[Tim G]

Hi

Looking for a bit of advice with regards my son, who (bless him ) has a statement.
He is now in y3 and was given the statement in y1, therefore we are just in the process of getting it updated, as he has changed a lot since y1 all on the positive side, but we are just concerned that this may effect our EOI form as well as the medicals.

On one of the forms it says, if a child needs ongoing reveiwable resourcing scheme funding (ORRS) the they will not gain a visa (or something along those lines) WITH A STATEMENT WILL HE REQUIRE THIS (ORRS).

Any help or advice on this would be great as we are finding that we are up against it !!!!!!

Thank you Tim and Michelle

[lockstock]

Hi Tim G - can I ask what the statement is for because categorisation and funding is different from the UK

[Tim G]

Hi Tim G - can I ask what the statement is for because categorisation and funding is different from the UK

Hi Thanks for the reply,

It is a statement for Pervasive Developmental Disotder (PDD) all to do with his lack of social skills he has only just (in the last couple of weeks been diagonsed with this) but we are in the process of finding out if this is in the Ausistic spectrum or not.

To see him you would not have a clue as he is in full time mainstream school he just has a few hours of help.

We are also trying to get the statement ammended as soon as we can to help with the medicals etc!!
as I said he was given this a few years ago and has changed loads he is not the same child all on the positive side.

Hope you can help with some advice on this.
Thanks Michelle

[lockstock]

It sounds like they're looking into Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism - which means you probably won't have a problem. There are a few threads running on AS (PDD is a very general term). There are lots of families on the forum with children with AS who are doing really well in NZ mainstream schools.

On the one hand you are really lucky to be on the diagnosis route this early on. I'm not surprised your little lad has made the progress you say he has. You can't beat a bit of early intervention! He'll continue to make progress although he'll always see things in his own way - he'll be able to cope with our world if the time and the patience is taken to let him know how weird we actually are and what the best way is to deal with the conventions of so-called normal society. He'll bring a whole bunch of amazing perspectives on the world. You've got a brilliant future ahead of you with him.

Don't let it deter you from applying to come here.

It's too early in the morning for me to start working out how to do links to other sites but do a search on here for 'Asperger's' - and also a general web search. There's loads of info on the National Autistic Society site and a site called Oaasis (not a spelling mistake - there are two 'a's in it. Then do a search for Autism New Zealand.

Good luck

[Tim G]

Wow, just reading your post and THANK YOU very much,

It has taken loads off my mind just reading what you have wrote.

We will look into the sites that you have mentioned.
We are lucky that he goes to a very good school here and as soon as he started there, they were on to him, so to speak, he has had loads of help and support and has come on leaps and bounds.
We are trying to get his statement changed,
to relect his progress, we have only just started this and realise it can take some time so we will be chasing all this up everyday if that is what it takes.

We have 2 boys Oldest one is 10 and our 8 year old (he has the statement) they are both really excited about our plans for a new brilliant life.

So New Zealand here we come (we hope)

Thanks again
Michelle and Tim

[blearyjane]

Hi - we are so like you! We have 2 boys, one of which is 10 and is recognised as being 'gifted' - the other is 9 and has a statement - the diagnosis is 'global developmental delay'. I have to say that he is a joy to be with (as all kids are) and has something really special to offer to the world. We have thought long and hard about the future for both but have decided that we will give NZ a shot. I hope you get on ok and have my fingers crossed for you!

[Tim G]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply,
Now that I have had some good response, I know where to start looking I have found loads of really good sites through Oaasis (did you read that on the thread) well worth looking at.
I have tried this question "Child with statement" on another forum but have had no response, it was so difficult just knowing where to start looking for any information that would help us if everything works out.

When are you planning to go?
where are you looking at living?
We are looking at going (if we get throught all the paperwork) about September, and moving to around Hawkes Bay.

Well why not we have got to the point of thinking, go for it.

Thanks again
Michelle

[blearyjane]

Well, we are hoping that OH will get a job in the summer (when his current contract ends...) and then we will all go on his WTR visa. His is in the NHS/Government, so we figure that he will end up in Wellington. Tommy ( the child with a statement) has educational special needs but is physically OK, so at the end of the day, if needs must, he could be taught at home if he was considered 'a burden'.

I think we have taken the view of one step at a time and if OH gets a job and is considered valuable then we can take from there.... but we are a long way off getting there at the moment...house still on the market! I have firmly always beleived that if you really want something then you can find a way of achieving it!

I do wish you all the best. Take heart from all the other people on this site that have had difficulties to overcome but have managed to fulfull their dream for them and their kids!

XXX

[incredible hulse]

Our son had a statement in the UK but we learned last week that he will not get ORRS funding in NZ. It is not a given that he will get/require ORRS because he has a UK statement. I know some do not agree with me on this but our opinion that the funding for special ed. in NZ is MUCH tighter than the UK. This is from our own experience and also many other parents (from the associations of children with the same sndrome as my son) from multiple regions in UK and NZ. ORRS is only meant to cover a set 1% of the school population.

[Tim G]

Our son had a statement in the UK but we learned last week that he will not get ORRS funding in NZ. It is not a given that he will get/require ORRS because he has a UK statement. I know some do not agree with me on this but our opinion that the funding for special ed. in NZ is MUCH tighter than the UK. This is from our own experience and also many other parents (from the associations of children with the same sndrome as my son) from multiple regions in UK and NZ. ORRS is only meant to cover a set 1% of the school population.

Hi and Thank you for the reply,
Where are you now living, would it make a great difference if your son does not get any in school support? (hope you don't mind me asking that ) and how did you find this out?

Just so we can look into this,
Thanks Tim and Family

[incredible hulse]

Hi and Thank you for the reply,
Where are you now living, would it make a great difference if your son does not get any in school support? (hope you don't mind me asking that ) and how did you find this out?

Just so we can look into this,
Thanks Tim and Family

Hi Tim. We live in Paraparaumu north of Welly. We have been here 2 years so have gone through the process of ORRs application (along with other special ed. services) so are familiar with the process. My wife is also a teacher and has a lot of experience in the area. My son is approaching five and in my opinion it is totally unrealistic to see him at school without assistance - he didn't walk until 3.5 years old and still cannot climb stairs, run, jump, etc. He also has the verbal skills of about a 2.5 year old.

We are appealing the ORRs ruling but do not expect any change in outcome (unless we can find a local iwi to affiliate with :exit )

[NoelMC]

Our child has just got a UK statement (Aspergers)
How have people found the NZ schools vrs UK.
In particular our son needs routine, he doesn't like unruly classes.
I do remember reading in old threads that NZ classes were more 'old fashioned' ie more respect from the kids, not as much dissent.
Would welcome anybodies experiences on this

thanks

Noel

[Tim G]

Our child has just got a UK statement (Aspergers)
How have people found the NZ schools vrs UK.
In particular our son needs routine, he doesn't like unruly classes.
I do remember reading in old threads that NZ classes were more 'old fashioned' ie more respect from the kids, not as much dissent.
Would welcome anybodies experiences on this

thanks

Noel

Hi Noel,
From all the searching about on different forums and sites, we have come to the conclusion, that even if our son can't get the funding if we make it to NZ, that we will still be doing this for his benefit.

He has had great support in his school and has come on leaps and bounds, I only have praise for the school he is at now, but the class is still big, 33. He goes to a small village school but high school will be a different story, he will have to to travel, not that, that is the problem I just think it is high schools in general in this country.
Just thinking ahead as he is in Y3 right now.
Not forgetting it is for the future on a bigger scale, the reason we have decided to make a life changing move( with all our fingers and toes double crossed, as we tackle all the paperwork).

Michelle (I posted the first thread)