Can school force child into a wheelchair?

tandraig

I have absolutely no experience of anything like this but it dismayed me to read that a little girl who has obviously battled hard to AVOID a wheelchair is being forced into one against her parents wishes!
I honestly feel the school is looking at health and safety issues (ie, insurance) and not considering the childs needs and feelings - as others have said, there are ways around the childs mobility problems which dont involve wheelchairs!
but OP, please speak to your friend and get more facts for us - like has she spoken to the school? her daughters consultant etc? not criticising you hun in any way, but more facts would help us help you!

angelicmary85

tandraig wrote: »

please speak to your friend and get more facts for us - like has she spoken to the school? her daughters consultant etc? not criticising you hun in any way, but more facts would help us help you!

I tried to go round earlier but she was at work...will try again tomorrow!!

tandraig

hi angelicmary - I have had a quick search about disabilities and wheelchairs in schools and got the impression that schools usually hate having to accomodate wheelchairs! but did learn that children assessed as having special needs should have consultations (or rather the parents) with the school to discuss these matters and that the childs needs and feelings should be taken into consideration.
the disability discrimination act also mentions something about not discriminating against a child because of his/her disability but the extract i read didnt elaborate and i havent time to read the whole thing!
also if you go on www.direct.gov you can look up education and special needs and i believe there is a booklet you can download on how schools are SUPPOSED to accomodate those with special needs. maybe the answer is on there.
good luck

angelicmary85

tandraig wrote: »

hi angelicmary - I have had a quick search about disabilities and wheelchairs in schools and got the impression that schools usually hate having to accomodate wheelchairs! but did learn that children assessed as having special needs should have consultations (or rather the parents) with the school to discuss these matters and that the childs needs and feelings should be taken into consideration.
the disability discrimination act also mentions something about not discriminating against a child because of his/her disability but the extract i read didnt elaborate and i havent time to read the whole thing!
also if you go on www.direct.gov you can look up education and special needs and i believe there is a booklet you can download on how schools are SUPPOSED to accomodate those with special needs. maybe the answer is on there.
good luck

Thank you...I never would have thought of going to DirectGov!!

pandora205

I agree with Hopeful1 - this sounds very strange as children with CP are encouraged to develop their mobility and muscular strength. And I'm not sure why a health visitor would be advising as they are not specialists (or the ones I've worked with haven't been). Teachers similarly aren't medical experts with detailed knowledge of the physical development of children with CP. Advice on this area would be the remit of physiotherapists and occupational therapists. What is their view?

I've never known a parent be charged for a (standard) wheel chair. If it is deemed necessary by medics, it would usually be down to the PCT to provide one. Sometimes the Local Authority SEN department may be asked for a contribution, if it solely for use in school.

I think the parents should ask for a meeting to discuss this, requesting that relevant professionals are present and seeking support for the Parent Partnership service (who provide independent support).

RileysMummy

angelicmary85 wrote: »

The centre she attends helps towards the cost of other things so I don't think it's fair for any of us to assume that the consultant has backed HV.

As above - there is no evidence (as yet) to to support the theory that the consultant backs this decision.

This wee girl is slowly putting on weight, she has a wide circle of friends but I know if she needed a chair, her mum would agree straight-away.

There's also nothing to suggest the consultant doesn't support it. I was simply sharing my years of experience and saying that a Health Visitor won't simply be making decisions about children going into a wheelchair on her own, they don't have the training or experience to do so and wouldn't if an consultant was advising otherwise. If that is the case then the Mum speaking to the wee girls consultant would put a stop to the HV's actions. It's also unlikely (in my experience) that these centres pay for things easily - often parents have to fight hard for funding, which is why I'm think you need to find out the consultants opinion.

You need to get the full story before you starting emailing MP's and the likes.

skipsmum

Hi,
I can't help with the issue, but DS has a wheelchair. He was fitted by the occupational therapist and wheelchair services. He can walk (and run) a lot of the time, and is encouraged by the school to be as active as possible walking round the school, PE etc. When he can't walk so well I take his chair in for him, and if there is a trip out that he might struggle on it goes as well. But the HV has never in my experience (fostered kids with CP as well) done any wheelchair/ortho aids/boots/splints - these have all been done by Physio and the OT.

angelicmary85

RileysMummy wrote: »

There's also nothing to suggest the consultant doesn't support it. I was simply sharing my years of experience and saying that a Health Visitor won't simply be making decisions about children going into a wheelchair on her own, they don't have the training or experience to do so and wouldn't if an consultant was advising otherwise. If that is the case then the Mum speaking to the wee girls consultant would put a stop to the HV's actions. It's also unlikely (in my experience) that these centres pay for things easily - often parents have to fight hard for funding, which is why I'm think you need to find out the consultants opinion.

You need to get the full story before you starting emailing MP's and the likes.

I was going to email an old friend of my dad's who happends to be a MSP....he's involved in alot of work in this type of field and as I stated previously, I wanted to see mum armed with info that may be able to help.

I understand what you're saying and if I could speak to mum just now then I would.

It may be harder to get funding depending on what part of the country you are based in, surely every region must be different when it comes to things like this?

You have my apologies if you feel like I was attacking your post.

fifelass_2

If you are based in Scotland then there is provision accros the whole country for a wheelchair to be provided fee of charge.

The other more inportant point is that the therapists that teh child currently sees at the unit should be working with teh shool to ensure a smooth transition into the school as that is where they will have a lot of input going forward. Once again if you are Scotlad based then a MOVE programme would be set in place in the school to ensure that the child's mobility opportunities are maximised through out the day. This is usually done in conjunction with the family.

I would have to say the story sounds a bit like some of the facts are missing or incorrect. There is no point in running with things before you have to.

My advise would be to tell the mum to go and talk to the therapists involved. If she needs a reason to stall teh school then say she doesn't want to buy a private chair until it is clear who will be responsible for the maintenance and replacement as her daughter grows.

tandraig

I am in Wales and tbh would be emailing our Childrens minister in the assembly!
I too think that facts are missing here and that is why I asked the OP to talk to her friend - not because I think she is wrong - but to ascertain why the school think a wheelchair is necessary.
until OP comes back I will shut up - but if a child is being forced to use a wheelchair because a school THINKS its necessary - am sorry but i want to know WHY!