Visa Autistic child
May 26th 2015, 10:06 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4
Visa Autistic child
Hi,
Does anyone know if it's possible to get a visa or accepted into New Zealand if their child is Autistic?
My three year old girl was diagnosed last year with severe autism and we wondered if we would get any support.
Thanks
Jon
Does anyone know if it's possible to get a visa or accepted into New Zealand if their child is Autistic?
My three year old girl was diagnosed last year with severe autism and we wondered if we would get any support.
Thanks
Jon
May 26th 2015, 10:40 pm
#2
MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
Posts: 9,077
Re: Visa Autistic child
from what I have seen from other parents,and it does not depend on your visa status, it depends totally on the school. the first school my children went to Head Mistress did not believe that dyslexia existed so no help for those children, she also believed her staff where capable of teaching a child with autism/aspergers so again refused to provide help - until the child physically assaulted another child they then had to say that they actually could not cope. in the mean time she took yet more children with learning difficulties and within 3 weeks the school had to be locked down 4 times because of the disruption. I believe that in on year they had 6 children in one class that had various ranges of problem They finally agreed to get in some help with funding which is meant to be per child but 1 mother told me her allotted care giver was being used for other children as well and her child was only gettting 10 hrs a week care. But then another school could not do enough to help another child and her mother.
So picking a school zone is going to be extremely important to your decision to move as a lot of schools are zoned and if you happen to be in a zone like the first example your child will not benefit.
I see you are also looking at Australia, so wondering what type of visa you are hoping to bring your family in on?
So picking a school zone is going to be extremely important to your decision to move as a lot of schools are zoned and if you happen to be in a zone like the first example your child will not benefit.
I see you are also looking at Australia, so wondering what type of visa you are hoping to bring your family in on?
May 26th 2015, 10:43 pm
#3
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,611
Re: Visa Autistic child
I worked with those on the spectrum years ago when still in the UK. All good kids with their own personalities regardless of the difficulties.
You state your daughter has been diagnosed as high on the spectrum. Would you expect her to be UK statemented with regard to entering education please?
I ask because it makes a difference.
May 26th 2015, 10:49 pm
#4
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,611
Re: Visa Autistic child
Of course it is being recognised now thank goodness and I know that some teachers aides do get to attend ,what I would consider to be, an elementary course. However , attitudes have a long way to go still.
May 27th 2015, 7:56 am
#5
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4
Re: Visa Autistic child
Hi,
Yes she is currently being Statemented for school now. Does this have an impact on visas?
Yes she is currently being Statemented for school now. Does this have an impact on visas?
May 27th 2015, 9:22 am
#6
MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
Posts: 9,077
Re: Visa Autistic child
sorry not sure how it would affect the visa application. maybe give NZ House a call and discuss with someone there.
May 28th 2015, 12:20 am
#7
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,611
Re: Visa Autistic child
Be prepared to do some work on this to show that she will not cost the NZ education over the accepted odds. You should consider consultants and educational psychologists reports.
you may also wish to consider engaging a quality immigration lawyer. Note that I wrote Immigration lawyer .
Selected quote below from the New Zealand Immigration operations manual. I have snipped out the bits not relevant to you.
Also , here is a link to ORS which is what NZIS refer to below.
A4.10 Acceptable standard of health (applicants for residence)
· Severe developmental disorders or severe cognitive impairments where significant support is required, including but not exclusive to:
o physical disability
o intellectual disability
o autistic spectrum disorders
o brain injury
- Applicants for residence class visas must have an acceptable standard of health unless they have been granted a medical waiver or (f), below, applies. An application for a residence class visa must be declined if any person included in that application is assessed as not having an acceptable standard of health and a medical waiver is not granted (see A4.60).
- Applicants for residence class visas are considered to have an acceptable standard of health if they are:
- unlikely to be a danger to public health; and
- unlikely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand's health services or special education services; and
- able to undertake the work on the basis of which they are applying for a visa, or which is a requirement for the grant of the visa.
- The conditions listed in A4.10.1 are considered to impose significant costs and/or demands on New Zealand's health and/or special education services. Where an immigration officer is satisfied (as a result of advice from an Immigration New Zealand medical assessor) that an applicant has one of the listed conditions, that applicant will be assessed as not having an acceptable standard of health.
- If an immigration officer is not satisfied that an applicant for a residence class visa has an acceptable standard of health, they must refer the matter for assessment to an Immigration New Zealand medical assessor (or the Ministry of Education as appropriate)
· Severe developmental disorders or severe cognitive impairments where significant support is required, including but not exclusive to:
o physical disability
o intellectual disability
o autistic spectrum disorders
o brain injury
- The requirement that an applicant for a residence class visa must be unlikely to impose significant costs on New Zealand's special education services is not met if the Ministry of Education (MoE) has determined that there is a relatively high probability that the applicant's physical, intellectual, or sensory condition or their use of language and social communication would entitle them to Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) funding.
- Where it has been determined that there is a relatively high probability that an applicant would be entitled to ORS funding, the following factors have no bearing on whether an applicant is unlikely to impose significant costs on New Zealand’s special education services:
- The ability of a person or organisation to pay for education services.
- The ability of a person to provide in-home education services.
May 28th 2015, 7:15 am
#8
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4
Re: Visa Autistic child
Wow!, many thanks for your reply - it was much more info than I was was expecting. Thanks you so much for spending time in doing this for me - I really do appreciate all your help.
I think my dream of moving across to the other side of the world is going to be left as just a dream - may be I will visit on long holidays when I retire.
We get fantastic funding for our daughter here in the UK and the schools local to us are great too so we will stay put here in the UK as we want the best for her. It's just a shame that we don't get the weather
.
Thanks again for all your help,
Jon
I think my dream of moving across to the other side of the world is going to be left as just a dream - may be I will visit on long holidays when I retire.
We get fantastic funding for our daughter here in the UK and the schools local to us are great too so we will stay put here in the UK as we want the best for her. It's just a shame that we don't get the weather
.Thanks again for all your help,
Jon
May 28th 2015, 9:48 pm
#9
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,611
Re: Visa Autistic child
Weather is all relative. Not everyone finds the weather here to be 'better' as such. NZ is made up of micro-climates .
With regard to funding. It doesn't mean there is no funding here in NZ , although I don't know of dedicated Asperger/Autism schools here. I worked for one back in the UK which was part of the Hesley Group/ If your daughter is very high on the spectrum she possible would eventually benefit from such a school where it is not just about the curriculum but also about modifying behaviours . Coping with fears. Challenging difficulties.
I'm sure you've read Temple Grandin now among others.
Upheaval may not have been the best idea for a young girl high up on the Autistic spectrum. I'm sure you will do just grand.
With regard to funding. It doesn't mean there is no funding here in NZ , although I don't know of dedicated Asperger/Autism schools here. I worked for one back in the UK which was part of the Hesley Group/ If your daughter is very high on the spectrum she possible would eventually benefit from such a school where it is not just about the curriculum but also about modifying behaviours . Coping with fears. Challenging difficulties.
I'm sure you've read Temple Grandin now among others.
Upheaval may not have been the best idea for a young girl high up on the Autistic spectrum. I'm sure you will do just grand.
May 29th 2015, 5:00 am
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Kapiti Coast, Wellington
Posts: 704
Re: Visa Autistic child
There's a poster called M&M who used to work as a teacher in a school for children with special needs in Invercargill. She'll be able to advise you properly about ORS funding etc. There's also one near us which has satellite classrooms in local primary schools to help integrate children as much as possible. You could always email them, Mahinawa Specialist School
Not that it's relevant to your case, but children with dyslexia who are eligible receive help in schools from an organisation called SPELD (and yes teachers study dyslexia as part of their teaching degree).
Not that it's relevant to your case, but children with dyslexia who are eligible receive help in schools from an organisation called SPELD (and yes teachers study dyslexia as part of their teaching degree).
May 29th 2015, 5:45 am
#11
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,611
Re: Visa Autistic child
Yes. SPELD is the course I was thinking of. Teachers aides can attend this over a couple of afternoons or so.
Student teachers may now study dyslexia, however that is very recent . It was not recognised by the NZ government until 2007. We know this because my husband is severely dyslexia & so we had & have a personal interest in this. We also know that many teachers hereabouts do not spend time with dyslexic pupils . That is left to teachers aides who may or may not have attended said SPELD course. There is still the stigma of being seen as a bit slow or thick. Hopefully as awareness grows here, that will stop.
With regards to autism. If the child is at the top end of the spectrum and severely handicapped ( hate that word) then a mixed ability school could be an option if the ability to learn is that impaired . A mainstream school certainly would not be a good option for all pupils and staff concerned. If the young person / child is partway on the spectrum but highly 'sensitive' with behaviours, then a dedicated educational environment is more likely to help them achieve their potential & give them coping & life skills. A mainstream environment might be OK for those not so high on the spectrum as they might be able to cope with sensory overload with a lot of support and understanding. Pupils such as these often end up being 'excluded' or isolated from the rest of the class & their peers which is not helpful for their behaviours or for their education.
Anyway it is irrelevant for the OP really.
As the OPs daughter has been UK statemented as presenting on the autistic spectrum , then this would likely preclude them from achieving a successful visa application as the policy is that if there is a sniff of ORS being possibly needed ,then that is deemed to cost the NZ educational system and that is contrary to NZ government immigration policy.
Can you tell it is a subject close to our hearts. 
Student teachers may now study dyslexia, however that is very recent . It was not recognised by the NZ government until 2007. We know this because my husband is severely dyslexia & so we had & have a personal interest in this. We also know that many teachers hereabouts do not spend time with dyslexic pupils . That is left to teachers aides who may or may not have attended said SPELD course. There is still the stigma of being seen as a bit slow or thick. Hopefully as awareness grows here, that will stop.
With regards to autism. If the child is at the top end of the spectrum and severely handicapped ( hate that word) then a mixed ability school could be an option if the ability to learn is that impaired . A mainstream school certainly would not be a good option for all pupils and staff concerned. If the young person / child is partway on the spectrum but highly 'sensitive' with behaviours, then a dedicated educational environment is more likely to help them achieve their potential & give them coping & life skills. A mainstream environment might be OK for those not so high on the spectrum as they might be able to cope with sensory overload with a lot of support and understanding. Pupils such as these often end up being 'excluded' or isolated from the rest of the class & their peers which is not helpful for their behaviours or for their education.
Anyway it is irrelevant for the OP really.
As the OPs daughter has been UK statemented as presenting on the autistic spectrum , then this would likely preclude them from achieving a successful visa application as the policy is that if there is a sniff of ORS being possibly needed ,then that is deemed to cost the NZ educational system and that is contrary to NZ government immigration policy.
- The requirement that an applicant for a residence class visa must be unlikely to impose significant costs on New Zealand's special education services is not met if the Ministry of Education (MoE) has determined that there is a relatively high probability that the applicant's physical, intellectual, or sensory condition or their use of language and social communication would entitle them to Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) funding.
