Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello , I have 2 autistic sons one of which has just turned 18 and has now decided he wants to leave college . This is due to 1 lesson , an hour a week that causes him huge anxiety! Due to him not liking this lesson and teacher he gets very stressed! He has an ehcp and I've spoken to college senco, to be honest is not very helpful. My son has just given up his maths gcse lessons as he has taken the exam twice and failed. That was also causing alot of anxiety so after a long process and lots of emails being sent and him being absent from college , they agreed to let him drop maths gcse. the senco has told me he is not allowed to drop this specific lesson! All I want is for my 18 year old autistic son to have a bit of normality in his life , by attending college, without the pressure and anxiety. He never leaves the house unless he goes to college , the only friends he has are a couple at college , but doesn't interact outside of college. He has grey hair due to him never leaving the house and getting any sun light, he also has arfid which is a eating disorder, and right hemiplegia, and is due to have botox therapy to help his walking . Not attending college is detrimental to his health socially, and physically also academically! The worst possible scenario is him leaving , and wasting his life away ! Could anyone advise me if an ehcp could be ammended for him to get this one lesson removed? As I said college not very helpful...... so be grateful for anyone who knows anything regarding this matter
Hello,
Maybe that link helps too:
https://sendiass.leeds.gov.uk/children-and-young-people
...it mentions ECHP and support related to EHCP
take care, I hope all goes well.
Hello auri2728,
I'm sorry to hear that aspects of college causes your son anxiety. You may find the following information useful.
The following page contains a lot of helpful information about education for a child with an autism:
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/education
This includes information regarding getting extra support for your child in their education setting.
You may want to contact our Education Rights Service who provides information, support and advice on educational provision and entitlements. Please see the following link for further information:
https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/education-advice-line
If you need support with an appeal against a decision about a child or young person’s educational needs, you might want to contact our Educational Tribunal Support Helpline:
https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/tribunal-support-line
All the best,
ChloeMod
I don’t know about EHCPs, as it was too late to apply for one at the time where my daughter was concerned. I just wanted to reply, as my daughter struggled at the end of secondary school, ended up quitting Sixth form, then quit an apprenticeship! So I know how it feels to want them to succeed, when you feel they are wasting their life away.
She is now at college, studying something practical, 3 days a week, so far so good.
Regarding the GCSE maths exam, did your son get extra time and support? Is he capable of gaining the qualification? Or is it more about lack of focus while he’s there due to anxiety and the fact the subject stresses him out?
is this the same lesson he doesn’t like a college?