The local picture.
The most recent research (Baird et al 2006) gives a prevalence rate for autism in children of 1 in 100. Census data from 2001 shows there are 49,972 children under 16 years of age in Oldham. Therefore, there are likely to be 499 children with autism in Oldham……..yet in the primary sector there is only one special school (generic, not autism-specific), and 17 places in a resourced unit.
The Consortium reports that many families of children with autism and related developmental difficulties in Oldham have struggled to get their children’s needs formally assessed. This is especially difficult for children who have some strong abilities that mask their more complex needs – children with Asperger’s syndrome or dyspraxia, for example.
Another problem is the conflict of interest inherent in the system of obtaining a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN): all LEAs pay for education services for children with special educational needs based on their own assessment of the child’s needs. It is widely recognised in the disability rights movement that this conflict of interest can lead to LEAs minimising a child’s needs so that the cost of provision is also minimised.