Why do LEA's make it difficult for Autistic kids to get into Autism base schools which meet their specific nee

Question

I have a child who needs specialised teaching to meet his significant social interacion and communicaion skills but the LEA is making so difficult and while they are pushing pens my childs education deteriorating its so unfair. We were told this would be possible without a statement under special circumstances but my child has been let down again and attends part time for 2 days in mainstream with minimum support and is struggling like hell but the LEA does not give a damn.(it takes a minimum of 6 months to get a statement) Can anyone explain WHY???!!! Tony Blair says "Every child matters" and "education, education,education" but when it comes to kids who are very bright academically but have specific Special Educational Needs no one cares!!! HELP!!!

Answer 1

life everywhere looks good and the fabric that weaves the nation together looks strong, till we have a personal need and then it is called cracks in the system or other catch phase pieces of jargon that imply that the system has faults, as long as you don't need anything it looks perfect=we all c how bad life is when we want something back, it just isn't a two way world, really get hard to roll up hill and get the government to reach anyone out there, but it sounds nice on paper

Answer 2

I am going to take a shot at this (I am from the US) for what its worth.
Your situation stinks!

LEA's over here can do the same thing to autistic students because they know the school must pick up the tab for the students fee to the school and transportation. While they don't consider these as factors, they very much are. In the US each special eduation student recieves extra money from the state to help pay for teacher, etc... Sending the student to another school places the money somewhere else.

When you are in a situation like this in the US, you get a lawyer and take them to the IEP. You would get to watch the LEA sweat it out since they won't have a reason not to send your kid to the most appropriate placement for him/her.

Good luck...I hope you can get the LEA to see what is best for your child.

Answer 3

Make as much NOISE at your LEA + dont ever give up untill you feel your childs needs are met. I to have a child with special needs (dyslexia + dyspraxia ) Perhaps you should apply for statuatory assessment it does take time to gather the info but push for special circumstances while its taking place.A statement will be able to be transfered to another school should you move, so it's always best to have one. Personally i'm still trying to get more from my LEA, it seems a lot of their decisions are based on their budgets not the needs of the child but we're lucky his school are supporting him over and above what the LEA are providing. Find out who is head of special needs then keep phoning and ask to speak to them untill they finally relent, then ask for an appointment to have a meeting with them regarding your childs needs, being there in person kinda makes it harder for them to ignore you, thats what i did with a lot of success, although the statement they provided isn't enough so i'm now back to the phone trying to get an appointment. Keep trying i am . and good luck lol xx

Answer 4

Its all to do with saving money. The education stystem in this country is rotten . I know how you feel. my son is dyslexic and has other learning problems , since he started school i knew he had problems but the school s would not listen , by the time he was eight he could not read or write and became an very angry child . I removed him from his school and kept him home trying to home school him. while fighting the council and everyone else for a statement . he got one and now attends a private school for dyslexic children he loves going to school now and is a very smart happy boy . Hes 12 now . Don't give up , keep fighting don't let them win. There s help out there , where i live i found a dyslexic group for parents and they came to all the hearings with me . IF you can get legal aid get a solicitor . hope this helps , good luck .

Answer 5

'''LEA does not give a damn. Can anyone explain WHY???!!!'''

Because they can. It is like this all over the country with just about every school.
Schools do these things because there is no one, no agency that MAKES schools follow the laws and do right for our children. They know this, so they do any kind of crap they want.

BUT, there are federal laws called IDEA 'individuals with disabilities education act' that schools and parents are suppose to follow. These laws give parents and children protective rights.

I bet a billion dollars the school didn't tell you this. This law mandates a specific step by step process that parents and schools are suppose to do in the special ed process.

Most parents don't know these laws, and schools will NOT follow these laws. They have the upper hand because they KNOW parents don't know about the laws, and they aren't about to tell them.

There are lots of things you can do first WITHOUT having to get a lawyer. If you get a lawyer at this point, all they will say is that you have to do the things FIRST before he will help you.

Every state has advocates that help parents for FREE. Call your state dept. of education, ask for the special ed dept. Then, ask them for the phone number of the ''federally funded parent advocacy agency''

In order to tell you what to do next, I would have to know your whole story, step by step. And I know you can't write that here. The free advocates can help you.

Also, these 2 sites are the best for helping you learn the special ed laws
www.wrightslaw.com and www.reedmartin.com

And, here's a parent message board that CAN and WILL help you to do this step by step using the legal process
www.schwablearning.org
You have to sign up for free and then go to the 'parent to parent' message board.

Most times, if a parent ever DOES get the school to do right, that doesn't mean all is well. The school will STILL violate laws and not do right when it comes to other things, and every year when the child graduates to another grade, the same things will happen over and over.

I finally give up fighting for 8 years and started homeschool. Best thing I ever did. I don't really know HOW to help my child with her problems, but at least I am TRYING and this is a hell of a lot more than schools will EVER do.

I know LOTS of parents who quit fighting. Schools make it SO HARD and fight like crazy because they want you to give up and take your child out of the school so they won't have to help them.

All this thanks to OUR tax dollars which are PAYING these sorry people to do the JOB of helping our OWN children!!!

People don't know this is even going on until they are in it for themselves. I didn't know how corrupt and blatantly hostile schools are when it comes to special ed.

Lots of teachers have even quit because they couldn't take it anymore. The bosses over them tell them these bad things to do. When I took my child out of school the teacher told me 'the administrators just would not let me help your child'.

There IS help, and it's very complicated, time consuming, and mentally and emotionally stressful. And this will go on the whole time your child is in school. So it's up to you if you want to fight that long...

I am so sorry after I wrote all this I didn't know if you are in another country outside USA. If so, you can use what I wrote to apply to your situation. Find out what the special education laws are in your country and get help with an advocate.

Answer 6

Hi

The system is so frusrating i know. i work with these kids n getting support hours for them is a never ending battle.

Have you tried the national Autistic society (www.nas.org.uk) to see if they can offer you any assistance or advice on getting your child help.

Most of all keep fighting don't give up. in my experience the parents that make the most 'noise' do get somewhere in the end.

Answer 7

Get in touch with your local LEC and ask them that vey question. If your local LEC is worth their salt they will pursue this matter for you. Your local LEC is responsible for control of the LEA's and funding issues.

All the best and give them hell.