Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Here We Go Again...

When my autistic son started school in January 2011 I met a brick wall 3 feet thick. Even though he was fully qualified for all kinds of help the school told me there was no money for special helpers. The best we got was a few visits from the local CCAC (Community Care Access Centre) to determine what kind of help he needed... but even after that, the extra help never materialized.

His second year (and first full year) came with much of the same, "no budget, maybe he can share some time with another student's EA" bullcrap. That year he had several consultations with an Occupational Therapist who gave recommendations but again, never worked with him, despite all the reports detailing how he couldn't even hold a pencil correctly.

For several reasons, we moved this summer. Just last week, in fact.  And this afternoon, I sit rejected again, being told that "budgets for EA's were handed out in the spring... because he's a transfer, we just don't know how much extra we can do for him."

If you know the parent of a special needs child, give them a hug or buy them a coffee this week. Most don't realize the fight that happens every single school year. Most don't realize that we can spend hours a day in meetings and emailing all the right people trying to find the tools that will help our children succeed in school... tools they have a right to have access to and tools that are necessary for them for their eventual success as a human being.

This afternoon, I pray that I have have enough qualifications to keep my boy's head above water until I can win the fight and get him the help he so desperately needs.


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