[senco-forum] Tolerance

Hi Mary

In general terms I agree.
Not on this forum but on another forum I became a victim of SEN intolerance
at the beginning of last year, which acted as new triggers of the traumatic
stress I experienced due your of disability discrimination in the work
place, when I was made redundant in the previous year. And was a
contributory factor in the health reasons why I had to stand down as
chairman of APDUK, and stop being as active a campaigner as I had been in
previous years. 
This intolerance is based on a lack of understanding of the differences we
all have as you indicate in your post below. What is really needed as the
Director of the Medical Research Council's Institute Hearing Research, Prof
David Moore, keep on telling me and others, is the need for more rigorously
scientific base diagnostic systems for most of the invisible disabilities,
such as APD, so that the diagnostic process can be done say 80% by computer
program, and ONLY 20% as professional subjective opinion. This is
highlighted in an article Prof. Moore wrote this year in which he says:
_____________________________________________________________
 The 'deeply rooted positions' mentioned above include the different
diagnosis and treatment that will result from a referral route through
different professionals. For example, a child with identical symptoms may be
classed as APD by an audiologist, SLI by a SLT, dyslexic by an educational
psychologist, and autistic spectrum by a psychiatrist. The evolution of the
APD concept has itself been more strongly influenced by 'clinical judgement'
and commercial interests than by scientific rigour. This has resulted in a
plethora of diagnostic tests and treatments lacking any scientific validity.
Finally, there are the competing demands and interests of clinicians who
have a problem to deal with, but no time to do the necessary research, and
academics who, despite having plenty of research time, do no know how and
usually do not wish to research a problem that is not precisely defined.
________________________________________________
The full article can be obtained from
http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/(qk2c5x55ozny0p550uvrvjrt)/app/home/contri
bution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,2,6;journal,3,15;linkingpublicationr
esults,1:300390,1 

So if the professionals that we should rely on to provide good quality
information to help provide the levels of support required, can not get
together to provide a multi-disciplined approach to the diagnostic processes
for many SEN issues. This leaves to areas of misunderstanding and confusion
amongst teaching professionals who are getting different advice, and even
training, on issues that are crucial to the children and parents at the
point of delivery. 

The other problem is that LEAs only consult a limited type of professionals
regarding these issues and so only get a limited level of advice regarding
the issues facing each child and that is the cause of this angst. Then there
are well meaning educationalists try to find solutions for these self same
problems but who do not have a full understanding of all the issues
involved.
May be it is time we set up a central research organisation, such as the
MRC, to research the medical and other causes of SEN issues, to provide
rigorously scientifically research information, peer reviewed, regarding all
of these issues, and thus preventing some of the sometimes well meaning, but
ill informed subjective information we currently have to work with.
An example of the way forward, id the US Government sponsored
multi-disciplined Dyslexia research at Florida Sate University, which was
announced earlier this year. 
NIH turns to FSU for top research on learning disabilities
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-07/fsu-ntt071106.php  
The UK government has multi levels of dyslexia web page that changes
according to the target audience, the best of which to date is the Adult
literacy web page.
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/curriculum_literacy/access/dyslexia/ 

So we need to so called expert professionals to loose their professional
egos and undo years of self justification to start to work to help those who
need help most, those who have the disabilities and problems that they love
to pontificate about. So that parents and teachers can begin to understand
the real issues involved, and really begin about finding realistic ways of
trying to resolve the problems in realistic day to day practicalities and/or
trying lobbying for the facilities required. 

Best wishes

Graeme
dolfrog
dolfrog at apduk.org
http://www.apduk.org
dolfrog at dolfrog.com
http://www.dolfrog.com
http://www.ldlinks.org.uk 

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Mary Kelly
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 10:13 AM
To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk.
Subject: [senco-forum] Tolerance

Dear All,
It has occurred to me more than once that many of us on this forum have
got into SEN because of personal experiences of various kinds. That
means we may have close family members with learning difficulties and we
may have some of their traits ourselves. Perhaps we should just accept
that we all see the world through our own paradigm, use the delete
button when we feel it necessary, and try to express our own views with
moderation, both in tone and frequency.
If we can't manage it on a forum, what hope is there for the Middle
East.
Sincerely,
Mary

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