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Subject: Inclusion. What do you think this means for your child?
What would it 'look' like?
If you want your views to be heard send them using the 'Your Comment' option below.
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YOUR COMMENT |
07/11/2009 anon 
re statmenting
school say they support having my daughter statmented on her medical grounds but are dragging their heels in actually doing anything can i start the process and who do i contact.
Yes, you can start the process yourself, but before you do, ask school again what is the hold up. If you still feel there is undue delay you can start the process by writing to the Local Authority's Special Needs Assessment Services and say that you want them to begin a Statutory Assessment of your daughter's special educational needs. Say why you are asking for this. The LA will then contact the school and ask them to send all the evidence of actions taken so far to meet your daughter's needs. If the LA subsequently refuse to assess, they will tell you why. If you disagree then you can appeal against such a decision to the Special Needs Tribunal.
28/08/2008 Kerry 
Hi all my son was diagnosed with Autism in Jan this year, he also has varies other medical conditions. I want him in mainstream school, but are finding it very hard to get him the help he needs. He was accepted by the school, but they are now refusing to accept he has any needs. He needs a care plan, which was promised, but has to date never emerged. So when every other child is starting their new school, my son will be going back to his nursery, until i am satisfied that his needs are being met. Hopefully this will happen but who knows.
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS !!!.
26/04/2008 Sarah
I read the poem of a mother with an 8 year old with Aspergers syndrome and saw my son totally. He is 13 and has ADHD, Aspergers, Conduct Disorder and Hyperlexia. He is in mainstream school (just and was it the right thing for me to do??) He has 18 hours TA support but cannot access a classroom due to panic attacks. He has no friends expect those on the internet who cant see how "different" he is. He is on a part time timetable, only going to school for the main subjects but is very very bright. He is doing Adult Literacy and Numeracy and has already got his level one which gives him a GCSE equivelant at grade D. He is to do level 2 by the end of the school year which gives his GCSE equivelant of A-C. He is doing this because the school (which I cannot really fault in what theyve done) are afraid for my son that he wont be able to "process" the question in a GCSE exam as his concentration span isnt big enough (if I explained that properly) He also wouldnt be able to go into a exam situation and he does the Adult Literacy and Numeracy tests on a Laptop.
We lived in Hull most of his life and came to Rotherham 2 and half years ago and have never found a support service that is accessable for him.
Dont mean to go on but its good to tell people that knows what I mean!
Thanx for listening
23/04/2008 Anon
Totally agree with last comment - my son is 4 (has been diagnosed ASD) and coping reasonably well so far in F1 but the system seems to be delayed in providing sufficient resources for teaching staff who are a little out of their depth at times. Social interaction with peers is sometimes difficult due to lacking communication skills and there are also behaviour issues to address - this is something that takes a lot of time and effort and are teaching assistants only allocated in severe cases? If early intervention is key for conditions like this then why can't more be done in the Foundation stage as "standard practice" for children with an Autistic diagnosis?
29/02/2008 anon 
I have nothing but praise for the work the parent partnership team of rotherham have done to help my family. We have a son with Asd and since the diagnosis have had many issues to work through.The most difficult area has been the education system. My son can and does fit into the mainstream education setting but getting the correct provision has been difficult and at times demoralising. Why should parents have to become strong advocates for their disabled child before correct provision is implemented within a school? If the system of Inclusion is to work for some Asd children, much more emphasis on education, of the staff on the "front line" dealing with our children on a daily basis,must be made a compulsary annual update seesions. Sharing of good and beneficial practices must be encouraged and developed within key policies. Also a short message to other parents of kids with AS, ASD, or Autism, please find support and advice from both the professionals and other parents.Some of the best advice we have received has been from other parents. Messages of hope strength and praise are sent to you all tonight.Keep yourselves well and positive to meet the hard but wonderful job of being a parent of a child with special needs. Feb. 2008.
19/06/2007 Mum of child with Aspergers
Inclusion does not work for everybody!! Its a wonderful idea, in principle, but in the real world where our kids are inevitably `bullied`(dare I even suggest that it happens!!) for being `different` it really does not work for my son. My 10 year old has been `included` since reception and he is now in year 5 - we are now looking to place him into a MLD school from year 6 to give him the opportunity to hopefully flourish without the distractions of the large class, working at a pace that he cannot possibly keep up with. School have done their very best but other than the 1 to 1 sessions provided within his statemented 10 hours per week he is so distracted in the classroom that he is still working at a year 2 level in most subjects and his verbal communications are equivalent to a 5/6 yera old!- no wonder he stands out like a sore thumb with his peers.
I have only praise for what the teaching staff have acheived but is it really fair to my son and the other children in his class to include him in something that will always be unable to meet his needs fully due to the time constraints of teaching a class of 30? Like I said inclusion does not work for everybody and it frustrates me that our children have to fail before they are able to receive the help that can truly enable them to reach their potential - what ever it may be.
Mum of a child with Aspergers Syndrome
31/05/2007 anon
The poems are great, much better than normal boring council speak. Thankyou to the Mother and the kids that wrote them.
17/04/2007 sharon ellis
Inclusion should make me feel happy,
Inclusion should make me feel glad.
Inclusion should make me feel welcome,
Make me feel better if I’m feeling sad.
But I’m worried when I am included,
Don’t know what to do or to say,
I just feel terribly frightened,
Don’t include me just stay away.
Inclusion is a place to feel wanted,
A place where all can fit in.
A place where the spirits are lifted,
Where life no longer feels grim.
I’d rather not go to those places,
Full of confusion, anxiety and sound,
They make me feel nervous and frightened,
I prefer it when no one’s around.
Inclusion means people are friendly,
They respect me for just who they see.
My thoughts and my feelings are valued
I’m special, I matter, I’m me.
I hate those facial expressions
People staring deep in my eyes,
They never listen to what I want
Despite all the pleas and the cries.
Inclusion wraps its strong arms around me,
It shelters and protects me from harm.
It nurtures me as I am growing,
It feels safe, secure and warm.
Inclusion wraps its strong arms around me
And squeezes so hard I can’t breathe.
I feel like my head is exploding
Inclusion is causing me grief.
I may not be able to see you,
I may not hear when you speak
I may not answer your questions
But that doesn’t mean I’m a freak
I don’t want to be noticed,
I just want to be left on my own
I would rather hide in the corner
Don’t include me- leave me alone
I may not pay much attention
I may not acknowledge you’re there.
I may have too many problems to mention
Inclusion is showing you care.
Don’t force me to be included
Its really doing me harm
I don’t know how to express it
Except from the scars on my arm.
Inclusion is having my needs met.
Some disabilities you can’t always see.
After all EVERY CHILD MATTERS
So don’t forget- include me!!!!!
If every child matters then LISTEN
Don’t ignore me and think you know best
I really don’t want to be included
It’s not in my best interest
There’s two sides to every story
And opposites like black and like white
Inclusion is totally one sided
How is that lawful and right
By Sharon Ellis, member of Actively Supporting ASD Parents (ASAP)Rotherham
11/04/2007 mother of an 8 year old
What inclusion Looks Like:
What If?
What if……….its school tomorrow?
What if……….my teacher isn’t there?
What if……….my routine has been altered?
What if……….there’s no one there to care?
What if……….its noisy in the classroom?
What if……….i’m sat amongst them all?
What if……….a teacher starts shouting?
What if……….I have to face the wall?
What if……….i’m scared by what I’m taught?
What if……….the works looks hard to me?
What if……….my laptop will not work?
What if……….my fear, they cannot see?
What if……….its scary in the playground?
What if……….i can’t join in their games?
What if……….nobody wants to play with me?
What if……….they start to call me names?
What if……….i want to be on my own?
What if……….i don’t know what is real?
What if……….people keep looking at me?
What if……….they can’t see how I feel?
What if……….i can’t control my feelings?
What if……….more worries come in my head?
What if……….they want me to be included?
What if……….I HURT MYSELF…instead?
Written By mother of an 8 year old boy with Aspergers Syndrome