Global developmental delay / ataxia

Replies

• MrsS61

  Feb 18, 2009 11:57AM

  Hiya, I've got a 10 month old with Down's syndrome, so we're obviously not quite at the school stage yet!!! How delayed is your niece, if you don't mind me asking? Its just that all the special schools that I take George to for various things are fab, and if that's where he needs to go then that's where he'll be!!! If you or your family don't feel that mainstream is the right place, and I'm sure the authorities will agree with you if that's the case, then she may be far better off in a special school - where she would get the chance to maybe sometimes be top of the class rather than always one needing help!!! And I don't think that there is the same stigma attached to it that there used to be.
  
  Sarah x

  0
• SouthernBelle

  Feb 18, 2009 1:24PM

  hi Mrs S
  
  My niece is 7 years old. she falls a lot and her speech is a bit slurred. she often needs support when walking. she can fully understand everything going on around her.
  
  her mum gets odd calls from the school with comments like 'her breath smells'...........and on more than one occasion the TA said in a 'joking' manner that 'oh little S is drunk today'.........I WAS LIVID!!!
  
  It just seems that the staff are uncaring towards her and have discrimnatory attitudes.
  
  my sis cant really complain as they are the ones looking after her and she's scared that they might not treat her little girl right if she makes a fuss.
  
  i havent said anything to my sis about sending her to special school as she might be offended.
  
  

  0
• MrsS61

  Feb 20, 2009 5:34AM

  Aw that's really sad and they don't sound very sympathetic at all. Does she have a statement do you know? Does she have someone supporting her? It really might be worth speaking to the school about the possibility of moving her - encourage your sister to go and look around some special schools... I was very sceptical about them before having George - and I'm a teacher myself!!!! But once you're in there and see how they work, they really are the most amazing places and the children have regular access to all the support services - physio, speech therapist, etc on a weekly basis - sounds like just what your niece needs. Please tell her that there is no need to be offended - and who gives a stuff what other people think, she's got to do the best for her little girl.... and the best for her to be able to flourish!
  
  Mrs S X

  0
• SouthernBelle

  Feb 20, 2009 5:38AM

  thanks Mrs S, very reassuring words.
  
  Im going to discuss this as feel a bit helpless not doing anything about it. it is sad when people see the disability before the person - she is such a beautiful fun loving girl.
  
  xxx

  0
• MummyX5

  Feb 28, 2009 12:20PM

  Hi there,
  
  My son, Luke (4), had just been diagnosed with Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia. He also shows mild signs of the general characteristics of Dyspraxia - clumsiness, spills food, poor balance but, like ur niece, we have been told he has a higher level of learning than is usual for his age! He is due to start school in September but is being referred to a specialist school. He may have to start at the mainstream school for 1 term as placement at the specialist school is always over-subscribed!
  
  I would say the school she is at are very unaware of any type of condition that she could have which is why they are so dismissive of her problems. This is not fair on ur niece. She really needs a referral from her gp or the health visitor/school nurse to see a speech therapist, an educational therapist & doctor (is called a 'Joint Assessment' here)......once she starts getting better treatment re her education, I bet she'll come on in leaps n bounds!

  0
• SouthernBelle

  Mar 1, 2009 8:21AM

  aww thanks im going to show my sis these posts, they are very encouraging.
  
  the only reason she is at that school is that its the only one in the area without stairs. my niece has a support assistant with her all the time, but she is the one making silly comments and phonecalls to my sis for no reason
  
  my other sis is a prim school teacher and she said if we complained the school would just stick together
  
  anyhow i will have a word about special schools. i know it sounds silly but we never really see our niece as 'disabled' so my sis might be a bit shocked at the suggestion of sending her to a special school, but i will see what she says
  
  thanks so much , it means a lot to get such responses as i have
  
  xxx
  
  
  

  0
• MummyX5

  Mar 1, 2009 10:10AM

  We don't see Luke as disabled.....far from it!! He is so active, always wants to be involved and does very well with communicating in other ways as he seems to know people can't understand him. He never gives in either - always willing to try.
  
  The thing with special schools.....they're not just for disabled people. They have access to all the necessary trained people almost immediately! The teachers are also a heck of a lot more sympathetic to each childs need, no matter what that may be.
  
  The school my son will be going to is only a key stage 1 school, so he will be going into mainstream school by year 3 anyway, with extra support staff.

  0
• Pel

  May 2, 2009 11:44AM

  Hi,
  
  I dont have a child with GDD, but where i volunteered at with the NT I supervised a 16 student with GDD for 9 months (mental age 13). He went to a mainstream school, though the school has a very good special needs department. He also went through mainstream primary. The only difference he spent 3 years at A-level instead of 2, and he was doing vocational studies rather than the more academic subjects.
  He was great kid, as long i said the question in the right way and explained what i wanted him to do, he was fairly easy going.. we did things like fencing (for sheep/cows), mucking out pigs, herding sheep, maintaining footpaths that kind of thing. He defintely matured in those 9 months, and he learned new skills, and took some responsibility (but only in the things i knew he could succed in and then he did them on his own).
  I think as long as the mainstream school has a good SEN teacher and dept. then thats the best place, if not, being in a negative environment only worsens the situation.

  0
• SouthernBelle

  May 4, 2009 2:14PM

  thanks for your message. you are right........

  0