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Direct OT intervention of one hour a week in a special school

skyshine

how would a mom justify the need for Direct OT/Speech intervention (1 hour a week) to an autistic child on a special school already and in a ASD class.The LEA insists that because autistic child is already in a special school, no apparent need of direct intervention and an advice or input from specialists are enough. Independent reports recommends an extra hourly sessions benefits them greater eventhough sensory integration is part of their daily activity which I strongly agree because any one to one intensive intervention focused solely on a an autistic child in certain amount of time in a day from a specialist is bigger step to help autistic chil thrive more. (5 year old autistic boy). Any justifiable reasons would be appreciated. Thanks you.

  • We're in a somewhat similar position to you. Our son (nearly 5) has minimal language and severe sensory problems, but gets totally insufficient OT and SALT. His mainstream school are brilliant with him despite lack of specialist resources. We're in no rush to seek special school partly because of lack of SALT or OT there either, i:e the experience you describe.

    For SALT there's a petition:

    www.change.org/.../edward-timpson-mp-uk-minister-of-state-for-children-and-families-help-autistic-and-other-disabled-children-in-the-uk-get-the-speech-therapy-they-need

    Worth viewing for the comments by its author, a brain surgeon who has an autistic son. To my mind its a national disgrace the insufficient SALT and OT provided to kids like ours. The rationale seems to be money saving but SALT and OT are an investment in our kids which could turn them from people needing decades of expensive care, to semi-independent or even taxpayers. It makes no sense to underfund this.

    Our "solution" for now is to spend disability living allowance on private OT at £75/hr and SALT at £60/hr (plus travel time). We had a report from a NHS speech therapist which recommended a certain level of support, this failed to appear in his EHC plan, so we're contesting that.

    To get your question answered maybe you could talk to SALT and OTs themselves, who could put together a case for why your son needs extra? Then try to get this written into his EHC plan?  Some home insurance policies cover legal representation at a SEND tribunal. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that but a letter from a lawyer could show them you're serious.

    Hope this helps in some way, and good luck