Statement Report from Speech Therapist

Got Taylor's statement assessment from his speech therapist today and I'm not bloody happy with it one little bit. They've, rather she's made him sound like a friggin vegetable.

He is apparently severely lacking in almost everything he does. This report by the way has been put together by a speech therapist that has only seen him 6 times in the last 4 month. She did a clinic visit which went well, a nursery visit which didn't go too well as she turned up with about 6 people, 2 home visits to try and push him into doing his PECS and a clinic visit 2 weeks ago, the 6th visit being another clinic visit on Tuesday morning.

She has suggested that he needs a full time support worker to enforce PECS, Visual Timetable and possibly even Sign Language as he severely lacks in speech, eye contact and communication skills. Hmmm let's see....about 3 weeks ago he spotted Louise (his key worker at nursery) carrying a tray of cakes, looked straight at her, shouted of her and said "cakes please Louise, thank you so very much" as clear as day and we had 8 witnesses to him doing this and Louise was that impressed and taken aback she wrote it in his progress folder for nursery and got people who were stood there to sign it..Staff and parents of other kids!!! Normally when he does something like this they will often get someone to sign the bottom of the report to proof it, as there is no way of taking photo evidence of it, i think it's an excellent idea, although i believe them anyway but it's still a good idea and i agree with it 100% of the way.

Quote from the letter:
"Information gathered by more than one therapist: case history, discussion with Mum, discussion with nursery staff, observations in the nursery setting, 1:1 assessment and therapy sessions and information from reports from other professionals"

Let's assess the assessment...

1. I never discussed anything along the lines of Taylor being severely lacking in anything except his speech 12 month since
2. Nursery would have been praising him on what he has been doing over the last 6 months rather than what he can't do (although for the sake of his statement obviously they would have focused on some areas of concern)
3. She has observed him 1ce at Nursery and he wouldn't co-operate because there was too many people around (that she took with her - Nursery weren't very happy)
4. He has only had 3 speech therapy sessions as such and all she has managed to do so far is wind him up to the stage he went to nursery in such a bad mood he hurt another child in frustration (not badly, but cause for concern, i had a word with the parent and explained and they said it was fine and not to worry, but it upset me)
5. He hasn't seen any 'professionals' since last September before he was diagnosed officially and they didn't do anything but assess him.

He was referred to speech therapy in May 2007 and he had 1 assessment, where she just sat and played with him and asked him questions (like pointing to Thomas and asking who's that and what colour is it etc) she then made her report from that. (this was a different speech therapist by the way, this was when he was being assessed at the Holly House CDC leading to his diagnosis) after that we heard nothing at all from a speech therapist. I'm not happy one bit. I know for the sake of a statement you need to highlight the bad points but she's highlighted all the wrong bad points.

We have a big meeting next month at nursery about his statement and to get things set into place for when he starts school in September where everyone from nursery staff, myself, mum, speech therapist, doctor, paediatrician (although she can't make it) SENFLO, Linda (EYSEN Teacher) and someone from woodnook school where he will be going will all be there to get the ball rolling and set into place. They will update his IEPs and set some sort of regime to follow that will help him cope with the transaction from nursery to school and help him settle in and follow the routine of a school day. I am looking forward to it but i am nervous as hell ans worried sick!!!

On the subject of school, i need to ring them on Monday and find out what the hell is going on. Sue the nursery manager rang them a few weeks ago to find out of someone would be available for the meeting and they told her that as far as they knew he was going to Broadfield's Autism Unit. I have a letter form the education department in my handbag that came through the door the day after we went to Woodnook saying that he's been guaranteed a place in September yet they are saying he isn't on their records and hasn't got a place at all. I went to the education office and showed them the letter, she went to check and came back saying that he is definitely on their records and WILL be starting in September and not to worry. God knows what's going on but it needs sorting out soon as we need someone from school to be there, or they won't have a clue what will be happening.

Just when you think things are going well, someone or something throws a spanner in the works and messes it all up again. It's a bloody good job Sue rang the school as i would have just got him ready on that first day and took him to school as expected. I'm suspecting it's got something to do with the headmistress, she is a really stuck up toffy nosed cow and i do NOT like her one little bit, the old one was excellent, this one acts like she's better and above everybody else, even the parents and talks down to everyone. I hope she comes to the meeting next month, that should prove to be good fun muahahahaha. Anyway, we have a meeting with Taylor's speech therapist on Tuesday morning so i will take my copy of her report with me and question her about it then. I'm off to bed now to watch snooker when it starts in about 10 minutes.xXx