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Name: crofty
[ Original Post ]
I have recently had a Phase Transfer Meeting for my youngest autistic son who is quite severe. Everyone involved agreed that he will not be able to continue in mainstream when nursery finishes.
My husband and I looked at two specialist provisons, both with alot of experience of autistic children. The problem is that the professionals don't agree with the school we want. They are worried it won't be able to meet his needs. We felt so good about the place, and were confident it was right but all the professionals picked the other school which is for more complex needs. My son does have complex needs but this school also has a lot of physically disabled children with things such as wheelchairs, lifts and feeding equipment , which would be a huge distraction for him. He needs an environment with minimum visual stimulaii. The professionals have said they will go with what we want at this stage to support us, but I am just really concerned now. We thought all our reasons were well justified but we can't be right and everyone else wrong? Can we?
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Name: crofty | Date: Dec 3rd, 2007 7:38 PM
Also, I forgot to add, does anyone know what the 'P' ratings are? Apparently our son was rated at P3 or P4 which suits the other school better, I don't even know what they are and can they be accurate when he is only 4 and has only been briefly monitored in a inappropriate busy nursery environment. 

Name: ltl | Date: Dec 4th, 2007 6:37 AM
Hi Crofty, I can see that this is a difficult delima. Most of us would agree that going with your instinct would be the best, but as for me, in this case, I may lean toward taking the professionals' opinion. Do you know if the professionals had personally visited and observethe facility that theyrecommend? If so, and they strongly suggested that facility, I may go with their opinion and gaged it carefully. In a year time, if you don't that it fits your child, then I would change facility. However, before making your decision, I would make a list of all the pros and cons of the facility they recommend it and make another list of pros and cons of the facility that you are interested in. This may help making your decision slightly easier by comparing side by side. :-) 

Name: crofty | Date: Dec 4th, 2007 9:50 PM
Hi Itl some of the professionals were actual representatives for each of the school.
I will do a pros and cons list but I do know I will have probably 9 out of 10 reasons for my gut instinct school.
I am starting to think if I don't give him a shot at the school we believe, then we may regret it. They have now suggested we go with what we want for now and monitor him closely with an other review.
Thanks for your help, it is a tough one! 

Name: dianna | Date: Dec 6th, 2007 7:51 PM
Hi Crofty, first, of course trust your gut....there is a reason mother have that "little feeling". And second, I don't know that I would put him with kids who were (and let me put this gently) "worse off" .You must remeber that children with special needs should be in company of peers who are usually a little "better off" because that is who you want them to model. And lastly, I'm not saying don't trust or take into consideration the professionals opinion but remember that while I don't know how old your son is, the sky is the limit. You don't know what he has yet to do. Autsim is not retardation....it is a different way of learning at a different pace too. Just the fact that you wrote this question tells me you're not 100% convinced. Trust that and go on from there. I do really wish you the best. Take care- 

Name: crofty | Date: Dec 6th, 2007 9:01 PM
Hi Dianna, thanks for your advice and positive words. Good point about slightly better off peers, we didn't think of that but I'm sure it will make a difference.
Also we were 100% sure, but would have really liked some backing and he is only still little, just 4 yrs.
Thanks again.
Take care.
Crofty 

Name: Ollys Mum | Date: Dec 11th, 2007 4:51 PM
Hi crofy,

Life seems to thow us things where we can't decide what to do for the best. I feel that you knwo your son the best and have reasons why you want him to go where you think he will manaed the best.

Our son is 4 and we are just staing the statment process now. (England) we have decided to send him to a autistic unit attached to a mainstream school. Because we want him to have the most streching environment possible. Other options would be a smiliar situation to what you have described. We have decided that if he can't manage the unit which we want him to go to the LEA will have to find alertive suitable education and will help us to move him to a more complex needs school. However if he goes to the more complex needs school and dose really well there and could manage more things they do not have to move him to a more mainstream setting.

Hope this helps.

Melanie 


Name: crofty | Date: Dec 11th, 2007 8:53 PM
Hi Melanie, we are hopefully going to try him at the school we want, because if we don't we will always wonder if he would have coped. If there are problems we will then move him, but only when we have given him a shot.
Good luck for your son in the autistic unit. Let's hope it works out for the best for both of us. Thanks.
Crofty 

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