Can school force child into a wheelchair?

angelicmary85

kingfisherblue wrote: »

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

I'm happy that he's doing well, mine nearly froze to death in the hospital and they never told me...but that's a whole other story!! I could write a short novel on the whatthey did that they shouldn't have, made me a nervous wreck after telling me that he might die when there's nothing 'wrong' with him as such.

Your HV sounds very much like mine, a nursery nurse tols me that they were arguing in the office about which one would do the routine checks becasue none of them wanted to come round (except the one that came round because she had alot of experience working with children with extra needs)

Anyway, I'm waffling!!

angelicmary85

silvercar wrote: »

The school refused to take him back unless he went in a wheel chair - they sighted insurance and health and safety. In the end she had to give in as the only other option was to find a different school which would have been more upsetting for the child.

I've just been to see mum and Silvercar was right, this is exactly what has happened.

They've told her to get an electric chair so that her daughter can be independant and that's why she has to pay. The consultant had no say in the matter as it was ultimately the school's decision.

They tried to get her to move to a different school but mum wasn't having that, her DD has made too many friends now and it would just upset her.

I wanted to find out something that may been of help to them but I couldn't have helped her anyway but I have have gained some knowledge that may help someone else out in the future and for that, I thank you all.

tandraig

angelicmary? do I understand from your post that even after all the proper consultations with parents and senco etc the school still insists on the child using a wheelchair on their premises? and that it must be the expensive electric one?
so,, the school has made its decision? and parent, child had no say!!!!
then i would take another approach hun, why dont you (with parents permission) start a fund to pay for the wheelchair, involve the local press and make sure they know that its the schools decision and they wont take the child without one and could the public please help as the parents cannot afford the cost????
this way the school may get shamed into being more accomodating to this childs needs and hopefully the parents will get enough money to pay for the wheelchair - and hopefully for a replacement in a few years as the child often outgrows them.
I am sickened by this school - I thought the discrimination against disability act would outlaw this kind of thing but obviously it hasnt!!!

Hopeful1

tandraig wrote: »

angelicmary? do I understand from your post that even after all the proper consultations with parents and senco etc the school still insists on the child using a wheelchair on their premises? and that it must be the expensive electric one?
so,, the school has made its decision? and parent, child had no say!!!!
then i would take another approach hun, why dont you (with parents permission) start a fund to pay for the wheelchair, involve the local press and make sure they know that its the schools decision and they wont take the child without one and could the public please help as the parents cannot afford the cost????
this way the school may get shamed into being more accomodating to this childs needs and hopefully the parents will get enough money to pay for the wheelchair - and hopefully for a replacement in a few years as the child often outgrows them.
I am sickened by this school - I thought the discrimination against disability act would outlaw this kind of thing but obviously it hasnt!!!

I'm with Tandraig on this one. It's a disgrace, Angelic. It certainly goes against the principal i and many other childcare professionals would work to.

It may be worth mom taking legal advice on this as there may be some mileage under the DDA. Who will be assessing the little girl for the chair? I would be expecting a physio or OT to make a full assessment to ensure the chair is the right 'fit' and to ensure that any necessary adaptions are done.

For some children it may be that in the future they find it tiring to walk, but until that time comes (if at all), independent walking should be continued to maintain her muscle tone, independence and self esteem. Whilst an electric wheelchair is a far better option than a manual one, it is still a very disappointing situation. If she does end up having to use the chair, then i hope that all areas of the school will be accessable to her. I also hope that she will still have daily opportunities to walk. I would be expecting a physio to be working with her on a regular basis.


:mad:

chesky369

I think she should contact her local councillors and /or her local MP (but councillors are usually best in this sort of case). They probably have surgeries every week and would be glad to be involved in such a heart-tugging case. You have to be fairly cynical and use them - after all, they're using you!

angelicmary85

tandraig wrote: »

angelicmary? do I understand from your post that even after all the proper consultations with parents and senco etc the school still insists on the child using a wheelchair on their premises? and that it must be the expensive electric one?
so,, the school has made its decision? and parent, child had no say!!!!
then i would take another approach hun, why dont you (with parents permission) start a fund to pay for the wheelchair, involve the local press and make sure they know that its the schools decision and they wont take the child without one and could the public please help as the parents cannot afford the cost????
this way the school may get shamed into being more accomodating to this childs needs and hopefully the parents will get enough money to pay for the wheelchair - and hopefully for a replacement in a few years as the child often outgrows them.
I am sickened by this school - I thought the discrimination against disability act would outlaw this kind of thing but obviously it hasnt!!!

You read it right...I'm so dis-heartened for the perents and for wee x. Mum is obviously worried that x will start to rely on the chair out of nursery/school hours.

The only thing the parents had a say on was when they could use it, it's not to be taken into the classroom at anytime. The school also tired to keep her in nursery for an extra year but someone who has been working closely with x completely disagreed with this.

I think I may have got it wrong about the centre paying half the cost as she said they won't get funding because they get DLA for x so she'll have to save the DLA instead. The town helped out for the cost of something she needed a year or so ago so I don't think they would be much problem getting people to help out again.

Hopeful1 wrote: »

I'm with Tandraig on this one. It's a disgrace, Angelic. It certainly goes against the principal i and many other childcare professionals would work to.

It may be worth mom taking legal advice on this as there may be some mileage under the DDA. Who will be assessing the little girl for the chair? I would be expecting a physio or OT to make a full assessment to ensure the chair is the right 'fit' and to ensure that any necessary adaptions are done.

For some children it may be that in the future they find it tiring to walk, but until that time comes (if at all), independent walking should be continued to maintain her muscle tone, independence and self esteem. Whilst an electric wheelchair is a far better option than a manual one, it is still a very disappointing situation. If she does end up having to use the chair, then i hope that all areas of the school will be accessable to her. I also hope that she will still have daily opportunities to walk. I would be expecting a physio to be working with her on a regular basis.


:mad:

Thank you Hopeful, I knew I could rely on you to offer some assistance!!

X has already been measured up for it. They have until the school goes back after the holidays to get this chair or x won't be going

tandraig

angelic - bit confused - you say in your post its NOT to be taken into classroom?
so why the need for wheelchair? or didnt i read it right?
if i did the school apparently only want her to use it outside the classroom? but at her age they dont change classrooms much exept for dinner times etc? not like comp where they change rooms all the time.
WHAT is going on with this school - A complete moron is in charge?
this to me stinks - this is purely an insurance issue and the childs rights and well being are not being considered. how on earth can the school justify the expense simply to move a child between the classroom and the dinner hall? or to the playground where the poor kid is stuck in her wheelchair! what message is that sending to the other kids!!!
do the governers know about this?
does the LEA? i am pretty sure this goes against the discrimination act. and i would get my MP involved ASAP not to mention the education authority (LEA)

angelicmary85

tandraig wrote: »

angelic - bit confused - you say in your post its NOT to be taken into classroom?
so why the need for wheelchair? or didnt i read it right?
if i did the school apparently only want her to use it outside the classroom? but at her age they dont change classrooms much exept for dinner times etc? not like comp where they change rooms all the time.
WHAT is going on with this school - A complete moron is in charge?
this to me stinks - this is purely an insurance issue and the childs rights and well being are not being considered. how on earth can the school justify the expense simply to move a child between the classroom and the dinner hall? or to the playground where the poor kid is stuck in her wheelchair! what message is that sending to the other kids!!!
do the governers know about this?
does the LEA? i am pretty sure this goes against the discrimination act. and i would get my MP involved ASAP not to mention the education authority (LEA)

It's to be used at playtime and as you so rightly point out, to take x to lunch.

The bit I highlighted is exactly what mum is thinking, she is worried x's friends will abandon her and she'll be stuck there on her own.

I only had about 20mins with her this morning before I had to get home to give my 2 their breakfast (see, I told you I'd go first thing! ) so I'll hopefully see her over the weeked for a longer chat and mention taking things a step further i.e going to to the Education Auuthority.

tandraig

angelic - this headmaster/mistress sounds like a complete idiot! arent they aware of the disability discrimination act? OR the procedures for special needs children? which is supposed to be tailored to the needs/abilities of the child!!!
would have a word with the parents and ascertain that the procedures were met. I realise it is difficult for you as just a friend of the family. but if they cannot afford this wheelchair then to my mind its ok for you to bring up fundraising.
you may have to be a bit sneaky - but there is no harm in you involving local pubs in fundraising and alerting local press? and on the side - speaking to local dignitaries such as mps? or governers of school?
this child shouldnt have to be made to use a wheelchair -to my mind its detrimental and that is against the dda.
another approach would be to contact a specialist in this law - and then put the parents in touch with them.

kingfisherblue

www.parentpartnership.org.uk can help with issues concerning the education of children with special needs. I agree with tandraig that it seems possible that the school are in contravention of the DDA.

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/ might also be able to help, especially if the parents need legal advice.

I do not think for one minute that the parents can be forced to pay towards an electric wheelchair, but the Equality and Human Rights Commission will be able to tell you the rights of the child and her parents. In some cases, they will offer legal support for cases going to court, but obviously these are few and far between because of the work and costs involved.

Also contact the LEA and request that the school's inclusion officer attends any meetings. This is not the same as an inclusion officer who works in the school - it is somebody who works for the LEA to adise and work with the school and the SENCO. They don't usually get involved with parents, but in cases of major disagreement, they can intervene. I had a disagreement with my son's school a couple of years ago and felt that I, as a parent, was being bullied about my son's needs. I rang the LEA and spoke to an inclusion officer, who then attended meetings with the SENCO and myself. She supported me and agreed that I knew my son best, an that the school were wrong to insist on certain things just because he has a particular condition (my son has Down's, but he obviously hasn't read the books about it, as he is far from typical )

The mother can also use the school's complaints procedure. She cannot complain formally to the LEA until the school's procedure has been exhausted. All schools have to give a copy of the procedure when asked - 'Sorry, we don't have a copy at the moment' is not acceptable. I was told this once, but I just said it wasn't a problem, I'd wait until they printed a copy for me

The local Carer's Centre might also be able to offer support, especially emotionally. It is hard enough caring for a child with disabilities without having to battle for everything (in this case, the rights of the child and the parents). Our Carer's Centre has a parent support worker - even if your centre doesn't have a dedicated role, there will be somebody there who can help your friend.