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School access for disability
Hello,
Advise please.
My son have Myopathy still under investigation. He can only crawl upstairs and comes down on his bottom. He cannot walk far before getting tired etc. He starts secondary school in September and has received his acceptance letter for chosen school which we are delighted about. When we applied the school was made aware of my sons physical problems and their co-ordinater knows, or so we thought. I had a meeting with all involved from his current school, new school, physio therapist etc. The co-ordinater for the new school asked me to explain his problem which I did and told her he cannot mangage stairs. Big problem in her eyes, she doesn’t think all his lessons can be downstairs. The school is a split site, first two years no lift, after that at the upper site there is a lift. I know for a fact the school has had many children over the years in wheelchairs and they have been accommodated. She has to talk to someone else about it.
am I right in thinking they are breaking the law if they withdraw my sons place? Is it the law that schools cannot refuse a place to a child on the grounds of disability? Is it the law that schools have to make reasonable adjustments such as lessons being on the ground floor if a lift is not available?
I am so angry and frustrated! Everything is a constant battle!Re: School access for disabilityI’m not sure but this might come under the disability discriminaton act. It might be worth phoning your county council and see what they say or failing that maybe try the CAB. Sorry couldn’t be more help.
Re: School access for disabilityThe CAB would be an excellent place to start. They may also be able to help with names of local legal companies who offer free 30 minute consultations. Kind of like “This is happening is it legal?” and you get some straight forward advice.
Theoretically I agree, the school cannot withdraw a place for your son on the grounds of his disability, especially when there have been wheelchair users attending that school for the education years in the building where there is no lift – the precedent is set – and legalees love precedents to weight their points.
Inclusive Education I googled and came up with this. Interesting read on the subject.
Also while googling I came across several schools who have a “Disability Policy”, does the school with this issue have one and have they offered you a copy [you may have to ask and there may be a nominal charge for copying posting etc].
Good luck – let us know how things go.
I'm always the animal, my body's the cage
I blog about nothingness www.amgroves.com
Re: School access for disabilityhttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/DG_4001076
This might be worth a read too. At the end there is a section about getting advice if you feel you have been discriminated against.
Best wishes
A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams
Re: School access for disabilityHi,
I am so happy that you have all replied with advice and help, it really does mean alot to me that you have all taken the time to help me and I feel much better.
I have printed some stuff out and I think that my son should be ok, I think the law is on his side. I just hope I am worrying about nothing, if not I intend to put up a fight and will not just go away.Re: School access for disabilityI hope it doesn’t come to this but I found out about the SEN appeal process from my Mum who is an Assistant SENCO in a secondary school. Here is a link to the Tribunal Service’s info for parents:
http://www.sendist.gov.uk/Parents/index.htm
A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams
Re: School access for disabilityThought I would add an update.
Since my post we have been to the school for a look with the head and their SENCO. It seems my son would miss part of the curriculum as they cannot move some classes downstairs such as science, music, art and textiles. I came away feeling very upset and angry mostly due to their attitude, the head said the teacher who arranges the classes each year has enough problems as it is. The SENCO said that she thinks I don’t care about the problems they will face! We looked at a class over their new build sports hall which has a lift, seperate building, the head said they had no choice about the lift as new buildings have to.
This is the attitude my son would have to face everyday. The school is a good one but I am disheartened and he would have to travel between the tow sites which I didn’t now. I also found out after the meeting that the school was offered the money to install a lift at the site a few years ago and they refused it! I don’t think they want disabled children at all!
I am intouch with another school now who have a much better attitude and say they can fully accomodate my son all on the one site and they have many children with physical disabilities. We are going to have a look.
My son has his heart set on the first school because all of his friends are going and told me that if I send him to the other school he will emigrate when he is older and never speak to me again! That did make me laugh! He is very upset about the idea. I now he will make new friends quickly as he is out going but it is such a hard decision.
Please add your thoughts.Re: School access for disabilityUnfortunatley this attitude is not confined to just your schoool. I have a friend who is a TA to disabled children in my local comprehensive school and some of the attitude there is “if I wanted to be a special needs teacher I would have gone to a special needs school”
The problem is these schools get extra funding to have children wth disabilities but when they are asked to make adjustments they have a problem with it.On a personal response I don’t really agree with this intergration in schools (blimey I can feel a backlash coming on
). It might work for some but not every disabled child is equipped with being able to cope at a mainstream school and vice versa the schools aren’t always able to handle special needs children. I went to a mainstream school till I was 11 then a specialised school from 11-16, I thrived at this school, classes were smaller and my grades really improved plus it was great to have a peer group that was able to empathaise with me as they had disabilities too.
I’m sure once your son has setttled in and made friends he will be fine.
Re: School access for disabilityI am so sorry to hear of the trouble you are having – the SENCO’s attitude was extremely disappointing and unhelpful.
I went to a mainstream primary and secondary school and absolutely loved it, it was definitely the right thing for me but at the same time, as Vicki says, it is not always. I have mixed feelings regarding Inclusion as I fully support the right to mainstream education for disabled students but do not think that means special schools should close. There should be a choice and it should be what ever is in the best interests of the child rather than what suits current educational thinking/policies.
I agree with Vicki, I am sure your son will settle in quickly. I didn’t have any friends from my primary school at the secondary because we had moved into a different catchment area and it was also more accessible and understanding of my needs.
All the best
A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams
Re: School access for disabilityI went to a mainstream school, wouldnt say I loved my high school years and would agrue that it could have been made more comfortable for me.
I was lucky on the one hand that one of the young female Biology teachers was disabled herself and was already fighting the accessibility issues ie lift repair when I got there. but then as it was a few years ago, their was no disabled toilets no disabled parking and they didnt have to install them at that time. On one floor the only available toilet for me was the one in the male teachers smoking staff room. yukIt makes me so angry when I hear stories like this, a school couldn’t turn away children due to their ethnic or religous background they would simply have to find a budget to support their individual needs and rightly so.. but disabled people are constantly told to go somewhere else. Any adaptations to allow disable children to attend would enhance a schools outlook for the better. able bodied children need to integrate with us disabled people not us with them. And with not having a lift they are ineffect banning disabled staff as well. :evil:
have you written the local papers, it just seems wrong that they were alload to refuse funding offered to them for disabled adaptations like the lift.
hope you find a solution for your son.
Re: School access for disabilityThankyou all for your input and helpfull information, very helpful.
I found out that today the school is having people in, Govenors and some others I think? to see if they can do anything to make the school accessible for my son, I am not invited and only found out by chance. I asked them when will I find out the outcome, some time before Easter was the reply. Oh it is so frustrating all this waiting and worrying! I get the feeling they are trying to wear me down.
We are going to have a look at the second school tomorrow, all my contact with them so far has been very positive.Re: School access for disabilityHello,
We went for a look around the second school today, the SENCO and head are so nice and really helpful. School is totally accessible and is on one smaller site, my son really likes it also. Another problem is that they said I should have been intouch with the council by now about getting funds for a lap top for my son because he uses one at his Primary School due to his weak hands. Also funding for extra help for him to get about. My son does not have a certificate for needs, sorry cannot remember what it is called? He only has a Care Plan. I rang the council and they said the school are supposed to apply? It is one problem after another! my son has a physio, Schools inclusion advisor, SENCO at his present school and not one have been clear about how to get a laptop. Last week I asked the SENCO at my sons school and she said the school should apply for funds. Help please, does anyone now how I can get this laptop sorted? I don’t think any of them know their job properly.
Re: School access for disabilityHi,
I will ask my Mum about who is responsible for funding of the laptop and get back to you soon. The certificate you are talking about is an SEN Statement. I had one drawn up when I was in the first or second year of secondary school.
I understand your frustration at no-one knowing what they are doing. I am having similar issues with my PCT and a referral to a specialist centre at the moment. I am starting to despair at the incompetence I am finding at every turn.
Best wishes,
Sarah
A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams
Re: School access for disabilityThanks very much Sarah, there must be so many people like yourself and me finding it so hard to get things done! so annoying isn’t it!
Re: School access for disabilityHi,
I am going to try and explain what I have found out…
The first step is to request a statutory assessment from the primary school and your LEA – if the request is granted then it can take up to 6 months to get all the relevent info for the statement so the sooner the ball is rolling the better. You will need to name all the relevant outside agencies your son is in contact with e.g. physio, consultant etc. and then they can add their advice to the statement of special educational needs. Once it is all put in writing you then have more rights.
The laptop should be specified in the statement and as I understand it, it is up to the school to arrange this. At the school where my Mum works, they have a number laptops in stock that can be leant out and the student doesn’t need a statement in order to do this (it might be that a student has broken his/her arm) but not every school will have this policy – if it is in the statement I think the school is obliged to provide it/apply for funding.
My Mum said if at any point you would like to chat about it, she would happy to talk over the phone. Send me a private message if you would like to, I sent you a PM last week but it hasn’t left my outbox yet – not sure why. Any problems with messaging, let me know.
A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams
Re: School access for disabilityHi Sarah,
Thanks for telling me you sent me a message, sorry I didn’t notice as I have never had one before. I just tried to reply but something went wrong when I tried to send it.
I have contacted School Inclusions, School Admissions and Parent Partnership who all say the school has to apply for funds for a laptop, not me, and he doesn’t need a Statement of Needs. Thanks for the offer about your mum but I shouldn’t need to now.
Problem school has arranged a meeting on 18th April for myself, son, SENCO, Physio, School Inclusions and a surveyor for the Dioces. The surveyor will see if a lift can go in or not and will then report back to the Archdioces and they will decide if they agree and if they can afford it. Problem is the other school wants me to let them now after Easter if my son is going to apply, can’t see the Archdioces making a quick decision. If a lift cannot be put in I have been told my son cannot go as they will have tried to make reasonable adjustments, there is not enough room downstairs to move classes to and some like science cannot be moved.
I feel like walking away but also feel that I must fight to the end over this, not just for my son but for those who follow.Re: School access for disabilityHi,
I decided to send my son to the more accesible school, can’t take any more of the stress with the other! I think I have made the best choice for my son, that is the most important thing.
Re: School access for disabilitySounded like a very complicated scenario with the other school and one too many ‘if’ to fall into place before knowing for sure. Now you have made a firm decision on which school everyone can look ahead to the new start
I'm always the animal, my body's the cage
I blog about nothingness www.amgroves.com
Re: School access for disabilityThats great news, the other one did sound a bit “wishy washy”. You can look to a new school year now without to much stress
Re: School access for disabilityThankyou both, now I have made the decision I feel like a weight has been lifted.
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