'Alarming’ Increase In Number Of Complaints Lodged By Parents Of Autistic Children

More and more parents of autistic children are lodging complaints because they don’t think their child’s needs are being met.

Stats published by the Ministry of Justice show that there’s been a 33 per cent rise in the number of autism-related appeals made at the special educational needs and disability tribunal in 2013-2014.

Out of 4,069 complaints made by parents of children with special needs, 1,633 were autism-related – an increase of 1,231 from the previous school year.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) considers the figures to be worrying, and says local councils “continually underestimate” the impact of autism.

“These alarming figures show just how many parents are having to use the Tribunal system to get their child’s needs recognised and met,” says Dan Leighton, policy and parliamentary offer at The National Autistic Society.

“As well as being a daunting, expensive and emotionally draining process, it can also lead to protracted, and potentially damaging, delays in getting the right support in place.

”Leighton continues to say that local councils are using the tribunal process as a “rear-guarded action” to protect shrinking budgets.

“The most recent spike could also be due to local authorities’ reluctance to assess children for support just prior to the introduction of EHC plans in September 2014, though the roots of the problem are clearly much deeper.”

But NAS thinks the new special needs education system introduced by the Children and Families Act last September, which is designed to radically improve support for young people, could turn things around.

“We hope it will lead to greater understanding of the needs of children with autism by local authorities, so that parents don’t have to go to the Tribunal to enforce their rights,” says Leighton. “The true test of the system’s success will be whether the alarming trend revealed by these figures is reversed over time.  

"Autism can have a profound effect on children and young people, as well as their families, but the right support at school can make a huge difference and help them to reach their full potential.”

The Department of Education supported NAS, saying that all children with autism, and any form of special needs, should have an education in a place that meets their needs.

“These findings are prior to our far-reaching reforms in the Children and Families Act came into force,” says a Department of Education spokesman. “Over time we expect [the new special needs education system] to reduce the number of complaints.”

"The new law is designed to radically improve support for young people - and over time we expect this to reduce the number of complaints."

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Do you think there’s enough support for families with autistic children? Let us know in the comments.