Can school force child into a wheelchair?

alm721

angelicmary85 wrote: »

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm geting annoyed, I just feel so frustrated for mum!

Ok sorry, If I offended but I really really think you do not/can not have the whole story. As others are saying, hv and schools do not/cannot make these desicions, it sounds as if mum has told you school are forcing her child to use a wheel chair and she will have to pay something towards it and that you have taken this on face value. This seems to be very unlikely to be the full story. Its great that you are trying to help but I think before anyone else can offer much more advice you need to be clear about what is going on. Also I can't find anywhere where you've said how much the school is intending the child to use the chair, I may have just missed it but it does matter, expecting her to use a chair 100% of the time is different to them saying she should have one for when she's tired etc
Its really easy as a parent to go into a meeting about your sen child and hear things that just aren't there or alternativly not hear things that are. Believe me, I've done both. I think you either need to get the full facts from mum or accept that there is not a lot you can do. If this really in the case then there is no problem as the consultant will say she doesn't need it, end of.

kingfisherblue

Perhaps the OP could offer to attend a meeting with the mother, just to support her?

RileysMummy

angelicmary85 wrote: »

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.

It probably does vary around the country, but I'd eat my hat if there was a centre/council/hospital anywhere in the UK that funded a wheelchair on the say-so of a HV and school without a fight or any questions.

I don't doubt for a minute that your friend is fabulous with her child. Honestly though in my experience the parents who put the most into their child's walking and motor skills can sometimes be the ones who struggle to accept limitations the most.

It won't be easy for a school, especially not a SEN school, to have a child in a wheelchair. It can be a nightmare for classrooms (sometimes doors need adjusted, children need special desks), things like assemblies become difficult if there is so much as the odd step here and there, staff need training on lifting the child in and out of the chair for the toilet, special procedures for fire drills etc. That's assuming that the school only has the odd step, if there are flights of stairs anywhere it becomes even more of a nightmare. That's why I'm saying don't assume the school are doing this as the easy option because it may be even more difficult for them.

If Mum genuinely doesn't want to pay the money for the wheelchair she should say no. If she really doesn't believe her daughter needs it then she should say no and get her consultants backing to do so. Then she takes her consultants information and she gets onto the SENCO and gets them to deal with the school. A letter of complaint gets the HV off her back.

However, IF the consultant backs it then anyone around the child needs to speak to the mother to see why she's so resistant to something that is recommended by the specialist.

Without being rude it's not the Mum that is the most important person in the battle she's having - it's the wee girl.

tiamai_d

What the hell has the HV to do with the little girl? DS2 has CP and the ONLY time he ever saw his HV was for his jags, the rest of his care is done by his care workers (paed, OT, physio SALT etc). Sorry, his HV deals with his pull up nappies.

Is it usual for a lot of involvement from the HV with SP children?

I would have thought that if it is just for walks then a maclaren major would be better than a wheelchair? Easier to push for staff and less stigma for the little girl. Plus she couldn't be then encouraged to use it indoors.

kingfisherblue

In some areas, there are HVs that are specifically for children with disabilities. I had a great HV for my son, but she was replaced with an old crow who was patronising and who did not understand disability at all. I had to ask my GP to intervene when she became too much to cope with.

angelicmary85

alm721 wrote: »

Ok sorry, If I offended but I really really think you do not/can not have the whole story. As others are saying, hv and schools do not/cannot make these desicions, it sounds as if mum has told you school are forcing her child to use a wheel chair and she will have to pay something towards it and that you have taken this on face value. This seems to be very unlikely to be the full story. Its great that you are trying to help but I think before anyone else can offer much more advice you need to be clear about what is going on. Also I can't find anywhere where you've said how much the school is intending the child to use the chair, I may have just missed it but it does matter, expecting her to use a chair 100% of the time is different to them saying she should have one for when she's tired etc
Its really easy as a parent to go into a meeting about your sen child and hear things that just aren't there or alternativly not hear things that are. Believe me, I've done both. I think you either need to get the full facts from mum or accept that there is not a lot you can do. If this really in the case then there is no problem as the consultant will say she doesn't need it, end of.

No offence was taken.

The school want her to use it the whole time she's there.

The more replies I get saying the same thing 'this can't be the whole story' the more I'm inclined to believe you all.

I tried to go see her earlier but she was working so will try again in the morning befire she takes her DD to nursery.

RileysMummy wrote: »

It probably does vary around the country, but I'd eat my hat if there was a centre/council/hospital anywhere in the UK that funded a wheelchair on the say-so of a HV and school without a fight or any questions.

I don't doubt for a minute that your friend is fabulous with her child. Honestly though in my experience the parents who put the most into their child's walking and motor skills can sometimes be the ones who struggle to accept limitations the most.

she has done everything she has been advised to do (the special warm swimming pool is a long drive but she took her in rain or shine) so if she's fighting this then I fully believe it's for a good reason.

It won't be easy for a school, especially not a SEN school, to have a child in a wheelchair. It can be a nightmare for classrooms (sometimes doors need adjusted, children need special desks), things like assemblies become difficult if there is so much as the odd step here and there, staff need training on lifting the child in and out of the chair for the toilet, special procedures for fire drills etc. That's assuming that the school only has the odd step, if there are flights of stairs anywhere it becomes even more of a nightmare. That's why I'm saying don't assume the school are doing this as the easy option because it may be even more difficult for them.

There is already a wee boy in a wheelchair that attends the school, there is a class dedicated to the many special needs children that attend the school.

If Mum genuinely doesn't want to pay the money for the wheelchair she should say no. If she really doesn't believe her daughter needs it then she should say no and get her consultants backing to do so. Then she takes her consultants information and she gets onto the SENCO and gets them to deal with the school. A letter of complaint gets the HV off her back.

I agree.

However, IF the consultant backs it then anyone around the child needs to speak to the mother to see why she's so resistant to something that is recommended by the specialist.

Without being rude it's not the Mum that is the most important person in the battle she's having - it's the wee girl.

You're not being rude at all, I agree that the wee girl is most important.

angelicmary85

tiamai_d wrote: »

What the hell has the HV to do with the little girl? DS2 has CP and the ONLY time he ever saw his HV was for his jags, the rest of his care is done by his care workers (paed, OT, physio SALT etc). Sorry, his HV deals with his pull up nappies.

Is it usual for a lot of involvement from the HV with SP children?

I would have thought that if it is just for walks then a maclaren major would be better than a wheelchair? Easier to push for staff and less stigma for the little girl. Plus she couldn't be then encouraged to use it indoors.

The HV visits every month or so (she visits me quite often aswell as my son has Down's) as parents with children with extra needs 'have' to have ongoing visits. I begged her to stop visiting me and mum has begged her to stop visiting them aswell but she says she 'has' to come see us. She is always on the phone/emailling the consultant for 'progress report' too. HV gets a bit too involved.

I'm taking my wee lad up to the centre that mum visits for the first time in a few days, I'm hoping that maybe the consultant can make my visits stop...could be wishful thinking though!!

angelicmary85

kingfisherblue wrote: »

In some areas, there are HVs that are specifically for children with disabilities. I had a great HV for my son, but she was replaced with an old crow who was patronising and who did not understand disability at all. I had to ask my GP to intervene when she became too much to cope with.

Did the GP get her off your back?

angelicmary85

tandraig wrote: »

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!

I promise I'll go visit her tomorrow morning!!

kingfisherblue

angelicmary85 wrote: »

Did the GP get her off your back?

Yes, thank goodness! It had become ridiculous. She was there every Friday morning and staying for up to two hours :eek:

My son also has Down's and he was born with a number of complications that required surgery when he was nine hours old. In the months that followed, he needed weighing regularly. She used to turn up to weigh him, but then I couldn't get rid of her. It was a nightmare. To make matters worse, she was patronising in the extreme and wasn't at all sensitive to the fact that I had so many worries about my child - she just focused on what he wouldn't be able to do.

When I told my GP, he arranged for my son to be weighed at a local clinic that I could walk to (I didn't drive at the time and my GP is a bus ride away, followed by a ten minute walk - not too bad at all, but walking to a local clinic was easier). I don't know what he said to her, but I didn't see her again :j

I have now managed for more than ten years without her visits . My son is progressing well, and although he still has a number of medical problems, and sees a number of specialists, life is good