Why, Why, Why?

duchy

poet123 wrote: »

Not every school has issues in this area. Undoubtedly, some do, but I am an SEN governor and I believe that my school supports all identified children well. It can be a vast undertaking but it doesn't have to be and it shouldn't be.

I think often schools DO believe they are doing a good job ......the acid test is if the parents believe they are.

My son's primary school did a fantastic job on the whole ....Perfect no but they had the wish to do their absolute best for every child in the school. We moved house briefly and my son went to a different primary.....the experience was uninspiring to put it mildly -Circumstances changed and we returned to the original area -thankfully.

Secondary schools I believe really struggle ....Yes some schools have Aspergers units. Our local one was amazing....but demand for places was beyond ridiculous. Mainstream high school is incredibly difficult for Aspergers kids )speaking not just a parent but also from the other side supporting ASD kids in High School.)

Schools who do a great job in this area are rare ....and of course over-subcribed.

FBaby

I don't have any experience of special needs support in school, but it sounds as if your problem is that the school seems to be stepping away from working with you, and that might be because you come across as expecting them to do what you consider is best for your son rather than coming up with solutions together.

I understand you would feel this way because of your previous experience with your eldest son, however, you have to be prepared from defensiveness from the school. You seem to discuss this with them expressing your frustration and anger rather than being prepared to listen and give your opinion. The more you take that approach, the more you are going to come across as a difficult parent more set in getting her ways than trying to help her son.

As it's been advised here, you need to trust the view of the experts rather than your own. You seem to put the full blame on your eldest son's current difficulties on the failing of his education establishments, but you can't be certain that it is all down to that. There might have been other factors that affected his learning.

As a mum, the best thing you can do besides working with the professionals is to try as much as you can to reduce your child's anxieties. He will feed on the fact that you believe the school is failing him. In the end, whether he writes or types, what matters is that he feels that he is doing his best and that it is the efforts he puts towards his work that is a reflection of his achievement.

slightlyconfused1

When my ds was diagnosed with dyspraxia he was referred to an occupational therapist by our school/council. She came to his school and our house. In p2 he was given touch typing lessons and special pe with children from other schools within the cluster.

The therapist also had special pencils/cutlery/utensils that really made life easier for my ds. We also spent hours playing the games recommended. The special equipment can be bought privately. It is not that expensive and in our case made a huge difference to his ability to make writing more comfortable and legible.

At secondary school he got extra time for exams but didn't feel comfortable with a scribe.

Why not contact the dyspraxia society for advice. I found then very helpful.

mumps

My daughter injured her hand at the start of her final year at university. By the time she got to exams her hand had healed but she got cramp very quickly when writing. She took her final exams on a computer. It shouldn't be a big deal in this day and age.

Fine motor skills develop at different rates, he is still young and things should improve if he doesn't get a "thing" about writing. I agree with the OP that he should have access to IT systems to allow this. No one would insist on a child in a wheelchair walking because that is what you "should" do.

OP when I had a problem with a school I was advised to speak to Educational Welfare Officer, I don't know if they still exist or have another title but I found them a big help.

FBaby

However as I assume add he is now all only 7yo there is still opportunities for him to improve his handwriting. My son doesn't have learning difficulties bur the difference between his handwriting when he was 7 or 8 (almost impossible to read) and now 3 years later (very neat) really surprised new.

tatabubbly

My younger brother has Aspergers and like your son, had difficulties writing. Our school gave him a laptop (before Ipads).

My brother knows how to write but you couldn't make out one word from the other. It infuriates him to have to write. He can sign his name to a legible standard and thats all he needs in some cases.

I'd fight for him to use the IPAD, especially if he is actually learning and retaining knowledge. It might do more harm than good 'forcing' him to write.

Indie_Kid

holgate79 wrote: »

I work with blind pupils who use braille and / or assistive technology however they are still encouraged to develop legible handwriting.

This is completely different though.

poet123

No matter how much technology is available and able to be used in education and work would you really want to countenance a child of 7 completely giving up on ever being able to write?

Adaptation, strategies, a lowering of expectation, lack of judgement./peer comparison, encouragement and persuasion is the way forward not defeatism and a head in sand attitude.

duchy

I'm afraid most parents of kids with AEN will be ruefully smiling at comments like "the school will do everything they can" Sadly there simply isn't the provision (or indeed the training for teachers and support staff in schools) and schools with the best will in the world can only work with the resources they have and like most things in life......He who shouts loudest gets the most. Personal experience tells me (both from the parental view and from working in education) that the parent who leaves it to the school to make the best decisions for their child is the parent of a child who doesn't get offered the resources and support.....that goes to the parent' who is questioning and wanting to know why XY and Z has been discussed but not implemented for their child.
It's sad for everyone concerned but it's the truth..

duchy

poet123 wrote: »

No matter how much technology is available and able to be used in education and work would you really want to countenance a child of 7 completely giving up on ever being able to write?

Adaptation, strategies, a lowering of expectation, lack of judgement./peer comparison, encouragement and persuasion is the way forward not defeatism and a head in sand attitude.

My ex husband (who incidentally is probably undiagnosed Aspergers) always had huge issues with writing and his writing looked grim.
As an adult he works in a very high profile role for a global IT company and literally never writes-He uses the tablet/laptop for everything. It hasn't held him back in any way and he's in his forties so a lot of the technology available now wasn't available to him when he was starting out (but what was he made full use of).

I'm a mature student and the technology available to students with writing difficulties is unbelievable (and funded at degree level). So long as he knows HOW to write (which he does) there is no reason to focus huge effort in what is a non vital area at the expense of other things as well as self esteem.