[senco-forum] [SENco-forum] rise in diagnoses of autism/ one stop child centres

Hong Kong has Child Assessment centres that once referred you can be passed
from OT to SLT etc within one building until a package is made to suit the
child.  While is it good for severe end problems or ones with a chemical or
mechanical root it does not relate back to support in school.  Recently
dyslexia (generic coverall term) was included under this medical umbrella,
but almost immediately they are pushing it over into the school arena.

On the plus side they are taking dyslexia training for teachers very
seriously going in with 30 hour courses, but on the other missing the
opportunity to give that complete package that you and others want, where a
child can see an audiologist and optometrist at the same time as an EP  and
OT for handwriting support, without parents having to pick their way through
a minefield alone, or worse by paying privately.

I am in favour of all students being able to access Student Disability
Allowance instead of School Action +/ Statement of Educational need.  Why
keep SDA only for the few that make it to university with significant
barriers to learning?

If my eldest daughter had been recognised as having dyslexia when she was 3
and puzzling me then she would not need around L4,000 of support now aged 22
to finish her final year.

'Every Child Matters' assessment centre for all social, medical, educational
needs with tracking and monitoring such as school have to have in place and
hopefully no one is overlooked. Bit big brotherish but no more than
currently with children tracked by CAF.  One off payment for equipment and
an allocated funding band for any additional support that it is up to the
parents, child and school to decide how best to use.

Damage to psyche and society is much costlier to remedy with post education
interventions.

Sharon Tringham

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