Question for anyone who has a child with autism or special needs

daska

I'm thrilled to hear that you managed to get a proper diagnosis. The statementing process can be arduous - just got DS2's at Easter - but in some ways it's very positive for her that the school are now observing her the behaviour that has troubled you for so long.

Ideally you need one of the medical professionals involved to put in writing how her medical condition affects her. Ideally dealing specifically with PE and how the school might need to adjust their expectations of her. Your GP may be able to help with this depending on their level of knowlege.

Personally I'd be involving Parent Partnership, not least as an independent witness and advocate to accompany you to meetings.

Booking a meeting with the SENCO to discuss this is probably your first step - (without wishing to be rude to anyone reading) my experience is that PE teachers have a tendancy to be lacking in empathy and consideration for the needs of kids with disabilities, especially those that don't require a wheelchair full time! It may be that the SENCO can work on finding a way to encourage your daughter to take part rather than exacerbating the situation.

tiamai_d

Can you go and speak to the next person up and explain again that because PE triggers unwanted and dangerous behavours in her that for the moment, you want to remove her from PE. I really don't see why the school are punishing her for avoiding a situation that makes her react in such a way, with detention? It's cruel. It's not like she is just doing it for teh sake of it (or else she would be doing it with maths and french (I'd have done it with french, horrid subject)).

Also, for detention do they not have to seek your permission? Or is that only if it is outside of school hours?

I'd be going above the PE teacher anyway and mentioning disability discrimination and such. Unfortunately until she does get a statement, you are on your own banging yourhead off a brick wall most of the time.

JC9297

Having looked for more information on PDA it seems whilst it has some apparent similarities to ASD to observers, it is actually a totally different diagnosis. The PDA support group website actually says that the methods used for managing ASD are not appropriate for PDA.

Therefore it might be best if you research managing PDA itself, rather than asking about how people have dealt with their autistic children as your daughter probably needs handling differently.

doodoot

OP, if you are on Facebook then I recommend joining a group called SEN Aware.

The lady who started it is very experienced - as are all members - and she posted an article about PDA a short while ago.

(In fact, anyone who has a child/teen/adult relative with SEN would benefit from joining.)

I'm disgusted that your daughter was given detention for her reaction to a situation that triggers her avoidance!

Try and join the group as they will offer excellent - and legal - advice about how to handle the school and what you need to say.

Good luck and hugs.