UK Disability Resource of Disabled Needs

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1851

The meeting went ahead yesterday at 2pm.

The advocate arrived at 1.30 and looked over the notes I had prepared, asked questions and clarified a few points. She took notes of the meeting and is going to type it up and deliver it to us at the end of the week.

The National Director and his assistant arrived promptly and were very polite exchanging niceties etc.

They sat where they were gestured to sit and proceeded to astonish us by not dishing out the flannel as we expected but to agree with everything we had previously informed them about.

They even said they were sorry several times for what has happened to our son.

They seemed very shocked at some of the things we told them was happening at the school.

The national director volunteered that his feelings were that mainstream practises were creeping into the school. We pointed out that they had stampeeded in and were well established already.

They were also concerned about another child that we brought to their attention and the way this other child is being treated. They very firmly stated that they are doing as we suggested in respect of this child. This was a great relief to us as the child will suffer long term health problems if what we suggested is not put into practice.

They will be sending in the assistant to spend time at the school to bring their practices back to a level that caters for each individual child's needs rather than treating the children like naughty mainstream pupils.

Our son wasn't "naughty" anyway but the staff seemed to take great delight in making him out to be so and taking him to the point of being very distressed. I won't go into any more detail about the things that have happened to him there.

It all sounds so positive but the most upsetting thing is that it is all too late now for our son.
He has lost his placement for the next 6 years. We had it all mapped out until he would be 22 but now he has nothing.

I do feel happy that they will be doing something to ensure this won't happen again but also very sad and depressed that our son has had to pay the price.

It took us 6 years to get him into that school. He has spent 4 years there and 3 years of that has been hell.

I hope in the next few days I can start to feel more positive again and see something in the future for our lad.

They will be writing to us by the end of next week with their plan and actions they have or are planning to make.
My concern now is how we can ensure things do change and don't slip back into bad practices after the assistant has left? We can't exactly pop in unexpected now and again. The head would probably call the police as he seems to dislike us and our son so much.

Any ideas on that one?

I know this is a long post and I hope it's not been too hard to read but I wanted to let you all know now I feel a little stronger.

_________________

Speeds · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

What a relief that it is over - the meeting that is - and that they were positive and remorseful for you.

I have no idea on how to proceed - but hope that you find ways to do so with as little angst for you all.
_________________
Karen, Dominic, Thomas, Zola and Belle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_hues/

barbsy · Super Member Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 570

you must feel pleased the meeting is over now pixie, it sounded as if it was very positive. i hope in time you and your family will be able to move forward, i know it is hard to put all of this behind you because of what your son has been through but i am sure now the future will hold happier times for you all to look forward to. barbs

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1851

Thanks to you both.

It is indeed a relief and we are becoming more pleased with the outcome as the days go by. Obviously not for our son but for the other children there as things are going to be changing for the better for them.

Now it's time to be back to being positive and move forward along another road to make life good for our son.
_________________