Can school force child into a wheelchair?

kingfisherblue

Sorry for the long post above!

Medical notes can incur a charge, but I think it is usually no more than £10 (reasonable costs for the photocopying)

tandraig

oh lawd angelic - how awful! check with your local health authority hun, you are north of border but i should think you can get your notes!
I dont know what to say - been wittering on about my grandkids with aspergers and ADHD not realising you had a downs child.
and you still want to help out your friend....I bet you have enough problems..................jeez - you really deserve your screen name Angelicmary!!!
go on hun , get it all out of your system. I for one am here to listen and if you dont want to post - then PM me. OK?

angelicmary85

Kingfisher your story is sad but it's amazing that he pulled through. Every baby is born with a purpose in life and your son's purpose must have been to prove the medical profession wrong!

I had the blood test done but because of my age I was classed as low risk, I knew in my heart something wasn't quite right and when the words 'he's got Down's Syndrome' came out of my mouth, I was shocked to hear myself say it but when they agreed, they took over and it was awful.

He's a very non Down's baby though and is thriving so I'm grateful for small mercies!

Savvy_Sue

Yes, you can get your notes, and someone on here has described doing it, I think they actually had a session with a midwife to go through it all. Remember it's not just your notes, it's your son's notes as well ...

tandraig

just a little bump here

angelicmary85

Funny you should bump as I was just about to post!

I got the emailleed info but I think it's just for Scotland so didn't know if there was any point in posting it?

tandraig

yes post it hun, my guess is its similar to welsh one!

angelicmary85

I spoke to you recently and said I would send you some information about the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. This Act is for children who require additional support to ensure they can make the most of their education. It is for children who need more or different support to what is normally provided in school and therefore they have additional support needs. This can be for a variety of reasons such as physical disability, communication problems etc. The education authority should identify whether the child has additional support needs and provide them with the appropriate support so they can benefit fully from their education. An assessment should be carried out to determine whether the child has additional support needs and what kind of support they need. Other agencies can also be involved in the assessment process such as social work, therapists etc. The report following the assessment should indicate what support the child will receive such as adapting the curriculum, support from a classroom assistant, adaptations to school building, therapy within school. This then results in a plan for the child - there are 3 different types of plan depending on the level of support the child needs. For children who have support needs as a result of complex and multiple factors that have a significant effect on their education and means they have high levels of involvement from one or more agencies such as health, social work services or the education authority and these support needs will last more than a year, this will be a Co-ordinated Support Plan. This is a legal document and there are detailed rules and regulations which have to be followed.
I mentioned to you that Enquire is the Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning. They have a helpline and produce factsheets about many education issues affecting children with additional support needs. Here is a link to their website: http://www.enquire.org.uk/pcp/index.php

You mentioned that one of the disagreements between the school and the child’s parents was around using a wheelchair in the playground. As I said sometimes there can be health and safety concerns regarding children in playgrounds. Hopefully this could be resolved with a common sense approach with an open and frank discussion between the parents, other professionals and the school. If there has been a risk assessment done of the playground, were there any suggestions made to make the playground “safer” for the child? Was there a physiotherapist involved in this? There has to be a balance between risk and the individual child’s rights. Could part of the playground be designated as a "quiet" area which could be "safe". There was a report by the Children's Commissioner called “Handle with Care” which talks about risk assessments and the need for a balance between risk and individual rights. It does not discuss this particular situation, but could be helpful to know about. Here is a link to more information: http://www.sccyp.org.uk/webpages/pr_single.php?article=Hoists and Slings: Purchasing and Provision for the Moving and Handling of Children and Young People with Disabilities&id=185

I also mentioned a publication called Inclusion of disabled children in primary school playgrounds. Here is a link to this: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/inclusion-disabled-children-primary-school-playgrounds

There are advocacy services which may be helpful for the parents. ISEA is one organization which has an advocacy service: http://www.isea.org.uk/Advocacy.html
I also mentioned to you that it is Children 1st who provide mediation in Highland for disputes in education: http://www.children1st.org.uk/index.php?page=18&cat=9

angelicmary85

I haven't had a good look through it yet but feel free to fill your boots!

looby-loo_2

tandraig wrote: »

lol - she cant have the ritalin - too young! at the mo its just coping mechanisms and behaviour modification. but my son has no objection to her taking the ritalin once she is six. we have seen with my grandson how it can help.....he is the one with aspergers but he was intially after years of being just he naughty boy - diagnosed with ADHD but that diagnosis was reviewed when a professor from a very prestigous hospital saw him and diagnosed aspergers - but he is still on ritalin and it helps him by helping him concentrate and calm down. and he ASKS for it if his mum forgets before school! mind you, he is 12 now and understands his condition.
before the ritalin they tried behaviourist psychologist, and just about every technique you can think of.....its NOT a magic pill, just a tool to help the other techniques work.
and this is the lad I learned that there are procedures a school has to follow - as a parent you are expected to follow them - even if they seem slow, cumbersome and sometimes frustrating! but from them my daughter learned that the headmaster DOES NOT have the last word, they are bound by procedure too. and heaven help those who dont follow it to the letter!

How true - I think everyone involved can get frustrated by the lengthy procedures. I do understand that the medical profession don't want to misdiagnose or label children. Sometime a little explanation goes a long way.