Re: Re: Most Ignorant Piece of work yet!

November 3, 2011

Have his annual review in a few weeks and will certainly ask the question!

Marina x

Why not write to the Head and ask if they could explain what they believe they have taught him about Henry VIII? It would be lovely to know what he now knows about the 16th Century, about Kings, about politics, about religion, about marriage and divorce. Perhaps they have got him to stick scraps of cloth on paper and now claim he now knows about 16th Centruty costume?

MargaretWe had this at Henry's last school - they said they had had a morning about the ns. As far as Henry was concerned he had been encouraged to put his hands into warm soap suds.> > > **> >> >> > ** > > And disability discrimination, denying a disability> >> > Mx> >> > In a message dated 02/11/2011 19:52:12 GMT Standard Time,

> > MaddiganV@... writes:> >> >> >> > Went to s open night at college and met the most ignorant woman> > ever! Art tutor at P's college.

> > I had concerns that she wasn't teaching as P had already said she never> > helped him or showed him anything, anyway she just would not take any> > questioning at all, told me autism was NOT a disability and he just has to

> > get on with it! She as good as called him a liar, said he doesn't pay> > attention and that all the students in her class need help, actually the> > other students are foreign people with English as a second language and

> > have no disability whatsoever.> > She really was the most astoundingly ignorant piece of work I have ever> > encountered and that's saying something, suffice to say is> > sufficiently stressed now that he will not go back to her class, so I

> > suppose the only thing to do is phone connexions and the college and put in> > a formal complaint.> > AMAZING, how does anyone this stupid secure a job teaching at any level at> > all never mind a city college?

> > Vickyy> >> > > >>

November 3, 2011

Margaret thanks for this, it is the kick in the pants that I need to challenge them - following a wonderfully successful week in Wales with Jack with Risca where he proved exactly what he can achieve. Alarm bells starting ringing loudly a few weeks ago when in his book they wrote he becomes upset if he is challenged - well there is a shocker - of course he does as he doesn't want to do it and cries to get out of it - lo and behold they give in and Jack wins!!!!!!!!!!

Have requested a meeting with all his teachers, head and speech therapist - lets see what comes of it.

Marina x

Sometimes special schools are operating in la-la land: a fantasy world which makes the staff feel good. They refuse to think or to face reality. Our children suffer.In the Annual Review meeting when Henry was about 4, the school report claimed he had done gardening and had planted bulbs. I had actually witnessed this particular event as I had been in school on this occasion. The staff dug a hole. Henry was given a bulb, which, as a roundish object, he instantly threw. I reminded them of this in the meeting. He, of course, had no idea that what he had done was supposed to be gardening: he had no idea what gardening was; he had no idea that the bulb would become a flower in the spring. But the staff told themselves that Henry had done gardening and put it in his annual report as an achievement.

At his next school they kept reporting in the home school book, again and again, that he was labelling shapes. This went on year after year! I told them at several annual review meetings that he could already label shapes before he went to this school and I referred to a report (signed by a Head teacher) which was evidence that he could already do this years ago. I asked would they still be reporting that he was being required to label shapes when he was 18? And why were they getting him to label a cuboid? What on earth has that got to do with anything? (I went through school, Maths 'O' level, University and many years of working life without ever having heard of a cuboid.) Why were they so obsessed with this? What use would it ever be to him?

Both the above schools were LA general purpose special schools. In the first, about 75% of the pupils had autism; in the second, about half did.Eventually I found out that the reports I was writing for the Annual Review, as well as the professionals' reports, were not being circulated to staff before the meeting. So that was why they all sat there like lemons year after year! So I wrote a damning report - beginning with the fact that nobody ever read the papers for the Annual Review because the school didn't circulate them. I also wrote that the Head didn't bother to answer letters. Two days before the Annual Review I sent this report directly by e-mail to everyone concerned for whom I had an e-mail address. I only burned my bridges once it was clear there was no future at all for Henry at this school and I was determined to get him out of it; I also knew that we were facing Tribunal #4. I wish I had been tougher earlier.

Margaret > > >> > > > **> > > >> > > >> > > > **> >

> > > > And disability discrimination, denying a disability> > > >> > > > Mx> > > >> > > > In a message dated 02/11/2011 19:52:12 GMT Standard Time,

> > > > MaddiganV@ writes:> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Went to s open night at college and met the most ignorant woman

> > > > ever! Art tutor at P's college.> > > > I had concerns that she wasn't teaching as P had already said she never> > > > helped him or showed him anything, anyway she just would not take any

> > > > questioning at all, told me autism was NOT a disability and he just> > has to> > > > get on with it! She as good as called him a liar, said he doesn't pay> > > > attention and that all the students in her class need help, actually

> > the> > > > other students are foreign people with English as a second language and> > > > have no disability whatsoever.> > > > She really was the most astoundingly ignorant piece of work I have ever

> > > > encountered and that's saying something, suffice to say is> > > > sufficiently stressed now that he will not go back to her class, so I> > > > suppose the only thing to do is phone connexions and the college and

> > put in> > > > a formal complaint.> > > > AMAZING, how does anyone this stupid secure a job teaching at any> > level at> > > > all never mind a city college?

> > > > Vickyy> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> >> > > >>

November 3, 2011

Margaret thanks for this, it is the kick in the pants that I need to challenge them - following a wonderfully successful week in Wales with Jack with Risca where he proved exactly what he can achieve. Alarm bells starting ringing loudly a few weeks ago when in his book they wrote he becomes upset if he is challenged - well there is a shocker - of course he does as he doesn't want to do it and cries to get out of it - lo and behold they give in and Jack wins!!!!!!!!!!

Have requested a meeting with all his teachers, head and speech therapist - lets see what comes of it.

Marina x

Sometimes special schools are operating in la-la land: a fantasy world which makes the staff feel good. They refuse to think or to face reality. Our children suffer.In the Annual Review meeting when Henry was about 4, the school report claimed he had done gardening and had planted bulbs. I had actually witnessed this particular event as I had been in school on this occasion. The staff dug a hole. Henry was given a bulb, which, as a roundish object, he instantly threw. I reminded them of this in the meeting. He, of course, had no idea that what he had done was supposed to be gardening: he had no idea what gardening was; he had no idea that the bulb would become a flower in the spring. But the staff told themselves that Henry had done gardening and put it in his annual report as an achievement.

At his next school they kept reporting in the home school book, again and again, that he was labelling shapes. This went on year after year! I told them at several annual review meetings that he could already label shapes before he went to this school and I referred to a report (signed by a Head teacher) which was evidence that he could already do this years ago. I asked would they still be reporting that he was being required to label shapes when he was 18? And why were they getting him to label a cuboid? What on earth has that got to do with anything? (I went through school, Maths 'O' level, University and many years of working life without ever having heard of a cuboid.) Why were they so obsessed with this? What use would it ever be to him?

Both the above schools were LA general purpose special schools. In the first, about 75% of the pupils had autism; in the second, about half did.Eventually I found out that the reports I was writing for the Annual Review, as well as the professionals' reports, were not being circulated to staff before the meeting. So that was why they all sat there like lemons year after year! So I wrote a damning report - beginning with the fact that nobody ever read the papers for the Annual Review because the school didn't circulate them. I also wrote that the Head didn't bother to answer letters. Two days before the Annual Review I sent this report directly by e-mail to everyone concerned for whom I had an e-mail address. I only burned my bridges once it was clear there was no future at all for Henry at this school and I was determined to get him out of it; I also knew that we were facing Tribunal #4. I wish I had been tougher earlier.

Margaret > > >> > > > **> > > >> > > >> > > > **> >

> > > > And disability discrimination, denying a disability> > > >> > > > Mx> > > >> > > > In a message dated 02/11/2011 19:52:12 GMT Standard Time,

> > > > MaddiganV@ writes:> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Went to s open night at college and met the most ignorant woman

> > > > ever! Art tutor at P's college.> > > > I had concerns that she wasn't teaching as P had already said she never> > > > helped him or showed him anything, anyway she just would not take any

> > > > questioning at all, told me autism was NOT a disability and he just> > has to> > > > get on with it! She as good as called him a liar, said he doesn't pay> > > > attention and that all the students in her class need help, actually

> > the> > > > other students are foreign people with English as a second language and> > > > have no disability whatsoever.> > > > She really was the most astoundingly ignorant piece of work I have ever

> > > > encountered and that's saying something, suffice to say is> > > > sufficiently stressed now that he will not go back to her class, so I> > > > suppose the only thing to do is phone connexions and the college and

> > put in> > > > a formal complaint.> > > > AMAZING, how does anyone this stupid secure a job teaching at any> > level at> > > > all never mind a city college?

> > > > Vickyy> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> >> > > >>

November 3, 2011

Margaret thanks for this, it is the kick in the pants that I need to challenge them - following a wonderfully successful week in Wales with Jack with Risca where he proved exactly what he can achieve. Alarm bells starting ringing loudly a few weeks ago when in his book they wrote he becomes upset if he is challenged - well there is a shocker - of course he does as he doesn't want to do it and cries to get out of it - lo and behold they give in and Jack wins!!!!!!!!!!

Have requested a meeting with all his teachers, head and speech therapist - lets see what comes of it.

Marina x

Sometimes special schools are operating in la-la land: a fantasy world which makes the staff feel good. They refuse to think or to face reality. Our children suffer.In the Annual Review meeting when Henry was about 4, the school report claimed he had done gardening and had planted bulbs. I had actually witnessed this particular event as I had been in school on this occasion. The staff dug a hole. Henry was given a bulb, which, as a roundish object, he instantly threw. I reminded them of this in the meeting. He, of course, had no idea that what he had done was supposed to be gardening: he had no idea what gardening was; he had no idea that the bulb would become a flower in the spring. But the staff told themselves that Henry had done gardening and put it in his annual report as an achievement.

At his next school they kept reporting in the home school book, again and again, that he was labelling shapes. This went on year after year! I told them at several annual review meetings that he could already label shapes before he went to this school and I referred to a report (signed by a Head teacher) which was evidence that he could already do this years ago. I asked would they still be reporting that he was being required to label shapes when he was 18? And why were they getting him to label a cuboid? What on earth has that got to do with anything? (I went through school, Maths 'O' level, University and many years of working life without ever having heard of a cuboid.) Why were they so obsessed with this? What use would it ever be to him?

Both the above schools were LA general purpose special schools. In the first, about 75% of the pupils had autism; in the second, about half did.Eventually I found out that the reports I was writing for the Annual Review, as well as the professionals' reports, were not being circulated to staff before the meeting. So that was why they all sat there like lemons year after year! So I wrote a damning report - beginning with the fact that nobody ever read the papers for the Annual Review because the school didn't circulate them. I also wrote that the Head didn't bother to answer letters. Two days before the Annual Review I sent this report directly by e-mail to everyone concerned for whom I had an e-mail address. I only burned my bridges once it was clear there was no future at all for Henry at this school and I was determined to get him out of it; I also knew that we were facing Tribunal #4. I wish I had been tougher earlier.

Margaret > > >> > > > **> > > >> > > >> > > > **> >

> > > > And disability discrimination, denying a disability> > > >> > > > Mx> > > >> > > > In a message dated 02/11/2011 19:52:12 GMT Standard Time,

> > > > MaddiganV@ writes:> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Went to s open night at college and met the most ignorant woman

> > > > ever! Art tutor at P's college.> > > > I had concerns that she wasn't teaching as P had already said she never> > > > helped him or showed him anything, anyway she just would not take any

> > > > questioning at all, told me autism was NOT a disability and he just> > has to> > > > get on with it! She as good as called him a liar, said he doesn't pay> > > > attention and that all the students in her class need help, actually

> > the> > > > other students are foreign people with English as a second language and> > > > have no disability whatsoever.> > > > She really was the most astoundingly ignorant piece of work I have ever

> > > > encountered and that's saying something, suffice to say is> > > > sufficiently stressed now that he will not go back to her class, so I> > > > suppose the only thing to do is phone connexions and the college and

> > put in> > > > a formal complaint.> > > > AMAZING, how does anyone this stupid secure a job teaching at any> > level at> > > > all never mind a city college?

> > > > Vickyy> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> >> > > >>

November 3, 2011

Yep got that t-shirt too, When Harry was in his special needs school, he was doing so well (because of ABA) they moved him up a class in year 1, in year R he had been in an autism (so-called) specialist class, i was so happy he had done so well in his first year, then came the blow, LEA advised that they would be fazing out ABA in school because he was doing so well, the irony!!!! Anyway my ABA tutor was telling what was going on in school all the time, because Harry is non verbal he couldnt tell me, Harry doesnt have challenging behaviour whatsoever but he is very much like Marina's Jack that when he doesnt want to do something he would throw himself on the floor and have a tantrum, so how did school deal with this, by saying ok Harry don't worry, then giving in, so what in the "school of life" is that teaching a child. Also the last annual review i attended was October last year (two months before i pulled him out to home ed him, unbeknown to them) they are prattling on saying how well he is doing and then the teacher of his class actually said "he is the most intelligent child in my class" When i said that is because of ABA a deafening silence prevailed! Harry was the only non verbal child in the class!

I am so glad im out of that crappy school, which by the way was suppose to be the best in the area, i cant believe i fought to get him into that school in the first place, how you live and learn!

Vicky i would definiately complain, and send copies to everyone, Head of education at Council, local MP etc.

x

To: Autism-Biomedical-Europe From: marinavrahimi@...Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 16:21:06 +0000Subject: Re: Re: Most Ignorant Piece of work yet!

Margaret thanks for this, it is the kick in the pants that I need to challenge them - following a wonderfully successful week in Wales with Jack with Risca where he proved exactly what he can achieve. Alarm bells starting ringing loudly a few weeks ago when in his book they wrote he becomes upset if he is challenged - well there is a shocker - of course he does as he doesn't want to do it and cries to get out of it - lo and behold they give in and Jack wins!!!!!!!!!!

Have requested a meeting with all his teachers, head and speech therapist - lets see what comes of it.

Marina x

Sometimes special schools are operating in la-la land: a fantasy world which makes the staff feel good. They refuse to think or to face reality. Our children suffer.In the Annual Review meeting when Henry was about 4, the school report claimed he had done gardening and had planted bulbs. I had actually witnessed this particular event as I had been in school on this occasion. The staff dug a hole. Henry was given a bulb, which, as a roundish object, he instantly threw. I reminded them of this in the meeting. He, of course, had no idea that what he had done was supposed to be gardening: he had no idea what gardening was; he had no idea that the bulb would become a flower in the spring. But the staff told themselves that Henry had done gardening and put it in his annual report as an achievement.At his next school they kept reporting in the home school book, again and again, that he was labelling shapes. This went on year after year! I told them at several annual review meetings that he could already label shapes before he went to this school and I referred to a report (signed by a Head teacher) which was evidence that he could already do this years ago. I asked would they still be reporting that he was being required to label shapes when he was 18? And why were they getting him to label a cuboid? What on earth has that got to do with anything? (I went through school, Maths 'O' level, University and many years of working life without ever having heard of a cuboid.) Why were they so obsessed with this? What use would it ever be to him?Both the above schools were LA general purpose special schools. In the first, about 75% of the pupils had autism; in the second, about half did.Eventually I found out that the reports I was writing for the Annual Review, as well as the professionals' reports, were not being circulated to staff before the meeting. So that was why they all sat there like lemons year after year! So I wrote a damning report - beginning with the fact that nobody ever read the papers for the Annual Review because the school didn't circulate them. I also wrote that the Head didn't bother to answer letters. Two days before the Annual Review I sent this report directly by e-mail to everyone concerned for whom I had an e-mail address. I only burned my bridges once it was clear there was no future at all for Henry at this school and I was determined to get him out of it; I also knew that we were facing Tribunal #4. I wish I had been tougher earlier.Margaret > > >> > > > **> > > >> > > >> > > > **> >> > > > And disability discrimination, denying a disability> > > >> > > > Mx> > > >> > > > In a message dated 02/11/2011 19:52:12 GMT Standard Time,

> > > > MaddiganV@ writes:> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Went to s open night at college and met the most ignorant woman> > > > ever! Art tutor at P's college.> > > > I had concerns that she wasn't teaching as P had already said she never> > > > helped him or showed him anything, anyway she just would not take any> > > > questioning at all, told me autism was NOT a disability and he just> > has to> > > > get on with it! She as good as called him a liar, said he doesn't pay> > > > attention and that all the students in her class need help, actually> > the> > > > other students are foreign people with English as a second language and> > > > have no disability whatsoever.> > > > She really was the most astoundingly ignorant piece of work I have ever> > > > encountered and that's saying something, suffice to say is> > > > sufficiently stressed now that he will not go back to her class, so I> > > > suppose the only thing to do is phone connexions and the college and> > put in> > > > a formal complaint.> > > > AMAZING, how does anyone this stupid secure a job teaching at any> > level at> > > > all never mind a city college?> > > > Vickyy> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> >> > > >>

November 3, 2011

Yep got that t-shirt too, When Harry was in his special needs school, he was doing so well (because of ABA) they moved him up a class in year 1, in year R he had been in an autism (so-called) specialist class, i was so happy he had done so well in his first year, then came the blow, LEA advised that they would be fazing out ABA in school because he was doing so well, the irony!!!! Anyway my ABA tutor was telling what was going on in school all the time, because Harry is non verbal he couldnt tell me, Harry doesnt have challenging behaviour whatsoever but he is very much like Marina's Jack that when he doesnt want to do something he would throw himself on the floor and have a tantrum, so how did school deal with this, by saying ok Harry don't worry, then giving in, so what in the "school of life" is that teaching a child. Also the last annual review i attended was October last year (two months before i pulled him out to home ed him, unbeknown to them) they are prattling on saying how well he is doing and then the teacher of his class actually said "he is the most intelligent child in my class" When i said that is because of ABA a deafening silence prevailed! Harry was the only non verbal child in the class!

I am so glad im out of that crappy school, which by the way was suppose to be the best in the area, i cant believe i fought to get him into that school in the first place, how you live and learn!

Vicky i would definiately complain, and send copies to everyone, Head of education at Council, local MP etc.

x

To: Autism-Biomedical-Europe From: marinavrahimi@...Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 16:21:06 +0000Subject: Re: Re: Most Ignorant Piece of work yet!

Margaret thanks for this, it is the kick in the pants that I need to challenge them - following a wonderfully successful week in Wales with Jack with Risca where he proved exactly what he can achieve. Alarm bells starting ringing loudly a few weeks ago when in his book they wrote he becomes upset if he is challenged - well there is a shocker - of course he does as he doesn't want to do it and cries to get out of it - lo and behold they give in and Jack wins!!!!!!!!!!

Have requested a meeting with all his teachers, head and speech therapist - lets see what comes of it.

Marina x

Sometimes special schools are operating in la-la land: a fantasy world which makes the staff feel good. They refuse to think or to face reality. Our children suffer.In the Annual Review meeting when Henry was about 4, the school report claimed he had done gardening and had planted bulbs. I had actually witnessed this particular event as I had been in school on this occasion. The staff dug a hole. Henry was given a bulb, which, as a roundish object, he instantly threw. I reminded them of this in the meeting. He, of course, had no idea that what he had done was supposed to be gardening: he had no idea what gardening was; he had no idea that the bulb would become a flower in the spring. But the staff told themselves that Henry had done gardening and put it in his annual report as an achievement.At his next school they kept reporting in the home school book, again and again, that he was labelling shapes. This went on year after year! I told them at several annual review meetings that he could already label shapes before he went to this school and I referred to a report (signed by a Head teacher) which was evidence that he could already do this years ago. I asked would they still be reporting that he was being required to label shapes when he was 18? And why were they getting him to label a cuboid? What on earth has that got to do with anything? (I went through school, Maths 'O' level, University and many years of working life without ever having heard of a cuboid.) Why were they so obsessed with this? What use would it ever be to him?Both the above schools were LA general purpose special schools. In the first, about 75% of the pupils had autism; in the second, about half did.Eventually I found out that the reports I was writing for the Annual Review, as well as the professionals' reports, were not being circulated to staff before the meeting. So that was why they all sat there like lemons year after year! So I wrote a damning report - beginning with the fact that nobody ever read the papers for the Annual Review because the school didn't circulate them. I also wrote that the Head didn't bother to answer letters. Two days before the Annual Review I sent this report directly by e-mail to everyone concerned for whom I had an e-mail address. I only burned my bridges once it was clear there was no future at all for Henry at this school and I was determined to get him out of it; I also knew that we were facing Tribunal #4. I wish I had been tougher earlier.Margaret > > >> > > > **> > > >> > > >> > > > **> >> > > > And disability discrimination, denying a disability> > > >> > > > Mx> > > >> > > > In a message dated 02/11/2011 19:52:12 GMT Standard Time,

> > > > MaddiganV@ writes:> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Went to s open night at college and met the most ignorant woman> > > > ever! Art tutor at P's college.> > > > I had concerns that she wasn't teaching as P had already said she never> > > > helped him or showed him anything, anyway she just would not take any> > > > questioning at all, told me autism was NOT a disability and he just> > has to> > > > get on with it! She as good as called him a liar, said he doesn't pay> > > > attention and that all the students in her class need help, actually> > the> > > > other students are foreign people with English as a second language and> > > > have no disability whatsoever.> > > > She really was the most astoundingly ignorant piece of work I have ever> > > > encountered and that's saying something, suffice to say is> > > > sufficiently stressed now that he will not go back to her class, so I> > > > suppose the only thing to do is phone connexions and the college and> > put in> > > > a formal complaint.> > > > AMAZING, how does anyone this stupid secure a job teaching at any> > level at> > > > all never mind a city college?> > > > Vickyy> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> >> > > >>

November 3, 2011

Believe it or not it all gets a whole lot worse when they leave school! Fight very hard for anything you want now because just as soon as they can they will wash their hands of your child the first opportunity they get.

Anyway I had the pleasure of this womans coleague phoning me today after I complained, he would barely let me speak and was telling me he couldn't take the complaint forward before I had actually got to the main issue. Anyway when I got to the bit about her comment on autism he said he had known her years and could not believe she would say such a thing, when I asked if he was saying I was lying he said "No, but he knew her well and that was why he doubted it" Surely if he doubted what I was saying I must then be lying, I asked why would I make this up and he said he had no idea!!

Upshot is someone else phoned me from the college and I am meeting with them tomorrow and will put complaint in writing, whether they believe us or not it's the truth, it happened and I will report it.

Marina we were with Risca yesterday, how can two people working with autistic children be so different? Spent the day working on 's programme and the evening being told autism isn't a disability, complete twilight zone. Oh and the other thing was the man on the phone today wanted to know if P actually had dx for all my disability claims, I was able to put his mind at rest that everything from autism to OCD has been diagnosed by NHS professionals. This is why it can be helpful to keep your kids on paed and psyche lists.

Vicky

Re: Re: Most Ignorant Piece of work yet!

Margaret thanks for this, it is the kick in the pants that I need to challenge them - following a wonderfully successful week in Wales with Jack with Risca where he proved exactly what he can achieve. Alarm bells starting ringing loudly a few weeks ago when in his book they wrote he becomes upset if he is challenged - well there is a shocker - of course he does as he doesn't want to do it and cries to get out of it - lo and behold they give in and Jack wins!!!!!!!!!!

Have requested a meeting with all his teachers, head and speech therapist - lets see what comes of it.

Marina x

Sometimes special schools are operating in la-la land: a fantasy world which makes the staff feel good. They refuse to think or to face reality. Our children suffer.

In the Annual Review meeting when Henry was about 4, the school report claimed he had done gardening and had planted bulbs. I had actually witnessed this particular event as I had been in school on this occasion. The staff dug a hole. Henry was given a bulb, which, as a roundish object, he instantly threw. I reminded them of this in the meeting. He, of course, had no idea that what he had done was supposed to be gardening: he had no idea what gardening was; he had no idea that the bulb would become a flower in the spring. But the staff told themselves that Henry had done gardening and put it in his annual report as an achievement.

At his next school they kept reporting in the home school book, again and again, that he was labelling shapes. This went on year after year! I told them at several annu

al review meetings that he could already label shapes before he went to this school and I referred to a report (signed by a Head teacher) which was evidence that he could already do this years ago. I asked would they still be reporting that he was being required to label shapes when he was 18? And why were they getting him to label a cuboid? What on earth has that got to do with anything? (I went through school, Maths 'O' level, University and many years of working life without ever having heard of a cuboid.) Why were they so obsessed with this? What use would it ever be to him?

Both the above schools were LA general purpose special schools. In the first, about 75% of the pupils had autism; in the second, about half did.

Eventually I found out that the reports I was writing for the Annual Review, as well as the professionals' reports, were not being circulated to staff before the meeting. So that was why they all sat there like lemons year after year! So I wrot

e a damning report - beginning with the fact that nobody ever read the papers for the Annual Review because the school didn't circulate them. I also wrote that the Head didn't bother to answer letters. Two days before the Annual Review I sent this report directly by e-mail to everyone concerned for whom I had an e-mail address. I only burned my bridges once it was clear there was no future at all for Henry at this school and I was determined to get him out of it; I also knew that we were facing Tribunal #4. I wish I had been tougher earlier.

Margaret

> > >

> > > > **

> > > >

> > > > **

> >

> > > > And disability discrimination, denying a disability

> > > >

> > > > Mx

> > > >

> > > > In a message dated 02/11/2011 19:52:12 GMT Standard Time,

> > > > MaddiganV@ writes:

> > > >

> > > > Went to s open night at college and met the most ignorant woman

> > > > ever! Art tutor at P's college.

> > > > I had concerns that she wasn't teaching as P had already said she never

> > > > helped him or showed him anything, anyway she just would not take any

> > > > questioning at all, told me autism was NOT a disability and he just

> > has to

> > > > get on with it! She as good as called him a liar, said he doesn't pay

> > > > attention and that all the students in her class need help, actually

> > the

> > > > other students are foreign people with English as a second language and

> > > > have no disability whatsoever.

> > > > She really was the most astoundingly igno

rant piece of work I have ever

> > > > encountered and that's saying something, suffice to say is

> > > > sufficiently stressed now that he will not go back to her class, so I

> > > > suppose the only thing to do is phone connexions and the college and

> > put in

> > > > a formal complaint.

> > > > AMAZING, how does anyone this stupid secure a job teaching at any

> > level at

> > > > all never mind a city college?

> > > > Vickyy

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

November 3, 2011

Believe it or not it all gets a whole lot worse when they leave school! Fight very hard for anything you want now because just as soon as they can they will wash their hands of your child the first opportunity they get.

Anyway I had the pleasure of this womans coleague phoning me today after I complained, he would barely let me speak and was telling me he couldn't take the complaint forward before I had actually got to the main issue. Anyway when I got to the bit about her comment on autism he said he had known her years and could not believe she would say such a thing, when I asked if he was saying I was lying he said "No, but he knew her well and that was why he doubted it" Surely if he doubted what I was saying I must then be lying, I asked why would I make this up and he said he had no idea!!

Upshot is someone else phoned me from the college and I am meeting with them tomorrow and will put complaint in writing, whether they believe us or not it's the truth, it happened and I will report it.

Marina we were with Risca yesterday, how can two people working with autistic children be so different? Spent the day working on 's programme and the evening being told autism isn't a disability, complete twilight zone. Oh and the other thing was the man on the phone today wanted to know if P actually had dx for all my disability claims, I was able to put his mind at rest that everything from autism to OCD has been diagnosed by NHS professionals. This is why it can be helpful to keep your kids on paed and psyche lists.

Vicky

Re: Re: Most Ignorant Piece of work yet!

Margaret thanks for this, it is the kick in the pants that I need to challenge them - following a wonderfully successful week in Wales with Jack with Risca where he proved exactly what he can achieve. Alarm bells starting ringing loudly a few weeks ago when in his book they wrote he becomes upset if he is challenged - well there is a shocker - of course he does as he doesn't want to do it and cries to get out of it - lo and behold they give in and Jack wins!!!!!!!!!!

Have requested a meeting with all his teachers, head and speech therapist - lets see what comes of it.

Marina x

Sometimes special schools are operating in la-la land: a fantasy world which makes the staff feel good. They refuse to think or to face reality. Our children suffer.

In the Annual Review meeting when Henry was about 4, the school report claimed he had done gardening and had planted bulbs. I had actually witnessed this particular event as I had been in school on this occasion. The staff dug a hole. Henry was given a bulb, which, as a roundish object, he instantly threw. I reminded them of this in the meeting. He, of course, had no idea that what he had done was supposed to be gardening: he had no idea what gardening was; he had no idea that the bulb would become a flower in the spring. But the staff told themselves that Henry had done gardening and put it in his annual report as an achievement.

At his next school they kept reporting in the home school book, again and again, that he was labelling shapes. This went on year after year! I told them at several annu

al review meetings that he could already label shapes before he went to this school and I referred to a report (signed by a Head teacher) which was evidence that he could already do this years ago. I asked would they still be reporting that he was being required to label shapes when he was 18? And why were they getting him to label a cuboid? What on earth has that got to do with anything? (I went through school, Maths 'O' level, University and many years of working life without ever having heard of a cuboid.) Why were they so obsessed with this? What use would it ever be to him?

Both the above schools were LA general purpose special schools. In the first, about 75% of the pupils had autism; in the second, about half did.

Eventually I found out that the reports I was writing for the Annual Review, as well as the professionals' reports, were not being circulated to staff before the meeting. So that was why they all sat there like lemons year after year! So I wrot

e a damning report - beginning with the fact that nobody ever read the papers for the Annual Review because the school didn't circulate them. I also wrote that the Head didn't bother to answer letters. Two days before the Annual Review I sent this report directly by e-mail to everyone concerned for whom I had an e-mail address. I only burned my bridges once it was clear there was no future at all for Henry at this school and I was determined to get him out of it; I also knew that we were facing Tribunal #4. I wish I had been tougher earlier.

Margaret

> > >

> > > > **

> > > >

> > > > **

> >

> > > > And disability discrimination, denying a disability

> > > >

> > > > Mx

> > > >

> > > > In a message dated 02/11/2011 19:52:12 GMT Standard Time,

> > > > MaddiganV@ writes:

> > > >

> > > > Went to s open night at college and met the most ignorant woman

> > > > ever! Art tutor at P's college.

> > > > I had concerns that she wasn't teaching as P had already said she never

> > > > helped him or showed him anything, anyway she just would not take any

> > > > questioning at all, told me autism was NOT a disability and he just

> > has to

> > > > get on with it! She as good as called him a liar, said he doesn't pay

> > > > attention and that all the students in her class need help, actually

> > the

> > > > other students are foreign people with English as a second language and

> > > > have no disability whatsoever.

> > > > She really was the most astoundingly igno

rant piece of work I have ever

> > > > encountered and that's saying something, suffice to say is

> > > > sufficiently stressed now that he will not go back to her class, so I

> > > > suppose the only thing to do is phone connexions and the college and

> > put in

> > > > a formal complaint.

> > > > AMAZING, how does anyone this stupid secure a job teaching at any

> > level at

> > > > all never mind a city college?

> > > > Vickyy

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

November 3, 2011

I found that is not all about knowledge you have to have your heart in it as well that is what makes the difference .....Risca is a good example of knowledge allied to a big heart and this is the key of success....my kid has success when the person that works with him actually cares if he is learning or not and does not gives up when does not succeeds but goes to drawing board and looks for alternatives and is willingly to learn from others including us parents ....

how many professionals do you know that actually are not in SEN for the money ....but they actually want these kids to get some where.... I been in this for 11 years and so far no one ....

I am finding myself grateful these days when people actually have the courage to say they can meet my son's needs so I do not have to loose time with them ....

The SEN system is a fraud people that actually can make decisions are partial and have their wages paid by the NHS and education so you never win, all you have is services denied to you ...I am struggling to have a diagnosis of epilepsy despite of reporting seizures for the last past 6 months first to his pead and to his GP and despite of the NICE rules saying that a child should see a specialist within 2 weeks and have the proper exams within 4 weeks ......

You have to be contempt to see our children being given services of OT and SALT by people without any qualifications like are TA's....

When you actually have the money to pay for this services you find that you actually do not have the professionals....no professional does therapy time any more they are to busy to seat their bottoms on chairs and listen to others and drink their tea...have been to many meeting and actually I am the one that speaks everyone goes mute and actually they are the "professionals" they are the ones "in the know".....ironic

I have more qualifications that most of the professionals that I work with in autism but I am still the hysterical demented (and other names calling that I am to polite to say out loud) mother of a violent, naughty, rude , etc child .....he never has autism despite of his diagnosis

Vicky god luck with your complaint really if we give up who goes to fight their corner .....

November 4, 2011

Went to the meeting this morning, and both men I spoke to were present, one taking notes.

They seemed to be approaching this entire thing as though they could try and trip me up, thing is I am telling the truth so it's not possible to trip me up. They informed me how dreadfully upset this ill informed tutor was, it was said as though she were the victim. Again they doubt she said what she did, performed the expected character witness task as though saying how wonderful someone is in their opinion, proves innocence. The story now is that was not honest when he said he was happy with his course [i'm not aware anyone asked him such a thing] but again we have this implication that we are not honest people.

I know Margaret advised taking someone with me but I don't have anyone available at such short notice and in any case if they are not going to tell the truth it won't make much difference ie this man insists the open night was very busy, doesn't tie in with the tutor phoning me and asking me to come earlier or that the place was deserted when I got there, while I was there and when I left. I wouldn't be surprised if the notes do not reflect what was said as I didn't say anything untoward and didn't rise to the bait and get angry although the man doing most of the talking appeared to be really trying to mask his anger and I had to ask him to calm down several times.

I was asked to repeat my answers to the questions the first man asked the day before and ofcourse they are exactly the same, one doesn't need a great memory when telling the truth.

I have the weekend to decide what to do, they have allocated a support worker for P which is good but the question is : Is it good enough? At the end of the day this woman knows she said what I have complained about, I know she did and P knows she did, so where do we go from here? Isn't it interesting that institutions always roll out all their awards for autism and disability completely blind to the fact that every school, college, hospital and clinic hold so many of these awards that they are totally meaningless.