Speech and Language Therapy - Services being withdrawn...

We have been asked to highlight a problem with the provision of Speech and Language Therapy within the UK. Our own child has benefited hugely from Speech & Language Therapy and we also had to fight to get any provision for our child. With reliable estimates now stating that the prevalence of autism is 1 in 100 here in the UK, it is frankly startling that we are still having to fight for our core, essential services.

Leanne Richardson has written the following article which concludes with a link to an online petition, on the HM Government web site.

In September I was informed that the PCT (Primary Care Trust) had cut the funds to our Speech and Language Therapy unit ( SaLT) which meant that children in mainstream school in Year 1 upwards would lose ALL of their Therapy ( this is the West-Norfolk area ). After several months of campaigning our local LEA and Norfolk PCT have agreed to jointly fund this service - but that service will not begin to be put in place until April - this is very disappointing as hundreds of children will have been with-out this vital support for 8 months.

During this time I have been in contact with IPSEA ( independent panel for special educational advice ) and also the National Autistic Society, both have informed me that when a child has a statement of educational needs and SaLT is outlined in part 3 ( Educational Provision) then the ultimate responsibility falls with the LEA, they therefore have a legal duty to supply what is outlined within that.

In light of this I have contacted my LEA with no success - they refuse to provide independent speech therapists! I have also contacted the DfES and the Secretary of State, his letters have been passed back to the DfES to answer and basically they have said that because our LEA has made steps to return the provision in April the secretary of State can not reprimand an LEA over its passed performances.

Other than the fact that no one will take responsibility we have the added problem that when the funding returns in April the budget will not have increased meaning that this service ( SaLT) will still be seriously under funded - if I could give you an example of the service I was receiving for my own son "C" prior to the cuts being put in place - "C's last two visits were in June 2006 and November 2005. "C" has autism he is 6 years old and is still non-verbal - this is the service myself and many other families have been receiving in this area. On Monday I took "C" to see an independent speech therapist, she actually thinks he needs at least 2 sessions per week as you can see he's missed so much already.

After starting our campaign I've received lots of messages and e-mails telling me about all sorts of problems parents are facing regarding provision for their children - this is why we've started a petition, it just seems that everything that is happening to your child is out of your control! and no one is being held accountable for failing these children!

This isn't just a campaign to help families in our area this is for families anywhere who have a child with special needs.

Please click here to view the Government's response.