Labelling Children

It seems that there are those who will never believe that autistic children need to be helped, and it may have changed since DGS was diagnosed and statemented, but we as a family are grateful that he was given the statement and label, as without it he would have had to muddle on at primary school, upset every day and miserable, not to mention upsetting the other children who became frightened of his behaviour.

Awful * Iam64*

Pigglywiggly, many thanks for your response to granyypiper's negative and unsubstantiated comments. "filling the coffers' Indeed. In the largest city I worked in, it was nigh on impossible to get an assessment leading to what was then called a statement of special educational need. I worked across the city, not just in one school and it was disgusting to see so many children, who clearly needed a professional assessment being allowed to fail and languish, especially as their teachers and HT were making continued referrals for assessment.

Grannypiper remembering how long and arduous the Statementing process was I find it hard to believe that many children have been Statemented just for the money. Some LAs were notoriously mean (Hertfordshire and Surrey often being cited by parents).

My son had a terrible time at school. No teacher ever mentioned that they thought he had problems. His fellow pupils didn't undersand him. He obtained 5 A-C grades but was isolated and bullied.
He was diagnosed at 22 and it was such a relief to him and us for him to be labled.

Lisalou You will need a tin hat after that post, but please remember that the majority of posters on this site will never had had ant experience of working in a classroom.Most people on the street will tell you every child is a delight and in fact their very own Grandchildren are "the most perfect cherubs".*Azie90*you are spot on.
I spent many years as a S.N.T.A and can honestly say i was appalled by the underhanded practices of many Head Teachers in securing extra funding for their schools,Many children have been statemented and labelled in this country just to fill the school coffers.

My grandson has mild sensory processing disorder. Five years ago this was hardly recognised in this country and it took my daughter and I months to wade through information/ make phone calls/ email until my daughter was able to get a diognosis, which she had to pay for.
His teacher wasn't having any of it and the SENS teacher had never heard of it. But fortunately we were able to teach/ inform them how to handle him.
Another 'fortunately' was that every teacher after that was a lot younger and open to 'new' ideas.

And with you, hildajennyj. It's a different ability, and needs to be understood.

I agree, Jane10. My 14 year old grandson was diagnosed before he started primary school. However, his parents only told him recently that he had autism.
It's not an excuse for behaviour, but a reason. He now knows why and accepts that he will always be different.

In support of teachers - from my experience as an EP, if a teacher has a pupil who is obviously in serious need of help they will do all they can to get their HT to refer that child to start the procedure to get that help.
Most of our referrals came from class teachers.

Well said Hilda!Acceptance is the only requirement.

Very true roses. I have been on the receiving end of my DGS's violence when in a meltdown. I've been kicked, bitten, nipped. He never means any of it though. He's a super boy, I love him dearly, I just wish that I could take the Asperger out of him. At school he received 2 hours a week extra help, which wasn't enough and he was still sidelined.

Accurate diagnosis in childhood can make all the difference to the lives of people with autism. Families understand what's going on and how best to help them.
Working in an adult autism diagnostic service we heard time and again how people wished they could have been diagnosed as a child so their school experience could have been better. FYI our ave age for diagnosis was 38 and the oldest diagnosed was 84. ASD isn't something people grow out of which seems to take people by surprise!

Autism is noit a DISability, it's a different ability!

I am in two minds about labels.My DGS1was given one aged two and a half. There is no doubt it has been very helpful in getting the support he needs at primary school but I am worried about how it will affect him in the job market.I am anxious that he will not be seen as unemployable which would be totally unacceptable.

No need for a hard hat ( not from me anyway) I just think it's sad that there is so little understanding of children on the autistic spectrum.
Perhaps those of us with knowledge of it ( first hand) can see that there is every reason for a label.First for the understanding of the parent, also of the child, as to why they are different, are acting up and in every way making life Hell for others.Second, so that access to the right school, an autism unit or autism school will be forthcoming, and to apply for home visits from social workers.
When the child is still young, parents have no idea about how things will develop and without a label ( diagnosis) there will be no help.
Do not imagine that autism/ Aspergers just produces rather quirky children, it can turn your life upside down and be a nightmare, and they can be very violent both to parents and grandparents/ carers, other children and themselves.
It needs managing, and aquiring a label is the first step.

As a non-teacher it seems to me that there are two issues.
Firstly are these conditions more prevalent, or is it simply that diagnosis is better?
Secondly does the diagnosis help the child in any way?
If children and their parents are helped by increased resources to manage their conditions better then that can only be a good thing.
But if the label leads to a fatalistic view of the condition which limits their potential, then it is not.

I meant to add that I do know there are some children who do have problems of one sort or another who need lots of support and help but it is getting difficult to know what 'normal' means any more.

I also agree with both Lisalou and Azie09. To say that there are far too many children with 'labels' does not make anyone a bad teacher. A good teacher is one who knows about the difficulties some children have and treat them accordingly but does not need any labelling of those children. In my experience there are some parents who will go to any length to get their child 'labelled' as it can give an excuse for bad behaviour, get more help in school and also with external exams. Having a 'label' can also mean that a child's inability to do something is concentrated on to the detriment of what they can do. And before I am jumped on I do not mean that they should only do English and not bother with maths if they find it difficult. I had some children in my classes who had 'labels' which had no bearing on my subject and they managed to do the same work as everyone else but I was expected to treat them differently. They loved being treated the same.
I will now go and find my hard hat and get behind the sofa.

So maybe blame 'the system'?
An unforeseen consequence - parents having to push to get their child labelled in order to obtain support for them.

My son has AS, diagnosed when he was 12. We always told him it was a signpost, not an excuse ie to help others understand him. School was a long hard road for him.
It is not easy to get a diagnosis, or extra support. As a retired SENCo I have quite a bit of experience of 'the system' and friends who still teach tell me it hasn't got easier.

I am nervous about the label 'gifted and talented' which has been applied to two of my GC. I wonder if such a label puts extra pressure on some children to excel. I can remember children in my primary school class who came top in tests time after time but faded in secondary school.

Lisalou another supporter here, but not getting involved ( we've been down this road before, a few years ago.)
Except one point - to be allocated funds for extra help a child has to have a label, official diagnosis. That's how it was in my day working in this area, same now as far as I know.

I agree with Azie09. I sometimes feel that giving a child a label also gives an excuse - not everyone of course, because I know that there are children with genuine problems who should be given all the help available. We are however missing another reason for going to school, learning not only the three 'rs' but living together hopefully in harmony which includes good manners, and respect for other peoples' property and those in charge.

Calling a child lazy/cocky is labelling them in the most cruel way , you are no teacher