistency when she's small, and help to train her to cope without it as she grows more able.

simbalou

Seemed to have had a very productive day today, DD has been given mid rate care DLA which went in the bank this morning backdated 16 weeks. Had an appointment with class teacher which confirmed what I already knew, nothing is being done with DD. No additional support will be given as they already have 3 teaching assistants which allows for group work, and they don't see a need for extra help. Action plan should have been done within 6 weeks of term starting but has not yet been done. The head teacher is the SENCO for the school and this is the lady who first told me that DD will not be having extra help.

So.....looks like dd will be moving schools to get the help she is entitled to. My son will be staying in original school as it suits him so I need to find out how the heck I will get them both to seperate schools. We only live round the corner from school but my son is only 7yo so I can't having him taking himself to school, I also cannot see me letting my 4yo daughter go in a taxi alone to a different school. Decisions, decisions.....life is never straight forward is it?

Health Visitor and specialist nurse are coming round again next week so I'm going to sit tight until after Christmas and then hopefully be more informed to tackle the school situation again.

Many thanks again for all the helpful replies

GlasweJen

Kids with special needs don't go in taxis themselves, the council will pay for an escort who has had a disclosure/crb check and who is usually the opposite sex of the driver (so a female driver will have a male escort and vice versa). Also kids are usually doubled or tripled up for the journey so your daughter may end up in the car with the driver, the escort and 2 other kids who are going to the same school.

Indie_Kid

Is there a friend who can walk your DS to school?

blue_monkey_2

I think, when you first get a diagnosis, it is really hard and you are pretty much left to it with no help on where to go next and it is hard not to get caught up in it all. The best advice I would give anyone is to join a local support group as they will give more help and advice than anyone else ever will, they also know all of the rules about what does and does not happen in your area.

My DS has ADHD/ASD (Aspergers we think) and get's no additional help. I did think that he was going to need it and when first diagnosed at 3 would have moved schools to ensure he got it..... but I had to change as we moved and 2 years on and it is obvious that he doesn't now - and I guess I have only just accepted this. He is coping fine in school but not at home, and the home bit is what I have to deal with. Sure he has a hard time fitting in socially but he is high acheiving because he does not give a fig what the other kids think about what he says or does so can get on with things. I am told that he says mean things to the other kids and he get's anxious but these are not things I would say he needs all day 1:1 for.

However, you yourself can apply for a statement and bypass the school if you feel your child needs it, you can name the school of your choice and it does not matter what the Head/Senco thinks, I am surprised you have not been told this. If she is granted the help then the school has to provide it. However, having and ASD is not an automatic right to getting additional help.

Please do not think that moving schools will be like waving a magic wand as this is not aways the case. At my support group there are a handful of children that go to specialist schools but they have severe LD, the majority of children are able to deal with the issues of school and learn to fit in despite their problems - and then take those problems home with them!! Some schools have a base that the children to go to but they are quite few and far between too. However, if not getting the help was damaging my son's eduction then I would apply for a statement to help him myself.

My friend's son has a son in DS class who is also HF ASD and he has no statement either as educationally he is coping in school. Again he has problems with the children, it is more about stratagies to get your child through school but the school may already be implementing these, it is not something that they would need a statement for. Is your daughter on an IEP?

It is hard when you first get a diagnosis and I too wanted my son to have 1:1 help but as time has gone on I've become more chilled about it. Don't get me wrong, I still get annoyed and frustrated by the system (specifically the doctors and one particular teacher) but my son is learning well academically and is in the top 1/3 of the class. Socially he is not and he does some pretty odd things, he is under acheiving on that side but 1:1 is not going to help with this really if I am honest with myself so it is not something I am going to apply for.

If you are moving schools just so that you can get extra help them please do think about this carefully as I do not know a single child in our support group who is statmented and is recieving 1:1 unless they have LD - which you say your daughter does not - so please do beware of this as it could mean uprooting your daughter from her routine for nothing. I am not saying it will not happen as I do not know what the policy there is in your area, however here it would not make any difference and children with ASD's do not get additional help for anything other than LD. Your school is probably already accomodating her in ways you do not realise as they are just day to day things for them.

It might seem that the kids with behaviour problems get the extra help but you do not know what other needs these children have to be getting the extra help so please do bear this in mind. It could be another mum in the playground moaning that your DD getting extra help and not their child when they know nothing about your DD. Schools do not give 1:1 for nothing so bear this in mind.

I also wanted to add that my friends son was diagnosed in March, it is now November and the Autism Advisory Service is only just going into the school to see him about an action plan. It is just one woman covering the whole of the district, and it is just for half an hour. The service is hugely underfunded and they do not have the resources.