Hi, I am new to this forum.
I am a parent of two boys. My eldest was diagnosed as moderately autistic 7 months ago. He was initially seen at 2 years 8 months (diagnosed as
not autistic but specific speech and language disorder) then at 4 and a half (diagnosed as aspergers). My youngest is having the same speech and communication problems (not sure how bad his receptive language is) and I am fighting to get him adequate speech and language therapy.
My eldest son was eventually referred to a special pre-school for children with Speech, Language and communication difficulties when he was just over 3. He went for a year and then went into mainstream infant school on split placement for 3 months. Before he started the pre-school, he could only say a few words but a year and a half later he had made amazing progress.
I wanted to get my youngest son into the same pre-school. I referred him to SALT department at the beginning of 2007. 6 months later I was offered parent group sessions. I have had a lot of experience with "parent" courses and didn't find that they offered any new techniques. I routinely use Makaton and DS2 sometimes uses PECS for when he wants food/drink.
6 months ago SALT didn't seem to know how to get DS2 a place at special pre-school but after persisitng, found I had to fill in forms but nearly a month later I hadn't received forms and then I found out on 29th June that the special pre-school was being closed at the end of term and not re-opening in September. Staff and parents and SALT department were only informed on the 29th June. We also found out another local special pre-school for Speech, Language and communication difficulties is also being shut down.
I am campaigning to stop these closures of special pre-schools in our area. Kent County Council say it isn't about cutting costs. They say that they want a uniform service across the county - and because the rest of the county doesn't have special pre-schools, then we shouldn't either.
I am all for inclusion, when and where it is appropriate, but many of these young children are autistic and can not cope in a mainstream nursery setting. These special pre-schools have excellent staff with experience and training, though some are not trained speech and language therapists but they work in small groups 9-3pm 2 days a week giving intensive support.
The children that were already at the pre-school are supposedly going to be "supported" in their mainstream nursery setting. But what about those that can not cope with a mainstream nursery setting, or those future children that are not currently in nursery. More children will be going into school with speech and communication difficulties and potential behavior problems that sometimes go with it.
Please support our campaign by signing our petitions at
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Pre-School/ and
http://ipetions.co./petition/SAVEHEADSTART and spread the word
Thanks,
Michelle
