Register / Retrieve Password
x Toggle Content DONATIONS x
x
x
Donate through CAFOnline


Donate Securely with Charities Aid Foundation and help us raise much needed funds for BASIC Charity Reg. Nr. 1115309

Thank You For Your Support!



"Autism = Solution is Understanding"

x x x

x Toggle Content Main Menu x
x
x
x x x

x Toggle Content Survey x
x
x
How many children are on the spectrum in your family?

1
56 %56 %56 %
2
25 %25 %25 %
3
5 %5 %5 %
4
3 %3 %3 %
more
1 %1 %1 %
I'm not sure
7 %7 %7 %
Results :: Polls

Votes: 127
Comments: 1
x x x

x Toggle Content Autism Statistics x
x
x
x x x

x Toggle Content Autism News x
x
x
x x x

News › AUTHOR NICK HORNBY: 'BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS FAILING AUTISTIC CHILDREN'
x Autistic Society Mission x
x x

Our mission is to unite parents, families, friends, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and professionals by creating a strong, supportive community worldwide.

Sharing first hand knowledge, information, news and research about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Together we can build a better understanding and awareness of autism around the globe and help each other in need.

If you have a question post it in our forum, somebody in our community may know the answer.


"Autism = Solution is Understanding"





x
x x x

x Google-Search x
x x
Google
Web autisticsociety.org
x
x x x

x Education: AUTHOR NICK HORNBY: 'BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS FAILING AUTISTIC CHILDREN' x
x x
Education Posted by sylvia on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 (16:56:52)

The Times, 03/10/2003

The award-winning British author, Nick Hornby, has attacked the government for failing autistic children.

Hornby, whose son Danny, aged 10, has autism, told a fringe meeting in Bournemouth on October 2 that the Labour government was not spending enough on health and education services for autistic children. He said that the local educational authority (LEA) staff employed to help children such as his son became "enemies" who were "institutionally hostile" to their needs.

His comments came as three separate reports were released warning of the "massive stress and cost" faced by parents who take LEAs to tribunals. Hornby said: "One of the first of many shocks you receive as the parent of a disabled child is that there is no one to help you negotiate the dense and dark forest of difficulties which has sprung up around you.

Unless there is enough money in the system to meet the needs that are out there, all the wonderful new initiatives the government is announcing aren’t going to engage the single most pressing reason why the system is failing disabled children.

Full Article

"[LEA workers] are forced, by circumstances beyond their control, to turn into gatekeepers who have always to be thinking about how little they can get away with providing, rather than what the child needs."

The strain of fighting for proper education damaged some parents’ mental health and even led to marriage breakdowns, he added.

Hornby’s marriage to Virginia Bovell, Danny’s mother, broke down in 1998 but he has remained involved in his son’s upbringing. He said that they were lucky because they were educated and able to navigate the rules and appeals procedures governing the care of autistic children.

The reports, released by the National Autistic Society and parent groups, highlighted what they called the shortcomings of the system, suggesting that LEAs were using the appeals procedure as a way to postpone funding and sometimes failed to provide support after being ordered to by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.

Margaret Hodge, Britain's Minister for Children, said not enough funding was available but added that she was restricted by voters’ reluctance to pay higher taxes.


x
x x x
x x Posted by sylvia on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 (16:56:52) (2134 reads) x x

"Education: AUTHOR NICK HORNBY: 'BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS FAILING AUTISTIC CHILDREN'" | Login/Create an Account | 0 comments
Threshold
The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.

x Encyclopedia x
x x
x
x x x

x Toggle Content Related Links x
x
x
 More about Education

Most read story about Education:
School for Autistic Children Sought
x x x

x Toggle Content Article Rating x
x
x
Average Score: 4.6
Votes: 5


Please take a second and vote for this article:

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Regular
Bad

x x x

x Toggle Content Options x
x
x
x x x

x Toggle Content User Info x
x
x
Membership:
Latest: arachael
New Today: 1
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 7437

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 8
Total: 8
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Archive
02: Autism News
03: Autism News
04: Autism News
05: Autism News
06: Autism News
07: Archive
08: Autism News

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
x x x

x Toggle Content Register - It's free! x
x
x

Click here to register, it's free and easy. This will enable you to post in the FORUM, submit ARTICLES, upload to the GALLERY and lots more.

x x x

x Toggle Content LEA Advice - IPSEA x
x
x
IPSEA Statutory Assessment Advice

Your guide how to ask LEA for a statutory assessment.
Various advice and model letters to download
x x x

x Toggle Content Parent Guide x
x
x
x x x

x Toggle Content SEN x
x
x
x x x

x Toggle Content Autism RSS Feeds x
x
x
x x x

x Toggle Content Autism Video Box x
x
x
x x x

AutisticSociety.org News Feed AutisticSociety.org Forums Feed RSS Module Feeds
Autistic Society Some Rights Reserved
Information presented through this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation.
Interactive software released under GNU GPL, Code Credits, Privacy Policy
TCD_Sylvia Theme by © TreasureCoastDesigns.com