July 20, 2023, Yorkshire Live: Huddersfield mum's anger over failure to get specialist help for autistic son https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/huddersfield-mums-anger-over-failure-27352339.amp
N. England
A campaigning mum has spoken of her desperate battle to get the right support for her five-year-old, autistic son Freddie.
Stephanie Stokes, a 35-year-old mum-of-four, from Mount, Huddersfield says Freddie was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) last year. She says that like him and many other children, it is a constant battle to try to get the right social, health and educational support these children need.
So she took part in a charity walk from Leeds to Manchester last weekend with her local gym and has raised nearly £600 [$770] for the SEND Reform campaign to help change the current system and make education inclusive for all.
She said: "We have recently received the news that my son Freddie has not got a place at specialist provision as it is too full. Freddie was diagnosed with ASD last year and is non-verbal.
He has an EHCP in place and requires one-to-one support to meet his needs. He has struggled in mainstream and he needs a specialist school.
"It now means that we will have to appeal the decision by Kirklees Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Assessment and Commissioning Team and go to a tribunal to fight to get the specialist provision Freddie needs. This is the usual case unfortunately for many children.
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