Smallwarrior. Feel my son is being discriminated against by the school

Ben12twelve

Has anyone got any advice please. Son has migraine and has a lot of time off school. Feel he is being discriminated against by the school 

Ben12twelve

Thank you. Of course my son has seen specialists. Migraine on his case is inherited from his dad who has 11 types of migraine  ( that is true having heen told so by one of the leading experts in migraine)  a cerebral oedema post AVM brain surgery and runs in his side of the family. Presents sometimes in the stomach which is often mistaken for travel sickness. Obtained a load of useful info from the Migraine Trust which I sent off to school. Not once have any teachers contacted me directly to discuss practical measures such as computer  anti blue light screens or taking exams in a darkened room. Just get a tad miffed when schools send out generic letters about kids attendance. No kidding they read like ASBOS. Am disabled myself having CRPS ( Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) doesnt help being deaf either. Problem with migraine and such is that they are invisible conditions.  

SueHeath

Good morning @Ben12twelve i feel for your son - Migraines are not nice at all.
How far has it got with attendance at school, do you just get a message about his time off or has the school medic been in touch If no medic or care leader has been involved book an appointment with them. That will make your son's condition official, and also helps if he has migraine at school.

Ben12twelve

Hiya Sue. Normally will ring school to let them know if Jack is suffering. Can be anything from a full on migraine headache, visual disturbances, feeling being sick. We tend to find out the number of absences via end of term reports. 87 in total last year.   A lot of it is due to being stuck in front of a computer. Cant escape them these days sadly. He now has an astigmatism. Over the years he has had non prescruption glasses. Just plain glass but tinted to shield his eyes from.the glare. Did he listen to his mother and wear them? Oh no. Now he HAS to wear prescription specs. 

SueHeath

Ha ha sounds typical of youth/kids - yep i know what your saying with computers - doesn't sound like school getting on your back then - how old is your son @Ben12twelve ?
As for the school sorry but i think you have to do the home work, like you have on what he needs, then set a meeting with the school care and i would involve head of year.

Ben12twelve

Definitely typical. Turned 15 on 10 September. Normally don't have a problem with school. Its a very good one. Was saying earlier it's the tone of some of the letters - read like ASBOS. Tend to worry as his dad like I said has had life long migraine. Was epileptic but over the space of 40 years only saw him ever have 5 grand mal seizures. Turns out was due t o a congenital arterio venous malformation in the brain. That was fettled by the wizards at the Walton Centre for Neurogical Excellence together with the Roal Sheffield in Hallamshire. If it wasnt for those folks Garsth wouldnt be here. He really does have 11 types of migraine and ME. Also a cerebral oedema ( fluid in the brain) so do tend to get a bit bothered about Jack 

SueHeath

I'm going to have to look a lot of those words up @Ben12twelve ha ha 
At least son is under the hospital, it does sound like a big worry for you, how does Jack feel about it all ?

Ben12twelve

Very stubborn Sue. Fortunately they aren't as bad as they used to be. Think Jack is starting to take care of himself. Has had well being sessions to point him in the right direction. Easiest way to describe an AVM is like a bowl of spaghetti that gets tangled up. Could have gone pop at any time. How these folks can get a camera on a tiny wire, insert it through the femoral artery up into the brain and take photos is beyond me. I have CRPS ( complex regional pain syndrome) too difficult to describe. Again it is very rare but check out Burning Nights CRPS website. Great source of info for other neurological disorders as well. Lucky me. I go to the Walton Centre as well. Really does deserve it's 5 stars.  Doesnt stop me old man from climbing though. We live in Cumbria on the edge of the Lake District. Could happily lamp me old man sometimes. Dries hiis tent on me washing line. During first lockdown he built some clibing holds and bolted them to the outside of the garage. Wouldnt have minded but he used a set of MY SHELVES!!😂😂😂😂🙈

SueHeath

H ha ha love it - it does sound great that you are all getting on with life and you got anormal hubby ha ha ha.

Ben12twelve

Heh heh. They're welcome to it Sue. Its NUTS! Will just stand at the bottom and wave ta very much. Can remember sticking a load of washing in the drier which is in the garage. Was dark. He had only stuck a pair of salopettes in there to dry. Thought was being mugged! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the forum 

I wouldn't class it as discrimination no doubt all 5hose with below attendance target get the letters 

I have had them for my son now 16 in year 11 

In primary he had asthma and that was only time he was off and was hospitalised most times but still got the letters 

Thankfully he has grown out of asthma but last year had few absences covid twice so couldn't go to school and dislocated his knee twice one time on a school trip so had to be off still got the letters 

Its a send all system regardless of discretion for disabilities or known conditions 

Ben12twelve

Hiya Janer. Thank you for that. It's just the wording. Freaks me out a bit. Jack's school is very very good otherwise. Will be able to clear up any misunderstanding but would say that although have sent a heap of stuff from the Migraine Trust as to practical measures eg computer anti glare screens etc not one of them has been in touch to discuss measures like this. Am just a worrier. Suppose it's because his dad has had life long migraine and brain surgery! 

Ben12twelve

Thank you  Great idea. Have a parents evening next week so can take it up with them then. Jack has had well being sessions arranged via school and gp. He is also receiving support from Carers Support ( South Lakeland) visting school today. They are a fab little charity. Do loads for those who are unpaid carers. Jack has on their books since i doslocatedy left shoulder and fractured my left arm which triggered CRPS so can have a word with them too. Bless you. 🥰

ChiChi

Ben12twelve said:

Has anyone got any advice please. Son has migraine and has a lot of time off school. Feel he is being discriminated against by the school 

My daughter has suffered from migraines also and the school were told by my daughters gp that a individual care plan needs to be put in place. They did this over the 6 weeks holidays and now she's in year 8 they treat her like she's a liar and she isn't allowed to speak up.

I feel for you, it is really tough dealing with it myself. I have applied for a ECHP with the council to see if they can put a strict plan in place so the school has to abide by it as it is a legal document.

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Ben12twelve and welcome to the community, I'm glad to see so many of our members sharing their thoughts with you. 

You may have already tried IPSEA, but I would encourage you to get in touch with them, as they might be able to help evidence the need for an education, health and care plan (EHCP) for your son, to help him get the right support to manage his migraines and his school work/life

Let us know how things are going, and please ask if you have anymore questions, we'll do what we can to help.

Alex

Ben12twelve

Thank you so much. Bless you..Migraine is covered by the Disability Acts and Human Rights Acts . Any.adult with this god affliction ( if they are able to work.. that is is legally entitled to 15 fully paid work days off. 

ChiChi

I am feeling ignored right now in this thread, or maybe my messages are not being seen by anyone

Tori_Scope

I'm sorry that you feel that way @ChiChi, I'm sure this wasn't anyone's intention  

How did you find the process of applying for an EHCP? 

I'm sorry that your daughter is treated as though she's a liar. I'm sure that must be tough for you both. Is she coping with it okay?

Ben12twelve

Hiya @ChiChi Am not ignoring anybody either. Not clever with technology me. Rather be using an abacus.. Can I ask why your daughter's school.think she's a liar?  That's an awful thing to say