ASD, ADHD - son running off. Anyone else have this issue?

CountryGuy

I can understand your frustrations and how draining it is having been on the other side of such matters trying to help parents get the support and help they need for their child.

Is your son on medication for ADHD or ASD?

It is not right that he has been given medication and had no follow ups or check ups.

I really do hope you get some answers very soon which in return will provide the help and support for your child.

Ask the school if they have an action plan and IEP's which should be updated every term.

blue_monkey_2

Beki88 wrote: »

Just a quick post from me. Here was have a service that picks the kids up once a week takes them to a group and brings back again (free)
It is called aiming higher.
I did a quick google and found some stuff for you as they may do something in your area:
http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/ahhubspoke.pdf

not sure if this link will work:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK306&q=aimign+higher+for+cdisabled+children&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=#hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK306&sa=X&ei=zQ_JTav1JM7B8QPnvu3OBg&ved=0CBwQvwUoAQ&q=aiming+higher+for+disabled+children+hertfordshire&spell=1&fp=4ffca68393f93048

good luck!

Hi Beki, last year (from the date on this newsletter) we had to fill in forms to see if this was going to be something that interested us but I did not think they started it yet. It was called aiming high but that was just the (consultancy? I think they called it)

I am a member of carers in Herts so maybe I can get onto them and see what they suggest.

I've not had Social Services out to me - I thought they only came if my kids were uncontrollable and out of control I did not hear much good about them from the support group. Do they do more than this?

Maybe it is the area I live in, they are not very good with support.

blue_monkey_2

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Would it work if you explained to your son that if he wants to go to the sports lessons that he will either have to join in, or if he really can't, that he must just sit quietly at the sidelines and not run off? And that if he does keep running away that he won't be able to go again? Sometimes children with these type of problems respond well to logic.

Hope you can get it sorted.

No, he forgets what I say so telling is not really any good. I can send him off to get his socks on and I find him in a different room wondering why he is there. It sounds daft really.

I am going to use a Social Story instead. WHY I did not think of this I have no idea. The lady from !!! suggested it and I said I felt realy stupid as that was the obvious possible solution and she just said 'don't worry, that is why we are here'. Which was lovely.

blue_monkey_2

CountryGuy wrote: »

Are you receiving copies of his IEP's? Do you have regular meeting with the SEN teacher?

If not then you need to make an appointment to see them.

I'm assuming your son is under the hospital with his ADHD, does he have any medication? Who diagnosed him? The hospital should be communicating with the school. Outside agencies should be involved. Does he have a statement?

IEP's yes, a few times a year, they just seem to say the same thing now. To concentrate more, keep still and not move and to not be horrible to other kids. I am sure they just print the same from last time.

I mentioned about the hospital. We have had a dismal service to be honest, they are always too busy to see him (makes me feel that he is so unimportant). We have seem so many doctors it is just beyond ridiculous, we seem to have been pushed from pillar to post and now we are being pushed again In the last 3 years since living here we have seen 4 different paediatricians, each time they want me to start from the begining and we're now being bumped again, before that we saw 3 different ones - they never seem to stay for long or they are 'locums' as they are too busy.

2 years ago we were referred to the ADHD nurse and CAMHS, neither has ever contacted us.

No statement no, I want to speak to the school about this, I think I am going to apply on my own back and tell the school why, I'd like to know that he has something in place for starting Year 3 as he will have to do more work there and there is lots of unfiinished work in his book.

Has anyone been able to use a time in school to get work done in a certain time.

I think I need to stop being too nice and get hubby to have a day off work and come with me, because he works it is always left for me to deal with.

blue_monkey_2

Strapped wrote: »

Hi, I have an escapee on my hands too, and like you his school now have a shiny new fence and lockable gate. With regards to extra activites, do you claim DLA for him? As this is what I spend my son's DLA on (eg he needed to have 1:1 swimming lessons as he couldn't cope with group ones). Like your son, he doesn't really "get" team sports so tbh I've sought out different activities for him and he has settled really well with taekwon-do. Fortunately, he does do some football at school but he has a TA who enables him to do his own thing practicing ball skills but encourages him to join in when he can.

Also, if you claim certain benefits, there is a fund worth about £300 per year for after school clubs etc - ask your council or the school about it (although I got slammed on MSE last time I mentioned this but hey ho). Perhaps you could use this for some 1:1 attention - does the school have any suitable TAs you think might be willing to do some private work? Otherwise I would try contacting the Autism team at your council as they will be able to help. Or try the National Autistic Society.

This was really useful strapped, thank you. I am going to tell SENCO that I want support applying for statement as it might mean he can even get help in PE, I never thought of this.

Do you think it is possible that I can PAY someone to be at the school for 10 hours a week or something? Someone who can work with him and do things that are more difficult. I am going to ask!

I saw that if you get free school dinners you can get that allowance but we don't so we cannot get it.

I have contacted theAutism team at the council.

I feel silly for not doing the obvious but I think thigs just mount up and you do not see the easy bit at the bottom.

Thanks for your help.

blue_monkey_2

CountryGuy wrote: »

You definitely need to push for a statement. Go see the consultant he is under at the hospital and explain the problem. Ask him/her to write to the school. Then fight like crazy to get him a statement. This can only be achieved if you can get the school behind you. They should be keeping IEP's (personal education plans) for him. If not, ask why!

Once he has a statement, outside agencies can become involved who will set targets and exercises for your child. So for example, if they say he needs to work on his social skills, they will take your child out of class for short periods of time along with 1, 2 or 3 of his classmates and play games with them. The outside agency would also come in and do their own observations to help them set targets. Once he has a statement, he should also get some support from an assistant. They aren't usually good at coming forward with these so again you might have to fight for one. The support assistant will work closely with the outside agency and the class teacher.

Sadly and very wrongly, parents are having to fight harder and harder these days to get the support their child needs.

Thanks Country Guy, unfortunately the doc is 'too busy' to see us.

I am waiting to speak to his teacher today who is also the senco.

CountryGuy

his IEP's should say what they are doing to enable him to reach the targets. At the end of each term they should then complete this IEP saying if the targets have been reached or not. If not, then why are they not?

Could it be that the school aren't using this running document as it should be and just have them there in place should they be questioned about what they are doing to help children with special needs.


Make an appointment to see the SEN co-ordinator, Headteacher and his class teacher together. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting then phone your local education authority and ask to make an appointment to speak to someone there. Explain your concerns to them.

It just isn't right that parents should be having to fight their case, but sadly this is happening more and more. It can also be very frustrating for the school when they do everything in their power to get a child a statement, only to fail at the first hurdle.

I can tell you though, that a parent's letter can get much further than a teacher's letter. It is all about cutbacks! Any school would be grateful for extra support, this mainly comes from support assistants working with SEN children.

You could always ask the SEN teacher to write the letter for you and you sign it as though you have written it.

Yes, do get your oh at the meeting too.

Beki88

blue_monkey wrote: »

Hi Beki, last year (from the date on this newsletter) we had to fill in forms to see if this was going to be something that interested us but I did not think they started it yet. It was called aiming high but that was just the (consultancy? I think they called it)

I am a member of carers in Herts so maybe I can get onto them and see what they suggest.

I've not had Social Services out to me - I thought they only came if my kids were uncontrollable and out of control I did not hear much good about them from the support group. Do they do more than this?

Maybe it is the area I live in, they are not very good with support.

I'm not sure how its run in each area, or even my own but it might be worth asking via your carers group.
Social Services for me were useless as they deemed us not having enough need all because I said I could manage in term time it was out of term that we struggled with. I am not sure how they assess each need I am sure someone else can advise better.
Our area has a lack of support and to find it you have to jump through hoops anyway. I wish you luck especially with the diagnosis (or non diagnosis) it doesnt seem very professional but I hope you get it sorted!

blue_monkey_2

Hi country guy,

I am starting to think a lot of this has been my fault to be honest, that I have been too 'quiet' in getting anything done. I've just gone along with what they have told me, I have to empty the cupboard to get to his paperwork which I am going to do tomorrow as I have it filed. I am pretty sure that it just says 'x still needs progress in this srea' and it will carry on onto the next IEP.

Believe it or not, his teacher is also the SENCO and acting head....!! I am waiting to speak to her now.

Can I ask, you have mentioned a letter - is this a letter to go to the LEA?

The school have always given me the impression that any help for him would be an extra expense for them. His last teacher said (after his diagnosis) do not expect any extra help for him, he'd have to be half dead for that and then he'd be lucky. Is this true? I have just posted another question about this so it does not get blurred in this subject.

shykins

blue monkey please dont start blaming yourself u have been palmed off which seems to be their way

i had similar with my son, no one would listen, the school even refused to do a CAF for him. i insisted and also insisted on applying for a statement off my own back when they felt there wasnt a need. funny when he got expelled they started to listen. also turned out they had him on school action plus which no one had even told me - i could go on but wont bore u with it

the best advice i got was u are not there to make friends u are there to get the best help for your son!!!! stop being nice and start telling them what your son needs. if u dont have a CAF fill one in, ask for the forms to apply for a statement, insist your dr sees u etc etc

good luck