I have filled in all the forms that I have been asked to and sent copies of all the supporting evidence that I have in my possession. The formal diagnosis, the Speech and Language assessment, along with various other letters from medical professionals and consultants, all experts in their field. None of it was considered to be good enough proof. They sent me this form last month.....
.....asking for the opinion of his GP on the matter. In the end it just took a couple of sentences from her (who incidentally has never met him), in a box on that form, for them to agree he is eligible. The letter she refers to is another copy of one I had previously sent stating his initial diagnosis.
The next step is a formal assessment, by an independent party, to decide what he actually needs to enable him to have full access to his course. Will that be by the end of his first year? Who knows? To say the process has been frustrating would be an understatement.
I have also learnt just how tenacious we both are. Although we kind of knew that already, from the three years it took us to get a diagnosis in the first place. I cannot help but feel my boy has been badly let down by the education system.....again. All the help, that the university said was available to him, is entirely dependent on Student Finance putting the funds in place. He has been managing (barely) with help only from me. A tall order when I am over a hundred miles away.
Waving to Sian and the Mondayers from a hilltop in Hardy country.
15 comments:
I'm shocked to read how slow this whole process has been. It's been a tough year for both of you and I think you have both shown real courage. I'm hoping next year will be better because your boy really deserves the chance to relax into his time away and make the most of it.
Wishing you both a bit of a break over the holidays
Outrageous and so frustrating for you both - I hope the right assistance is in place soon so that he can real enjoy his time at University. Hope you have a great week
Oh Fiona that all sounds so frustrating & ridiculous in red tape. I can only image your continued heart ache as your son struggles through his first year. Trusting that the system will finally step up & make the remaining terms easier is certainly a stretch. If it helps, know that I am sending lots of positive energy. Hoping that the breath in Easter Holidays gives you that space.
Someone said to me just this past Friday, "it only gets worse." She was referring to Annual Reviews and maintaining Statements as the child gets older. I am angry, frustrated and yet not surprised, all at once, by what I have just read ... sending you a huge hug for you and your boy.
You've been fighting for as long as I've known you, im so pleased he's got you in his corner. Sending love xxx
Unbelievably frustrating for you both. It is a story you hear over and over again sadly. My eldest is dyslexic we had similar struggles at school. We eventually sent her to private school but not an option for all and not an option at university level. Keep fighting but try and get some time of your own too.
Finally some good news for Sam and for you. Let's hope the next part of the journey is a lot quicker and he gets the help he needs sooner rather than later. You are an amazing mother <3
It's terrible in this country that people who need help have to jump through hoops but those who don't really need it are handed it on a plate! I hope you can see the light at the end of the tunnel now x
A step forward for you both, hopefully all the ticks will be in the right boxes and he can get the support he needs to help him move move on.
Glad to read that at last something is shifting but dismayed by how long this has all taken for you both. So often, I wonder how we can have systems which seem designed to promote delay and obfuscation. Cheering you both on for hanging on in there!
Oh that has to be tough not to be able to get him all the help he needs. Here's hoping you've turned a corner and the situation will improve at a rapid pace. He deserves nothing less.
How frustrating for both of you. Sadly, it's the norm in the States as well. Almost a whole school year can be lost to getting proper services.
I can only imagine how frustrating that has to be, knowing that there should be some aid in place besides the very long phone calls with you, only to be constantly called upon to do it all. With Becca, given how very late we came up with her A.D.D. diagnosis, I did not even attempt to get any extra help from the University. We just went with a lot of summer classes to make up for the failed ones and now need to work hard at rebuilding her shattered self esteem.
Glad its starting to get sorted and well done you for being such an amazing Mum!!
This is ridiculous that it's taken this long for them to at lest admit he qualifies. I hope the rest has gone much smoother.
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