Catch up time: Read the special needs stories you may have missed

Tania Tirraoro, Special Needs JungleA diverse list of stories and posts this week, but all interesting reads. As ever, leave your own story link in the comments if you’ve written or spotted something interesting that’s not mentioned here.

On a purely personal note, thank you so much to anyone who nominated me for the BritMums awards. I may have mentioned (just) a few times that the Special Needs Jungle blog has been shortlisted!  It’s one of 20 blogs in the ‘CHANGE’ category and now needs votes to go through to the final stages. If you have time, I’d be really grateful if you could help it along. It’s in section 3, number 15 at this link.

And after that quick promo, here’s the special needs story round up:

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by Special Needs Mum on March 30, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 30, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/30/catch-up-time-read-the-special-needs-stories-you-may-have-missed/

Conversations with an Aspie teen

When your Asperger’s son is deep in adolescence, it’s sometimes hard to tell whether their behaviour and conversation is more autistic or teenager. Two examples below from (extremely intelligent) Son1:

Son1: Are you saying I’m fat?

Me: No, it’s just that I need to put my office chair down and I don’t have the weight to push it.

Son1: So you ARE saying I’m fat.

Me: No, but you’re five inches taller than me and therefore heavier.

Son1: I know you think you’re 5′ 3″ but you’re not. You’re 5′ 1″. Which means I’m seven inches taller than you.

Me: Deep sigh.

Later…

Son1: What’s this suitcase doing at the bottom of the stairs?

Me: It’s your suitcase that I’ve been asking you to take upstairs for the last three days.

Son1: No you haven’t.

Me: Yes I have, ever since you got back.

Son1: No you asked me to take my CASE upstairs and this is a suitcase, so I didn’t know what you were talking about.

Me: Slaps own forehead.

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by Special Needs Mum on March 28, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 28, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/28/conversations-with-an-aspie-teen/

Cambian launches Specialist Education Scholarships for children with Asperger’s or autism in their schools

Many parents of children with Autism and Asperger Syndrome have faced unbelievable struggles to get the right education solutions for their children. Some have fought their LEAs for funding to the school most appropriate for their child and not succeeded. Now, specialist independent education provider, the Cambian group, have launched a scholarship to fund two children at one of their schools. It’s a fantastic opportunity and is the first of its kind.  Jeremy Wiles of the Cambian group, explains why they’re doing it, in this guest post written exclusively for Special Needs Jungle: “With over 30 years of experience in supporting children with complex educational needs, the Cambian group is no stranger to seeing how children can thrive and achieve things never thought possible, within the right learning environment. Sadly, not all children with Asperger’s syndrome or autism in the UK have the opportunity to attend a school which is specifically designed to address their individual learning and behavioural needs.  It is from this understanding that we first conceived the idea of launching a scholarship scheme for our residential specialist education schools. For parents, securing the right specialist education for their child with Asperger’s syndrome or autism can be a struggle. As we know, each situation is unique; some parents find their child performs academically but they encounter behavioural issues in the home or school. Equally, some children with Asperger’s syndrome or autism find school a huge challenge, and may face problems with bullying or homework. Our specialist schools are set up to address individual needs to ensure every child reaches their own personal best, however it is defined by them or for them. Of course, many parents of a child with Asperger’s syndrome or autism will have already been through the ‘statementing’ process. Finding the right school is another hurdle in what is often a lengthy process that can cause considerable stress for a fmaily. In recognition of this and the positive feedback we continue to receive from parents and children at our schools, we decided that it was time to pilot our first scholarship scheme. Our Specialist Education Scholarships schemewent live two weeks ago and we are now offering two residential placements at one of our Ofsted rated ‘outstanding’, specialist education schools. These placements will be available for two children with complex educational needs linked to Asperger’s syndrome or autism.

Image courtesy of Cambian

We’re thrilled and proud to be offering these placements to two children, at one of our residential specialist education schools.  The scholarships will be awarded after assessment by a relevant school, to ensure that the level of needs of the child would be matched with the right school.  This would typically mean that a child had a statement or was progressing through this process, at the time of application. The scholarship will provide an opportunity to place two children into a supportive and nurturing learning environment, for the duration of their education at one of our schools. We cannot urge parents enough, to come forward and find out more about what this scholarship could mean for their child and we are welcoming any questions that they may have. What our specialist schools provide, is a unique opportunity to experience the very best child-centred, individualised educational support needed by these students. We offer a unique Active Learning™ programme, which ensures a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to education, care and therapy, and access to a wide range of facilities to help students learn and progress. Our results speak for themselves; 40 percent of our post-16 students with Asperger’s syndrome return to mainstream college and around 85 per cent of students with autism achieve their individual education plan targets. It has been really exciting to see the applications roll in so far, but we really want to hear from more parents out there, and as such, we are encouraging as many people as possible to join in our conversations on Twitter. You can find us by following @Cambian_schools and don’t forget to include #CambianScholarships in your tweets, to join in the conversation. We will be hosting another live Tweet-up again very soon. Parents or guardians are able to apply for a scholarship place by downloading an application form from our website. The application should be supported by a professional who is currently involved in the care and education of your child. Two scholarship placements will be awarded in June 2012 and the deadline for submitting an application is 1st May 2012 at 5pm. If you would like to find out more about the scholarships, visit our frequently asked questions page. If you have further questions about the scholarships or would like to speak to someone about one of our schools please call Cambian’s SEN Helpline on 0800 138 1184. We look forward to hearing from you.”  

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by Special Needs Mum on March 26, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, Disability Financial Help, It's about the school, special needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 26, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/26/cambian-launches-specialist-education-scholarships-for-children-with-aspergers-or-autism-in-their-schools/

Shortlisted for BritMums award – Why SNJ is all about CHANGE

Thrilling news – The Special Needs Jungle blog as been shortlisted in the BritMums Brilliance in Blogging Awards “Change” Category

The Special Needs Jungle blog is all about change – changing the SEN system for the better and bringing information and resources to the attention of those who can use it to change their families’ lives for the better. It’s about amplifying the voices of families and professionals involved or coping with special needs issues – there are so many out there, but they far too often go unheard or unheeded. I am passionate about using this public forum to spotlight their views.

Special Needs Jungle has changed my life too, in ways I never imagined.

Me with Sons1 & 2. Image by Angela Melling

I started Special Needs Jungle back in 2008 when my younger son was going through the statementing process. I had amassed all this knowledge about the process and decided to write it down in a form that could help others, so I tentatively started the Special Needs Jungle blog. A year later, when I came to apply for my older son’s statement (they both have Asperger’s), I used my own site to refresh my memory of what to do!

One morning last September, I sat up in bed and knew that I had to write a book explaining in greater detail to parents facing the stressful and exhausting statementing process, just how to sit down and start setting out their child’s story. The book, Special Educational Needs – Getting Started With Statements,  took five weeks to complete, including examples from real, successful applications as well as contributions from other parents with their own stories. It has been very well received, the Kindle version of it hitting the top spot in the special needs category several times.

Last week, I spoke at a special needs parents’ coffee morning in Guildford and took ten books along with me, thinking I might sell a couple if I was lucky. Within minutes, they were all snapped up! There are more speaking engagements coming up, including at the ‘Towards a Positive Future’ conference in June. I’m on just before NAS President, Jane Asher, which everyone says is better than being on after her, as she’d be impossible to follow!

Through SNJ, I have been able to highlight SEN issues, great practice, fab resources and the most amazing, dedicated people who are working to help children and young people facing sometimes extreme challenges. I do not make money from or have sponsored posts on the blog – every guest post is given and accepted free of charge or payment and I only feature posts that bring something useful or inspirational to families caring for special needs children. It is a privilege to do so.

I haven’t mentioned this before, but a percentage of anything I make from book sales will be donated to my boys’ independent special school, More House School, who are trying to raise a million pounds to fund a School of Engineering, so that its boys can leave with real skills that will benefit themselves and the UK economy. My donation won’t be much – as authors know, not many make a million, especially from such a niche book, but it will be a small contribution to say thank you for everything they do for my sons. If you have any links with engineering companies who might like to sponsor such a worthwhile project, do let me know.

I’ve also, this year,  joined the committee of Family Voice Surrey, a parent-carer forum involved with the development of the new SEN Green Paper to make sure that the proposed changes really do make life better for families with SEN and disabilities. We are one of many such forums across the country, all of whom donate their time to help others.

And there are rewards: next month, as a result of the skills I have learned from working online and in social media, I will start work as PR and Community Manager for EDRIC, a European NGO aimed at helping people with Dysmelia – congenital limb reduction – across the whole of Europe. It’s a challenge I’m really excited about and it will also bring a wider context to Special Needs Jungle.

If you get time, and if you think Special Needs Jungle is a worthy recipient of the BritMums Brilliance in Blogging Change Award, please click this link and vote for me. 

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by Special Needs Mum on March 24, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Really useful site, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 24, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/24/shortlisted-for-britmums-award-why-snj-is-all-about-change/

What’s been said about special needs on the web this week

Friday’s come around again – this one marks the day my boys break up for Easter and don’t go back until April 18th. Son1 is on a WWI trip to Ypres, Son2 off sick with painful legs caused by Vitamin D deficiency, so their holidays have already started. My task – get Son2 out of the Technolair and into the sunshine, which is easier said than done.

While I’m doing that, have a look at these stories and blogs I found (or wrote myself) in the past week. Lots of good stuff. If I missed your great blog post or news story, leave it in the comments and I can add you to my RSS feeds.

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by Special Needs Mum on March 23, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 23, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/23/whats-been-said-about-specialneeds-on-the-web-this-week/

Special needs experts offer views for Labour’s SEN policy review

Earlier this week, I attended a meeting at Westminster for Labour’s SEN policy review, chaired by MP, Sharon Hodgson, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Children and Families.

Westminster - Copyright Tania Tirraoro all rights reservedMrs Hodgson is herself the mother of a severely dyslexic son so if anyone understands SEN issues, she does. The issue under discussion in this one of a series of meetings, was early identification and provision. Now, Labour’s record on SEN isn’t stellar, presiding as it did over the closure of so many special schools and the policy of inclusion, which anyone with a real understanding of the needs of children with SEN and disabilities could see just wasn’t sensible.

However, now they are out of power they have an opportunity to reassess and this review is seeking to bring together young people with SEN and disabilities and their families and associated professionals to examine the current SEN landscape. The review is also attempting to crystallise opinions on the government’s SEN Green Paper and to “work towards a clear pledge of what children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents or carers should be able to expect from education, health and social care services in identifying and providing for their needs.”

Trialling by pathfinder councils of aspects of the Green paper is getting underway, although in Surrey at the moment, it seems there is much up in the air with an abrupt reorganisation of the SEN department and the departure of several senior key figures, including the head of SEN herself, Debbie Johnson. One might ask, who is actually running Surrey’s SEN at the moment and how will this apparently major reconfiguration affect the pathfinder?

At the Westminster meeting, around fifty people concerned with SEN were gathered in Committee Room 14, from the head of the NUT, Christine Blower, the CEO of The Meningitis Trust, Sue Davie, councillors, day nursery providers, the leader of the Association of Educational Psychologists, Kate Fallon, other SEN professionals and parents, like me.

All who spoke, did so with great passion and knowledge about the difficulties faced in providing adequate care and appropriate education for SEN and disabled children. This was focused on the problems surrounding  the timely identification of children whose SEN might not be immediately apparent, in some cases until they reach Secondary level, such as children with acquired brain injury.

Karen Veitch of the National Day Nurseries Association, said how early intervention may be expensive at first but it was far cheaper in the long run, while Kate Fallon said that the current system tends to mitigate against early intervention.

One inspirational mother and daughter team are Nadia Clark and her mother, Katie. Nadia has cerebral palsy and is deaf. She uses a vocal synthesiser to speak, but her indefatigable spirit and intelligence shines through and she soon hopes to go to University. She is the recipient of a Winston Churchill Foundation grant to research alternative methods of communication.

Her mother, Katie, is a woman of great determination and she has worked tirelessly to support her daughter. She spent two years looking for a school that would take Nadia, moving her family across the country to do so. She later formed the parent-carer forum, One Voice Communicating Together and believes the future for SEN & disability services should be about “looking at things differently and more creatively”. She stressed, and I thoroughly agree with this, the need for good emotional support for families in the early years, saying supporting parents’ self-esteem is vital if they are to be able to be strong for their children.

The NUT’s Christine Blower voiced concern over the break up of the schools system and said there was massive pressure on SENCos to work beyond their skill sets. In my own experience, SENCos are also overworked, carrying out several other roles within the school as well.

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the review and I will look forward to reading any published policy that comes about because of it. It was a privilege for me to listen to such committed and dedicated parents and professionals speak so eloquently about services for vulnerable children. I just hope that they are listened to by those who can make a difference at government level.

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by Special Needs Mum on March 22, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN Politics, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 22, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/22/special-needs-experts-offer-views-for-labours-sen-policy-review/

Unofficial exclusions – Has it happened to your child?

Some schools in England are illegally excluding pupils, sometimes permanently, without going through the full formal process, a report says. England’s children’s commissioner Dr Maggie Atkinson heard some pupils were moved to other schools or sent home without an exclusion being recorded. Most schools tried to hold on to troubled pupils, she said, but a minority excluded on “a whim”. BBC News

This story has made the news today but for me, it comes as no surprise. In fact, I published a post about this very subject a few months ago regarding unofficial exclusions because of a child’s special educational needs:

Yesterday, I was talking to a friend of mine who is a highly experienced SEN Advocate. I told her of a parent I know who had been asked to collect her ASD son early from school each day. My friend, Julie Maynard, was outraged. That was, she said, an unofficial exclusion and was illegal. The child was being deprived of a full school day because of his disability….Read more

That story followed the Centre for Social Justice  releasing a report last October that said some schools in England are “acting illegally or unscrupulously” by excluding pupils by unofficial means. Some schools encourage parents to remove difficult children, avoiding officially excluding them but providing no support. The report, No Excuses: A review of educational exclusion, was based on interviews with more than 100 heads, teachers, parents, pupils, local authority, voluntary and private sector workers.

Today, Mark Atkinson, Director of Policy, at Ambitious about Autism said, “The Children’s Commissioner for England is right to highlight the scandal of illegal exclusions from school. Children with autism are unfairly and disproportionately over-represented in exclusion figures. The fact that pupils with special educational needs (SEN) are eight times more likely to be permanently excluded from school is shocking and must be addressed.

“We call on head teachers to think twice before excluding a child with SEN, and we call on governors to hold their senior staff to account.”

If your child has been unofficially excluded, read my earlier post to the endas there is a form letter protesting this that you may want to use.

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by Special Needs Mum on March 19, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN Lawyers, SEN Politics, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 19, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/19/unofficial-exclusions/

Catch up with special needs news you may have missed this week

Another Friday is here – just one week to go before my boys break up for an almost-month-long Easter break. Here’s my weekly round up of the best special needs and disability stories and blogs I’ve spotted this week. As ever, if you have one to share, list it in the comments of this blog so others can enjoy it!

If you enjoy the Special Needs Jungle site, or have been helped by it, I’d be delighted if you would please nominate specialneedsjungle.com in the BritMums Blogging Awards in the CHANGE! section
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by Special Needs Mum on March 16, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN News Story Round Up, Statements of SEN
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 16, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/16/catch-up-with-special-needs-news-you-may-have-missed-this-week/

Got the statement? Great, but your work’s not over yet.

Many parents are so relieved to get that letter saying the LEA has decided to issue a statement of special educational needs for their child that they think their work is done. And they’d be very, very wrong. A statement is useless if it does not define your child’s needs completely and set out in detail how they will be met.

When you receive your draft statement, you or your advocate, must ensure that all your child’s special educational needs have been properly identified and stated in part two of the draft statement. Then, you must ensure that every stated need should be met with appropriate provision in Part three.

Each special educational need specified in Part 2 must be met by provision specified in Part 3: R –v- Secretary of State for Education ex parte E [1992] 1 FLR 377, CA

If your child’s needs have been inadequately stated in part two, now is the time in your response (which normally needs to be within 15 days) to make sure you add them so that they can be included ans provision provided.

This process is not made easier by the way the statement is set out. Instead of listing Need, then Provision next to it, all the needs are set out then all the provision, so it is up to you to match one against the other. I would recommend using a table to do this – one column headed Needs- Part 2, the next, Provision, Part 3 and a third column entitled,  My Comments.

Then go through part two and pick out each separate need and list it in a separate row under the first column. Then go back down your list and search through part three of the proposed statement document for a matching provision. The statement document has evolved to be quite narrative in format, often just pasting in chunks from the Ed Psych report (in our case from the Ed Psych report that we had paid for ourselves) This does not necessarily mean that the statement writer has understood your child’s needs, just that they know how to copy and paste.

Part 2 can include narrative description of a child as well as specifying SEN (cf R –v- Secretary of State for Education ex p E [1992] 1 FLR 377): W –v- Leeds CC [2005] EWCA Civ 988, [2005] ELR 617, 29/7/2005

So your final table should have all your child’s needs in column one that have been stated and with your own additions if needed (make sure it is easy to understand you have added these yourself)

In the second column, which reflects Part 3 provision, you should have listed everything you can find that matches with the needs. This may well be eye opening.

Then in the third column make your notes and observations about the provision.

Then go back through Part 2 and Three and make sure you have covered everything. You may well find that there are unstated needs or needs that have been stated that there is no provision for. Of course, you may see that your statement writer has done a sterling job and everything is as it should be.

If you have non-educational needs and provision listed in part five or six, ensure this is also adequate. Sometimes speech and language is listed as non-educational. If your child needs this help for living (eg eating) then is is non-educational. If they need OT or SLT for learning – ie, writing help for dyspraxia, communication skills, then is should be in parts two and three as educational provision.

You can ask for a meeting during this time with the LEA and after the meeting you have another 15 days to ask for further meetings. Within 15 days of your last meeting, you can send in any more comments. If you would like more time to comment, you should talk to your case officer.

There should be no school named in part four at the point of issuing a draft statement. But be aware that the LEA is not obligated to name a school that can provide ‘the best’ education, just one that provides an ‘adequate’ education that meets your child’s needs.

The LEA/SENDIST is under a duty to secure provision which meets the child’s SEN but is not “under an obligation to provide a child with the best possible education. There is no duty
on the authority to provide such a Utopian system, or to educate him or her to his or her maximum potential. …”: R v Surrey CC ex p H (1984) 83 LGR 219.

It’s a very good idea to research suitable schools before you even know if you’re getting a statement so you know what type of school can meet your child’s needs. Often you will know exactly which school you want them to go to – and that’s the next step!

SEN-Getting Started With Statements

This advice and more is detailed in my SEN statementing book, Special Educational Needs, Getting Started with Statementing. It’s available in paperback or ebook from Amazon & WH Smith online or paperback from Waterstones.com. Or you can order it from your local bookstore. So many SEN books are expensive so I have priced this at just £6.99 to make it accessible to as many parents as possible.

Legal Quotes Source: ISC

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by Special Needs Mum on March 14, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in special educational needs, Statementing, Statements of SEN
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 14, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/14/got-the-statement-great-but-your-works-not-over-yet/

Catch up with the best special needs blogs and news from this week

So many autism, Asperger’s, dyslexia, ADHD and other special needs stories this week. This is my pick of the best of the blogs, news and research.

If you enjoy reading Special Needs Jungle, I would be really happy if you would please nominate SpecialNeedsJungle.com blog in BritMums Blogging Awards in the CHANGE! section

Enjoy this week’s story selection. Don’t forget, if you have your own post or story, add it in the blog comments section.

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by Special Needs Mum on March 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN News Story Round Up, special needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 9, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/09/catch-up-with-the-best-special-needs-blogs-and-news-from-this-week/

If your SEN child loves computers.. watch this video

Source: Wiki

I’ve talked a lot on this site about the need to improve IT teaching in schools, before Michael Gove announced an intention to do just that.

One great way to do this is for schools to buy the new Raspberry Pi – a credit-card basic computer that runs Linux that children can learn to code with. It costs under £25. My boys’ school, I’m very pleased to say, has already ordered two of the machines and yesterday I had an opportunity to pre-order one for Son2. There’s a long lead time because demand is so high, so I’m not expecting to see it before May.

Many children, especially boys, who find great challenges with learning skills such as handwriting and accessing the curriculum the way others do, are actually terrific with computers. This is a brilliant way to encourage them into a career where they can excel.

But if you’re not especially techy yourself, how do you do this? I’ve found this great video on the Guardian’s website where Web developer Chris Cross looks at how easy it is to set up, browse the web and write code. Watch this and you’ll feel a lot more confident about how to encourage your child. For books on basic programming for kids, I found this one with five star reviews on Amazon called Hello World! Computer Programming for Kids

4 Comments
by Special Needs Mum on March 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in special educational needs, special needs, Teaching IT
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 6, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/06/if-your-sen-child-loves-computers-watch-this-video/

Government Urged To Ensure SEN Appeal System Is Made Less Intimidating

Many families experience an intimidating process when they appeal against local authority decisions regarding special educational needs provision for vulnerable children, says speech and language therapist Janet O’Keefe, who attends many tribunals as an expert witness.

Janet says that special educational needs and disability tribunals are organised by the Ministry of Justice as part of the court system and their hearings are often heard in magistrates’ courts, asylum and immigration buildings, or social security offices which is very stressful for parents who have not done anything wrong other than disagree with the provision proposed to support their child by the local authority responsible for meeting their special educational needs.

This issue will be one of the topics under discussion at a conference called Towards a Positive Future, which Janet is holding in Newbury, Berkshire on Saturday, 16 June, where speakers will include Jane Asher, president of the National Autistic Society.

Janet, who founded Wordswell (Speech and Language Therapy Services) near Ely, Cambridgeshire, says the event is aimed at parents of children with special education needs and the professionals who support them. Janet will be speaking about the daunting and intimidating process of appeal for parents.

Janet says: “It’s disappointing that local authorities do not seem to be currently negotiating with parents, which results in more appeal hearings and higher legal costs for those parents who use expensive specialist solicitors and barristers to represent them. On average I have attended two tribunal hearings a month as an expert witness for speech and language therapy; in January 2012, there were 12 in the diary and I attended eight.

“Since all tribunals came under the Ministry of Justice, hearings have had to be held in government buildings instead of hotels or dedicated tribunal buildings to save money.  This means that instead of a formal business meeting, special education appeal hearings are now held in magistrates’ courts, asylum and immigration buildings, or social security offices.  Often there is security on the door like an airport to scan and search all bags and people entering the building. The whole process is increasingly stressful – and all because parents dared to disagree with the provision the local authorities are offering to support their child who through no fault of their own has special educational needs.

“The legal costs have also escalated for parents who seek legal representation. Just five years ago parents were telling me that their legal bill was on average £7,000, now they are telling me it is more than £20,000.”

Tania Tirraoro, a mother of two autistic sons, Luca, 14, and Giorgio, 12, and author of Special Educational Needs – Getting Started with Statements, believes a much more conciliatory approach is required which would involve a huge culture shift away from the present process so the focus is on the special educational needs of the child, and not the local authority’s budget.

Tania belongs to Family Voice Surrey, a parent carer group to help form the new SEN structure where pathfinder trials are taking place.

She says: “The system has been adversarial for far too long, and it’s not just the framework that needs to change to improve things, but the attitudes of some LEA staff to dealing with stressed and vulnerable parents. Even as the trials are getting underway, parents using the existing system are still being subjected to unnecessary expense preparing for tribunals that the LEA backs out of at the last minute, inadequate proposed statements and fights over placements. A change here would make the biggest difference of all.

“There are many fine ideals in the green paper, but the most important thing is that the pathfinder trials must show that they are workable on a large scale and do, in fact, improve the lives of children with SEN and their families.”

Jane Asher, president of the National Autistic Society, says: “I am very much looking forward to coming to Wordswell’s conference – anything that can help to promote understanding, support and the need for the right education for those on the autistic spectrum is always close to my heart.

“After over 30 years of working with the National Autistic Society I still continue to learn more about this complex condition all the time, and I know I will enjoy meeting the parents, carers, professionals and those with autism themselves who will gather to exchange experiences and to help improve the lives of all those affected. “

Janet has edited a book which was launched at last October’s Conference called ‘Towards a Positive Future: stories, ideas and inspiration from children with special educational needs, their families and professionals’ which includes practical information and support for parents and expert witnesses.

The conference is being held at the Arlington Arts Centre in Newbury on Saturday, 16 June. Early bird tickets cost £80, and £100 after 1 May, and can be booked by calling 01954 253525, or email janetokeefe@wordswell.co.uk.  

Please see www.wordswell.co.uk for further information.

Ends.

Notes to editors:

  1. For photos or interview requests, please contact media officer Ellee Seymour on 01353 648564, 07939 811961, or email ellee.seymour@btopenworld.com
  2. Full details of the green paper for special educational needs, please see the Department for Education, http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/sen/a0075339/sengreenpaper
2 Comments
by Special Needs Mum on March 5, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN Green Paper, SEN Politics, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 5, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/05/government-urged-to-ensure-the-appeal-system-for-parents-of-children-with-special-educational-needs-is-made-less-intimidating/

I want your statementing stories

I get emails from lots of people with questions about statementing and I do my best to answer them within the best of my knowledge or signpost them to someone who can. I also read lots of stories on message boards from people going through the process who are looking for information or other people’s experiences and so I’ve had an idea.

If you’ve been through the statementing journey with one or more of your children, I’d like to hear from you. Sharing stories can help other people on the same journey and helping people by raising awareness is what this blog is all about. If you’d like to share your story with others via the Special Needs Jungle blog, please email it to me (Tania) at info@specialneedsjungle.com. If you’d like more information before committing, drop me a line. Also, if you have any burning ideas for topics you’d like to see covered, send them in.

Post are usually less than a thousand words and I’d love to include a photo if you wish and/or, if you have your own blog, a link to it. If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can change the key names in the story.

I may need to edit for length or legal reasons (we don’t want to libel anyone – even though they may well deserve to be named and shamed!)

Over the next few months, I’ll be writing more about the new SEN process as it develops – there will be more news from central government soon, maybe in the next week or so. Make sure you subscribe by email to the blog so you don’t miss any updates!

Thanks!

Tania

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by Special Needs Mum on March 4, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN Green Paper, special educational needs, Statementing, Statements of SEN
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 4, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/04/i-want-your-statementing-stories/

Blogs, News & View in Special Needs this week

Wandering the special needs web this week, I found the following blogs and news stories you might be interested in. Also, if you think Special Needs Jungle is a “brilliant blog”, I’d be super-grateful if you would please vote for www.specialneedsjungle.com in the  BritMums blog awards in the CHANGE category. Thanks!

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by Special Needs Mum on March 2, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN Green Paper, SEN News Story Round Up
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 2, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/02/blogs-news-view-in-special-needs-this-week/

Exciting news – a conference speaking invitation

I have exciting news – I am to be a keynote speaker at the forthcoming SEN Conference, Towards a Positive Future that is to take place in Newbury in June. I will be talking about being a parent of two sons with autism and how parents-carer forums such as Family Voice Surrey, of which I am a committee member, are helping to shape SEN services with the SEN Green paper pathfinders. Surrey will be trialing, among other areas, the proposed Education Health and Care Plan for which I attended a day-long meeting yesterday.

Apparently, children with existing SEN statements will not automatically be moved to an EHCP although their parents can request it. They may be moved at a transition point if appropriate, however.

It is clear from the meeting that there is much work to be done and in a relatively short time as it is expected the new procedures will be brought in by 2013/14. There are some positive proposals and still a lot of detail to be worked out, but the general principle is that the child and family should be at the centre of the process. It’s not very clear to me why this isn’t already the case.

The whole system at the moment is adversarial and there is much distrust on both sides, so to make the new process succeed there needs to be a major cultural shift towards working together for the benefit of the child. At the moment LEAs are (rightly or wrongly) seen as penny-pinching, budget-not-child focused parent-haters who are determined to give as little as they can get away with. LEA staff, meanwhile see some parents as just trying to bag a statement to get their children into the best schools that cost the council hundreds of thousands of pounds a year when (the LEA feels) local provision would do just as well. There are many parents left vastly out-of-pocket by legal fees as they pursue the most appropriate option for their child.

Personally, I can’t understand why any parent would head into the stressful, potentially expensive jungle of statementing unless their child has significant needs that are not being met within current school resources – I mean, why would you put yourself through that? Every parent I have encountered who is seeking a statement has experienced their child going through years of difficulties, under-achievement and unhappiness before they become convinced that this is the only route. I’m sure there are exceptions, but they must be just that - exceptions.

Anyway, by the conference in June I expect some parents will have been recruited for the trials and we will have more detail of how the final system will look. Other speakers include the National Autistic Society president, Jane Asher, Janet O’Keefe, editor of “Towards a Positive Future”, Educational Lawyer, Clive Rawlings and Kevin Geeson of Dyslexia Action among others.

Below is a link to a booking form that you can use with all the details on.

Towards_a_Positive_Future_Conference_2012_flyer

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by Special Needs Mum on February 29, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, SEN Green Paper, SEN Politics, Statements of SEN
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 29, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/29/exciting-news-a-conference-speaking-invitation/

Labour SEN Policy Review – want to get involved?

This is taken from the website of Sharon Hodgson MP, but I thought it might be useful to post it here too, in case anyone hasn’t seen it and wants to get involved. I am already involved in a meeting on Monday for the Surrey Pathfinder trials for the proposed EHCP but this looks like an interesting opportunity for anyone interested in helping Labour form its own updated SEN policy:

_____________

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS – POLICY REVIEW, 2012

The Labour Party are seeking your views on how to build on the work of the last decade in improving educational outcomes for children and young people with specialeducational needs and disabilities, to inform their policies in the run-up to the next general election.

Review Panel :

  • Sharon Hodgson MP, Shadow Minister for Children and Families (Chair);
  • Cllr Luke Akehurst, Hackney Council and Labour Party National Executive Committee member;
  • Cllr Richard Watts, Executive Member for Children, Islington Council;
  • Alex Cunningham MP, Education Select Committee Member;
  • Young people’s representatives (tbc).

Purpose and aims

The review seeks to bring together children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents or carers, as well as those involved in providing for their needs, and those who champion better services and outcomes for them, to achieve the following aims:

  •  To examine the current landscape of provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, including highlighting examples of current best practice.
  •  To crystallise opinions on the Department for Education’s ‘Support and Aspiration’ Green Paper;
  • To work towards a clear pledge of what children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents or carers should be able to expect from education, health and social care services in identifying and providing for their needs.
  • To generate, and provide a basis for the development of, new and innovative ideas to improve the identification of and provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, while achieving the best possible use of limited resources.

Timeline

The review will be held over four distinct evidence sessions:

Session 1 – The Green Paper and next steps

Tuesday 28 Feb, 11.00-13.00, Committee Room 5, House of Commons

Scope: General discussion on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats from the government’s ‘Support and Aspiration’ Green Paper.

Ideal contributors: Any individuals, groups or organisations with an interest in the future of SEN provision.

Session 2 – Teacher training and specialist professionals

Tuesday 6 Mar, 4.30-6.30, Committee Room 5, House of Commons

Scope: Exploring ways of improving knowledge and expertise withing the education workforce, including whether to increase the time given over to SEN in initial teacher training and continuous professional development/INSET days, building on what is in the Green Paper on encouraging up-skilling.

Ideal contributors: Representatives of teachers/headteachers and early years professionals, ITT/CPD providers, local authorities, specialist staff.

Session 3 – Identification and provision

Tuesday 20 Mar, 5.30-7.30, Committee Room 8, House of Commons

Scope: How best to identify and provide for children with SENs, and establishing what parents and children should be able to expect from the various agencies involved in doing so.

Ideal contributors: Parents and young people, representatives of teachers/headteachers and early years professionals, local authorities, academies/free schools and PVI special schools/settings.

Session 4 – Accountability and the role of local authorities

Tuesday 27 Mar, 4.30-6.30, Committee Room 5, House of Commons

Scope: How to bring accountability back to provision, including what the role of local authorities should be, and what parents should be able to expect from it.

Ideal contributors: Local authorities, charities, parents and young people.

Following these evidence sessions, a report and recommendations will be drafted for submission to the Labour Party’s National Policy Forum, where they will then go forward for discussion at Annual Conference in the Autumn.

Conclusions reached will also form the basis of how Labour responds to future legislation and policies brought forward by the Government.

How to get involved

1. Attend a session

If you are interested in attending or speaking to any of the above evidence sessions, please e-mail sharon.hodgson.mp@parliament.uk stating:

- who you are representing (if not as an individual),

- which session(s) you would like to attend,

- and giving a brief outline of the points you want to make.

The review is particularly keen to hear from children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents or carers on their first-hand experiences of getting the support they need.

2. Send us your stories and ideas

If you do not wish or are not able to attend any of the sessions, you can still get involved by submitting your thoughts on, and experiences of, the SEN system tosharon.hodgson.mp@parliament.uk  in the same way.

Important notes

Ideally, requests to attend should be made at least 5 working days in advance of the date of the session, although allowances will be made if the session is undersubscribed; however, presenters will be finalised by said cut-off of 5 working days.

The capacity for each session is 50 people, with a maximum of 8 being invited to give a short presentation – following presentations, the floor will be opened to everyone else.

Where sessions are over-subscribed, every effort will be made to ensure as broad a range of attendees as possible, and confirmation of your place will be provided as soon as possible.

Sessions will be presided over by the Chair of the review panel or, if a division is called, another member thereof.  As time in the sessions is limited, it is requested that attendees give consideration to other attendees in the length of their contribution, and in not interrupting other contributions.

The Committee Corridor is wheelchair-accessible, and a limited amount of parking is available for those with disabilities – by prior arrangement.  Please state in your e-mail if you have any special requirements, and every effort will be made to cater for them.

All submissions will be retained and used as a basis for the final report.

Discussions and presentations at the evidence sessions are on the record – detailed notes will be taken, and you and any organisation you represent may be quoted in the final report and supporting documents, unless you specifically request otherwise.  Similarly, any submissions received will be regarded as eligible for publication unless you explicitly state otherwise.

The closing date for submissions is March 31st. Applications and emails should preferably be typed and submitted by email, but they may also be posted to the following address if you do not have access to a computer:

SEN Policy Review

c/o Sharon Hodgson MP

House of Commons

London SW1A 0AA

Any questions or clarifications can be sought by email at the address given, or by phone on 020 7219 0266.

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by Special Needs Mum on February 24, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN Green Paper, SEN Politics
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 24, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/24/labour-sen-policy-review-want-to-get-involved/

Roaming the Special Needs web this week…

Another busy week in the news and blogs – here’s some of my favourites as well as a round up of posts on Special Needs Jungle in the past seven days. Add yours in the blog comments below
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by Special Needs Mum on February 24, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, Really useful site, SEN News Story Round Up
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 24, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/24/roaming-the-special-needs-web-this-week/

Games shops with a difference – mixing wargaming with sensory toys!

Little Games Shop LogoEarlier in the week I posted an article about Son2 and his love of Games Workshop. Today, I’m very happy to host a guest spot from Hilary Knight, herself the mother of a son with special needs. Hilary runs The Games Shop at Aldershot in Hampshire and the newly opened Little Games Shop, in Farnham, Surrey.  They stock all the usual stuff to delight boys young and old – but they are much more than that. Read on to find out more:

“Our son aged 9 has special needs and attends a special school. Simple right? No, not simple at all!

I am a qualified nursery nurse, have a degree in Education Studies and Psychology and was a childcare inspector for Ofsted for the under 8’s before I had my daughter. How hard could it be?

We encountered major frustration over getting a diagnosis that didn’t include a conclusion of parental blame while home educating due to threats of him being expelled at 5.5. We walked through the equivalent of treacle getting an educational statement and it almost turned my hair white looking for a school that could meet his needs!

Getting resources or toys for him in the high street like chewy tubes, chewigems, theraputty was and is – IMPOSSIBLE! So, my husband, Rhys and I, decided to bring special needs toys and resources to the high street, working with two occupational therapists.

The Little Games Shop – helping children and adults with additional needs 

  • In our new Farnham store we stock a range of resources including Theraputty, Mr Face, sensory toys, sand timers, chewigems, feely boards, card holders, larger piece puzzles, large print scrabble, pocket money toys as well as the usual mainstream games, puzzles and some really great wooden toys. Soon we are stocking handwriting equipment, weighted blankets etc. We can source products for parents and are working with local SENCo’s. We can mail them out without postage and packing costs.            
  • We don’t believe in inflated prices just because it has the tag line of “special needs”
  • We work with two Occupational Therapists who on hand to advise regarding equipment and resources. Both OT’s have experience of children with additional and sensory needs – Caroline Winfield and Louise Williams.
  • All staff have childcare qualification and/or are parents. On Saturdays we have Veronica who has worked for the National Autistic Society and has  completed courses in ASD and Young People, Social Stories Workshop and also has personal knowledge of ASD.

The Games Shop, Aldershot – 3 floors above the shop with refurbished rooms. – helping children and adults with additional needs:

  • The first Tuesday of the month during school terms, SOS! SEN the special needs advisory charity, hold an advice surgery for parents/carers to navigate their way through the SEN system (without them my son would still be home educated and very unhappy), from 10:15-12:15. No appointment necessary and no fee, although a donation is always welcome.
  • Hampshire NAS hold a social skills group for children every Saturday in Games Room 1 for children who live in Hampshire: Contact Kate Nixon on Tel: 01483 869 553
  • Every Friday from 6-9pm we hold an under 16’s Wargaming club. The shop is a Games Workshop Premium Shop and Rhys used to be a manager for GW. The event is held in the “war room” with two members of staff with bags of knowledge and passion for the game. Come along and paint your army, get expert tips, play Warhammer or Warhammer 40,000 or make/paint your own scenery. Children with additional needs are an asset in this activity with their knowledge and memory and the game can so easily be adapted.
  • Pokémon. We are very lucky to have our own Pokémon professor! Not only is he bursting with passion for the game, but as a qualified nursery nurse, he activity promotes reading and sportsmanship. He will happily show new members how to play and a more suitable time can be arranged for beginners. Saturdays is Pokémon league 10:30 to 1pm.
  • We also host Yu-gi-Oh and Magic the gathering card games on Fridays.

Contact the shop for more info.

Finally, all three rooms plus the War Room are for hire and room rates start at just £10.00 per hour. Rhys has hosted GW parties very successfully as well as LEGO parties all, of course, adapted to the children’s needs and interests.

Just shops that sells traditional games, card games, collectibles, pocket money toys, puzzles, wooden toys, Games Workshop, LEGO? Not our shops!

Pop in Aldershot and say Hello to Rhys or pop into Farnham and say hello to Hilary.

  • The Games Shop, 6 Wellington Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1DZ Tel: 01252 311 443
  • The Little Games Shop, 4 Cambridge Place, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7RX Tel: 01252 713313

The Little Games Shop also has a Facebook page with lots of info and conversation!

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by Special Needs Mum on February 23, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in special needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 23, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/23/games-shops-with-a-difference-mixing-wargaming-with-sensory-toys/

Conference for parents of children with special educational needs and professionals

National Autistic Society president, Jane Asher, will be speaking at a conference in Newbury, Berkshire, in June for parents of children with SEN and associated professionals. The agenda will be published soon but the flyer is below and a downloadable pdf version is at the bottom.

Towards_a_Positive_Future_Conference_2012_flyer - Download as PDF

 

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by Special Needs Mum on February 21, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, special educational needs
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 21, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/21/conference-for-parents-of-children-with-special-educational-needs-and-professionals/

Games Workshop – the perfect hobby for Son2

Until recently, Asperger’s Son2 had no interests that didn’t involve a computer or a games console.

Son2 explains the rules to his Dad

He used to love Lego, but that faded into the background the older he became. He used to spend hours reading and memorising Horrible Science magazines, but that too, petered out. He spends far too much time playing Xbox but at least half the time he’s playing Xbox Live, talking to his school friends as they play together, remotely.

Over the summer however, he became interested in wargaming. Not computerised, but Games Workshop wargaming, painting figures and playing board games with them. This was a revelation and we’ve been quick to support him. This entails spending vast amounts of money on Orks (for my husband to play with him) and Space Marines (for him) as well as Codex books, paints and carry boxes.

Most Sundays I take him to Games Workshop where he paints alongside a few other boys, instructed by the fantastic guys who run the store. These guys are amazing – always on hand to help in a low key, let-them-get-on-with-it sort of way. They’re not teachers but my son is learning valuable skills both social and practical.

Dad being resoundingly thrashed at a game by Son2

Son2 has dyspraxia and has always found art, painting and writing incredibly difficult. But the care and detail he puts into painting his Space Marines is a joy to see. I’m certain it’s improving his fine motor skills which should improve his school artwork. He’s also learning from Nick, the GW guy, more about rules and how to play the games. Strangely, there’s always a little something Son2 decides he needs to buy at the end of the session as well.

It’s not wholly surprising that he’s picked a hobby that involves collecting and being immersed in a scenario – but if it’s improving his communication skills with real people, I’m all for it.

So even though on most Sundays, I can be found wasting two hours wandering around the adjoining shopping centre or sitting in Starbucks on my iPad as I wait for his session to finish, it’s worth it – just to see him interacting with something that doesn’t need plugging in.

The basic gaming table

Best of all, he’s enjoying himself and it’s a hobby my husband can enjoy with him as my husband sculpts his own figures – not fantasy but World War II. This game in the pictures lasted two days and Son2 thrashed his Dad, much to his delight.

What’s your special needs child’s favourite pastime?

2 Comments
by Special Needs Mum on February 20, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 20, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/20/games-workshop-the-perfect-hobby-for-son2/

Special needs stories you’ll want to read this week

Some great stories and blog posts about special needs that I spotted this week. If you have one of your own, add it in the blog comments below!

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by Special Needs Mum on February 17, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN News Story Round Up
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 17, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/17/special-needs-stories-youll-want-to-read-this-week/

Want your SEN product or service listed on the Special Needs Jungle site?

Special Needs Jungle has lots of visitors every day ranging from parents & carers to SEN professionals. It has many email subscribers and is also available for subscription on Kindle.

The site has a page where links to SEN sites and resources are listed. If you would like to have your SEN resource or product listed, please use the contact form to get in touch.

This service is free for parent support groups and SEN/Disability charities. For other companies, there is a £20 a year donation fee that will go to More House Special School in Farnham for its fund to build a School of Engineering.

More House School educates boys from 8 to 18 who might be bright but who have some form of learning difficulty that impedes their progress in mainstream school.

If you know of a company who might be interested in taking advantage of this offer, please forward this link to them.

1 Comment
by Special Needs Mum on February 13, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in It's about the school, Links, Really useful site
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 13, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/13/want-your-sen-product-or-service-link-on-the-special-needs-jungle-site/

What did you miss? Special Needs stories from the last week

It’s a bumper round-up of special needs stories and blogs this week – check out what you might have missed:

Got one of your own? Add it in the blog comments.

TOTS 100 - UK Parent Blogs
familyholidays.co.uk
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by Special Needs Mum on February 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN News Story Round Up
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 10, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/10/what-did-you-miss-special-needs-stories-from-the-last-week/

Josh’s book aims to help parents of Asperger’s kids

Raising Martians - from Crash-landing to Leaving HomeA student with Asperger’s syndrome has written a book to help parents who have children with the disorder.

Joshua Muggleton, 22, a student at University of St Andrews, wrote Raising Martians to help parents understand the minds of their children.

The book has a foreword from from world-renowned Asperger Syndrome expert, Tony Attwood. Opening with the very basics of what autism is, Joshua covers mental health, sensory issues, obsessions and rituals, friendships and social situations, and shopping, travelling, and holidays, before tackling what is arguably the biggest challenge of any Aspie child’s life: school – and with it, bullying, homework, and other challenges. Providing the inside track on Asperger Syndrome in childhood, he describes practical ways in which parents and teachers can help, and offers a wealth of advice and helpful hints and tips for approaching common difficulties.

Josh, who is from Surrey and is a member of the National Autistic Society, said the book title came from the idea that “raising a child with Asperger’s can feel like raising an alien”.

The fourth-year psychology student said: “People with Asperger’s have a lot to contribute to society but there is very little education out there for parents and teachers. Education is something of a silver bullet when it comes to helping young people with the condition and without it, deep-set problems can develop at school age.

“My book offers a more personal insight because it’s been written by someone with the condition and not a clinical psychologist. Every child is different but I try to put the parents in the child’s shoes and facilitate some understanding.”

He has been signed up to write a second book to help make research into Asperger’s more accessible to parents and teachers.

He said: “The way I see it, I could either lash out or try to make a difference. There are kids out there having a harder time than me, and adults too, and if I can help just one person, this is my chance to give something back.”

“There is lots of information in the book, and I really hope that people take that on board, but to me, what is more important is that they gain an understanding of, and an insight into life with Asperger Syndrome. If you understand someone with Asperger Syndrome, then knowing that it is named after Hans Asperger is redundant. While that sort of information might be interesting, it is far more useful to know how the person with Asperger Syndrome thinks: what he or she might find hard and why, what things might set them off, and what things will calm them down, what things they will be really good at, and what things they might struggle at.”

Source: PA, JKP Publishing

Find the book on AmazonUK  or AmazonUS or at JK Publishers

 

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by Special Needs Mum on February 8, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 8, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/08/joshs-book-aims-to-help-parents-of-aspergers-kids/

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for children with autism

An interesting new treatment for children with ASD is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). A 2009 study showed it can have beneficial effects on the symptoms of autism and a 2011 study on Thai autistic children showed that 75% of children showed some improvements.

Jeff Birnberg of Andi Hyperbarics writes here exclusively for Special Needs Jungle explaining how HBOT works:

“What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)? If you’re like most people, you just drew a blank, but if you are a diver who ascended from depth too quickly or someone who was struck down by carbon monoxide poisoning and in both cases lived to talk about it, in 99% of those cases it was HBOT that saved your life.

If you suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury and were treated with HBOT, you were the fortunate recipient of a treatment that helped to restore some or all of the functions you lost. If you are the parent of a child who had been diagnosed with Autism* and included HBOT as part of the treatment protocol, you most likely saw improvement in your child’s health and wellbeing.
At sea level, the body breathes ambient air, absorbing about 21% Oxygen (O2); this is the most oxygen the hemoglobin can absorb under normal circumstances. This oxygen is then distributed throughout the body via the bloodstream. But what happens when, as the result of a bodily injury, or degenerative condition, the supply of O2 is decreased or lost completely? The cells begin to shutdown and of course will eventually die. The result is the retardation of or the complete loss of cell function and the consequent reduction of or elimination of body and brain functions associated with those cells.
With HBOT, we create an environment where the air pressure is greater than sea level and the person breaths medically pure oxygen; oxygen, generally at 93% to 100% purity.  As a direct result of the increase in air pressure the oxygen will now be absorbed into the body’s fluids. Those same cells that were in suspended animation or dying from lack of Oxygen will begin to receive O2 via the body’s fluids and responding; will begin the process of healing.

Will HBOT work for everyone? No. For those for whom it does work, are the improvements in health and well being worth the time and investment needed to see results? Absolutely!
There are options for receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy. There are hospitals and private clinics run by GPs; the cost ranging from £100 – £200 per hour. There are charities such as the MS National Therapy Centres**, which will consider treating autism and where the cost is minimal. There is also the option of purchasing a soft portable hyperbaric chamber which can be placed within one’s own home and operated solo or with the assistance of a trained family member. Chambers for home use are more convenient, eliminating the time and difficulties associated with travelling to a remote location. It’s also much less costly over the long term, making it possible for families or even families acting together to share a chamber, to provide a treatment that has helped so many.

Links:

1 Comment
by Special Needs Mum on February 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, Treatment & Therapy
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 6, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/06/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-for-children-with-autism/

SEN stories in the past week

Interesting special needs stories from the last week. If you have one I missed, leave it in the comments!

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by Special Needs Mum on February 3, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN News Story Round Up
Tagged , ,

Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 3, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/03/sen-stories-in-the-past-week/

Kosovan special needs parent group appeal

A Kosovan special needs parent group has been in touch with the UK website Netbuddy, looking for help. They are asking for donations of special needs related items, so if you have got anything you can spare that you think might be useful, please send it to 7 Wildwood Road, London NW11 6UL by 2 March or drop it off in person to the same address on either 19 or 26 Feb.

One to One Childrens Fund, which is a UK charity working in Kosovo, will take your offerings there for us. This is an opportunity to help families and carers like ourselves, who are managing with far fewer resources and very little support. Please help!

Items that would be of use include:

* Sensory and cause and effect Toys * Adapted Toys * Clothes * Toiletries * Glasses * Adapted Cutlery/cups/plates * Adapted clothing * DVD’s * CD’s * Waterproof Mattress covers * Bibs * Feeder aprons * Sleep suits * Changing mats *

Anything else you can think of gratefully accepted!

Many thanks,

Emma and the Netbuddy team

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by Special Needs Mum on February 2, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Really useful site, special needs
Tagged , ,

Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 2, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/02/kosovan-special-needs-parent-group-appeal/

Poll results – Should children with Asperger’s automatically be statutorily assessed?

Last year I published a poll on this site asking whether people thought children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (quick, use the term before it’s abolished!) should automatically receive a statutory assessment by the local educational authority.

I posed three potential answers:

  1. Yes, because teachers aren’t trained to spot underlying difficulties
  2. No, we should just see how they get on
  3. No, we should trust the school to decide what level of help they need

Now, I assume that most of my readers are parents with SEN children but there are also readers who have a professional interest in SEN, so I admit that the results may be skewed somewhat. Having said that, a whopping 96 per cent of respondents thought that AS is so complex in its presention that children with that diagnosis should receive a professional, school-based assessment to determine their special needs.

This isn’t to say that they should all be statemented (or get an EHC Plan as it will be), but most respondents believed that it is important to understand what their needs are and how they can be met to level the playing field, giving them an equal chance of success at school and beyond.

3% though we should see how they get on and just 2% thought that teachers were best placed to decide the level of help required. There were more than 150 responses.

I am a firm believer that school success and success as an adult does not depend on academic achievement alone. We all hope that our children, whether they are ‘normal’ or whether they face additional challenges, will grow up to be rounded, socially adept individuals. Even in this age of web interconnectedness, knowing the correct social response in a face to face meeting is still vitally important. We are, after all, social beings.

I know this only too well from my own sons. Even though our eldest is incredibly bright, we could see that he had many social difficulties and these, in turn, affected his school experience and academic achievements.  We did not want him to turn out to be an angry alienated genius and, thanks to interventions, support and the right school, he won’t be. Without an assessment that I fought for and drove forward, we might still be asking ourselves.. but he’s so bright.. why does he do this or that, it makes no sense.. (I’ve talked about his issues previously, with his agreement, now he’s a teenager I have to be careful what I say).

I say whatever you call Asperger Syndrome in the future, and whatever you replace statements with, when parents suspect their child has social difficulties they should always raise the issue with teachers and do their own research as well.

Some difficulties experienced by children with high functioning ASD can seem obscure and hard to verbalise. Yet if they go unaddressed, they can end up having a long-term negative impact on a child well into adulthood. I believe that every child on the spectrum should have an Ed Psych or Outreach assessment so that teachers who are not experts in autism (nor would most claim to be) can be given help to ensure that every pupil they teach has a fair chance of a decent learning experience.

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by Special Needs Mum on February 1, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in special needs, Statements of SEN
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 1, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/01/poll-results-should-children-with-aspergers-automatically-be-statutorily-assessed/

Special needs stories this week

Some interesting stories this week…

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by Special Needs Mum on January 27, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in parenting, SEN News Story Round Up, special educational needs
Tagged ,

Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 27, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/27/special-needs-stories-this-week/

Empowering parents is the goal for Pat

I’m delighted today to introduce a guest blog post from Pat Bolton, who works with a small  team of Participation Practitioners at Parents In Power, Gateshead,  www.parentsinpower.btck.co.uk  Pat works at the coalface of special educational needs and helps parents every day to get the support their children need.

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Parents In Power is a Parent/Carer Forum. Every Authority has a parent/carer forum and to find out more information or where your own parent/carer forum is located in your area go to www.nnpcf.org.uk . We are independent and  work with some of the most amazing parents of children with disabilities, their strength and fortitude is second to none, no matter what is thrown at them week after week.

I have a son who is now a young man, 19 years old with ADHD, Dyspraxia and Autistic Traits and he is the most awesome of people. His brother who is 17, puts up a lot with his brother and is one cool dude, but one thing is for sure they love each other to bits and boy do they look out for each other.

So I have walked that walk, that long and frustrating journey and I have to say, sorry folks, but it doesn’t end at  16. But I was lucky enough to get my son in an Independent Special School and paid for by the Local Authority.

Every parent/carer that I come across without a shadow of a doubt tells me they are sick of fighting for what they feel their child simply needs and is entitled to in order to lead a normal a life as possible and for their child to reach their potential in whatever that means.

Their problems are nearly always linked with their child’s school and the frustration and energy it takes in trying to get this part of their child’s life right, I mean let’s face it, what a massive part of their lives it is.

Meetings are daunting at the best of times, but when you get into school for a meeting and there is yourself and 7/10 professionals around the table it can sometimes actually be frightening. To prepare parents for such meetings I go through all the issues that need to be addressed, and the points that the parents feel they must point out.  We write them down on what can sometimes be a long list, so in the meeting the parent is satisfied that they have said everything they want to. Or if it is too emotional for them, I will bring these points up for them.

I have gone into meetings where the parents have been an absolute quivering wreck, feeling sick and just wanting to go home, yet just by me saying, “I am with you, you are not alone, I am there to support you” brings out the best in the parent. They are assertive, they get their points across and work down their list of questions. I minute it all for them. When they leave the meeting, although they hardly remember a thing that has been said, they feel so empowered.

That is one of our main aims, to empower parents to be competent and confident in supporting their children.  My biggest concern over the years has been to ensure that when a parent gets their child’s statement to ensure that it is quantified and qualified. So it does not say something like a ‘ systematic programme of speech therapy’. What does that mean? One hour a day,  a week/month/term and by whom. If it isn’t quantified and qualified how can it be legally challenged? A school might interpret that as an hour a month, a parent might interpret that as a couple hours a month. It needs to be fully explained in the statement.

Another part of school life that has really annoyed me are exclusions and as I write this I am eagerly waiting  for the release of the results of the Children’s Commissioner, Dr Maggie Atkinson’s inquiry into exclusions: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/  This is due out 19th March 2012 and I will reading this with a fine toothcomb, hoping she has captured the inequalities of exclusions for children with Disabilities, especially those with disability related behavioural difficulties.

My son was excluded 11 times in one year, what did he learn from this? Simply that every time he wanted a couple of days off school to misbehave,  it worked. No matter how hard I worked with the school and I worked a lot harder than the school did on this one, they still excluded him until the day the big permanent exclusion came. My son and I cried together all weekend. The result was an independent special school which could not cater for his academic ability.

For those just embarking on this journey I wish you luck, get as much expert support as possible you will need it.  If you don’t know where to start contact your local parent/carer forum, website address above and they will advise you.

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by Special Needs Mum on January 25, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Disability Financial Help, special educational needs, special needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 25, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/25/empowering-parents-is-the-goal-for-pat/

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