FND & School Attendance

[Lady4]

Hi

I recently had the disheartening news there was a high chance that my son would not be excepted into 6th form of his current school due to his attendence record (if he was off sick, he was mark as unauthorised, even though I called in).

I very naively thought if he could get the grades required in the exams, he would get in and maybe do better in 6th form.

I have been advised to look at second options and although the attendance lady and another will try and fight his case against the head of his year and head of 6th form, I could have done without another battle.

I sometimes feel that remote learning would be better but he is already socially isolated (apart from chatting on line when gaming) and that could do more damage than good.

Going to a different college where he does know anyone, I think, wouldn't be a wise choice.

Has anyone experienced these challenges?

[210272]

I'm so sorry to hear this, Lady4. Might be worth contacting the lovely people at Special Needs Jungle for information and advice. They understand the complexities of rare conditions very well.

[Lady4 in reply to 210272]

I never really thought of him as a "SEN" student definitely one to look into, can't even recall if it was ever mentioned, I just take every day as it comes and deal with it alone.

I will see if FND falls under special needs, although I never really think of FND as a rare condition (even though it is listed on the register), although its alien to most people you mention it too and to the receiver of a dx.

Thanks.

[Lady4 in reply to 210272]

Update, these are the 4 categories of SEN, how many do you reckon children and teenagers of CRPS and FND fall into:

There are four main categories of special needs:

Physical – multiple sclerosis, allergies and asthma, juvenile arthritis, leukemia, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy.

Developmental – Down syndrome, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, aphasia or dysphasia, auditory processing disorder, visual processing disorder.

Behavioral/emotional – obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociation, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder, bipolar.

Sensory-impaired – blindness, deaf or limited hearing, visually impaired.

[210272 in reply to Lady4]

Hmm, I would suggest that list is in need of an update since there are children with migraine who have struggled to attend school. Good to see auditory processing disorder on the list, tho'. And roughly 20% of people with a FND dx also fit the criteria for an autism dx. You should not be having to deal with this alone or feel alienated in any way. I think FND is far too much of a catch all dx and that there are still far, far too many 'wastebasket' diagnoses being made IE when people are not told what 'rule in' signs they have or when the diagnosis is made on the basis of 'normal' test results alone.

I wish those feminists would join this group so they had a daily reminder of the impact of this dx, including the stigma and suboptimal treatment (in all senses of the word) people receive in medical settings once they've been diagnosed.

[Lady4 in reply to 210272]

Thanks, I must admit I am struggling with all the negativity and lack of understanding around me and so looking forward to a break to see a bestie who has taken time to research and understand but sadly we are 5 weeks into a cold and a child that refuses to travel and I ended up in a massive argument (oh my son always has a smart response) last night and feel like crap esp as I did point out that he never does anything or goes anywhere and his response "but I'm ill".

I thought fresh sea air would do us the world of good (and a bottle of wine and being spoilt for me) and his response "tried going outside for 2 weeks made me worse (he sat outside the house on a bench, its not the same as being wrapped up warm and for a little scroll).

After a second visit to GPs prescribed an inhaler, he forgot to take it upstairs so when I went up, gave it to him to take (had to read instructions as first time and he read side effects), in the morning complained of cramp in the night (common in 1 in 100) and headache (common in 1 and 10). Consequently never took.

Had to stop him off previous meds (Pharmacy prescribed) as "shortness of breathe" and found out leaflet mentioned thyroid disorder in "warning section" but nurse said his thyroid level could have been higher due to presenting cold symptoms at time of bloods, hence retest April.

Second meds "throat spray" prescribed by Pharmacy never given as first symptom mention Anaphylactic shock, thats going back!

[210272 in reply to Lady4]

I really feel for you and wish I had a magic wand for you and your son.

[Shimmyaway]

I would pursue the SEN route at your son's school. At the very least he could get extra time during the written or practical exams, on the grounds of his muscle spasms and pain. It would also then appear as rather discriminatory to exclude him from the 6th form if he is on the SEN register. I believe all 6 forms require the applicant's referee to insert the % attendance on their forms..the process can be competitive in some institutions.

[Lady4 in reply to Shimmyaway]

Thanks.

He isn't having spasms at the moment last 6 weeks+ absences have been down to a natural fall and a struggling with the latest virus that lasts 5 - 6 weeks.

Head of 6th form won't take him.

First mocks had falls (managed 3 exams), 2nd managed all but two and then this month there were 3 extra (but just Maths and English for him) and he managed to go in for Maths and come home (we weren't actually told of them, heard from lady from Safeguarding visit).

Its about 8 weeks before he leaves and not sure how long the process takes but totally agree about them discrimating him.