support for 10yo with learning disability

[shell1983]

Hi, my 10 year old son is in the process of being assessed for learning disability and other things, school have always put it down to behaviour and speech delay, he attends a learning resource base and hasn't progressed past nursery level school work but we have finally been seen by a paediatrician who has requested all the relevant assessments etc but has said there is definitely a learning disability but not sure of cause or severity or if there are other things going on and has said we should have been seen a lot sooner (we failed to get through the ISCAN referrals because of lack of school support several times). They are doing an MRI and genetic testing as well as assessments to find out what's going on with him.

I think what I'm asking is, has anyone been in a similar situation and can offer any kind of help and advise on what happens next, feel very alone as we have no support and he has no friends as he's unable to go out to play due to his lack of danger awareness and lack of communication skills, he goes to a local play group for an hour every Saturday morning with other disabled children but he sees his sister going out with her friends and to beavers etc and he doesn't understand and I don't know how to help him or how to find more suitable things for him to do.

Thanks for taking the time to read x

[Eeviee]

Hi there. The only way to get help with your son at school is to get an education and health care plan EHCP which identifies his needs AND how they will be met. EHCP means funding and so there is a lot of resistance from local authorities to help parents with the process. As you know the earlier a child gets help the better it is. In order to get an EHCP you need to prove your sons needs and you need to determine how he can be helped either in a local school or special school or if there is not one in your area a special residential school. There are lots of pros and cons of each. A good website is special needs jungle and an organisation called IPSEA. These organisations can give you some good advice BUT it is a jungle so be prepared to equip yourself with as much knowledge as you can. Ultimately you may consider paying for an educational psychologist and other professionals in order to speed up the process or if your view of your sons needs are not supported by the local authority You may even need a specialist legal adviser but this cost you a great deal. If you can get the local authority to support you that is best but in my experience that did not happen without the backing of a legal adviser. It’s a long and painful journey I can’t tell you otherwise but keep trying however hard it gets. There are lots of parents out there in the same boat as you. Find them asap as you need a support network. Look online and on Facebook for an organisation called bringing us together who are great and if you live in Hertfordshire look out for supporting together which is great too. Good luck.

[Gus56]

Hi shell1983. I am sorry to read about your worries for your son. I agree with Eviee that you need to understand the processes involved in getting help for your son. His age is a crucial factor as secondary schooling is on the horizon. It seems strange that he has no EHCP in place when his learning level seems so different from his age. It's good that you have a paediatrician involved. Eviee has given information about helpful organisations, which is great. I don't understand why your son has not seen the school's educational psychologist and yet is attending a specialist facility? In addition to everything Eviee has said, I urge you to demand that your son sees the school's educational psychologist. From what you have said he should be a priority for them. If no luck through the school you could call the local authority psychology service and ask to speak to them yourself. Good luck with it.

[Mrs_Teddy]

Hi Shell, I would also say that if you want your son to attend cubs/scouts then do approach them as they do have a policy for inclusion of children with learning disabilities so that might be something he can do too.

[shell1983]

hi thanks for all of your replies and information, it is so reassuring to know we're not on our own, I will definitely have a look at the groups and sites you've recommended.

I probably didn't explain his situation very well, we'd not long had the appointment with the paediatrician and it has thrown us somewhat as she is certain there is more to his situation than him just being a bit delayed, as the ed phycologist has suggested previously She also advised us she was going to review his whole case to find out why he had not been seen by a specialist earlier and why he had not gotten through the ISCAN process at a much younger age, she could see we had gone through the process 4 times already.

He has an EHCP, Statement of Special Educational Needs and IDP's and he has been seen by the ed Phycologists who have always advised that he is just a bit delayed and will catch up with the right emotional support and speech therapy and once things 'click' into place everything else will fall into place and he will catch up, which is what he is having at the learning resource base he attends, this has been the case since he was 5, but there has been no progress and he is very much behind his peers.