Gracie E

Feeling frustrated today, that wait times and red tape are preventing my son from accessing Autism and Adhd assessments and diagnosis.

While we wait he's In year 8 mainstream and after 2 1/2 weeks into the term he's already been isolated 3 times and now is suspended. The school are doing all they can to support his difficult behaviour but it's just not enough. I wish I was listened to before he went to high-school and I wish they had placed him in a specialist provision but he just didn't fit the criteria they said.

Kids with SEN are just being set up to fail because there just isn't the funding available to adhere to the EHCPs they are being given.

The extra fuel to attend all the meetings at his school 23 miles away is crippling me too. My own mental health is suffering and after my Inital appointment with a local talking therapies group they decided I needed a more specialised provision for neurodiverse people and that means more waiting.

Some days it would be nice to just get everyone in the car and take them for a McDonald's or bowling or something where we can just put our struggles aside for an hour and be present and happy In the moment together but it's not financially viable.

And as the weather gets colder it's going to get harder.

I'm sure tomorrow will seem more positive but today I'm just frustrated