dmelloy

Hi,

We are hoping to get out to australia some time this year.
However I am concerned about the medical requirements for getting our visa, given that one of our dependent children (aged 6) *may* be diagnosed with a learning diffculty shortly. We suspect he may have dyslexia / dyspraxia / ADD (attention), probably a combination.
If it's going to cause us visa problems, then it may be worth us holding off on a diagnosis until we get to Aus.
Difficult to know what to do for the best.

So if anyone has any experience of this or any info that would help, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Diane

JAJ

I often wonder if the increased occurrence in these cases like ADD is really just over-diagnosis in the first place (good sales opportunity for drug companies). But they can cause refusal (depends on circumstances).

Peter Bollard and George Lombard should both be able to give professional assistance in this area.

If you have used an ID based on your name that is already an unwise thing you have done as this is a public forum that is sometimes read by DIAC.

brownie67

can anyone tell me how i print off medical forms?for some reason they put the wrong information on the forms?so am trying to print off blank medical forms to fill out myself in front of the doctor

NikiL

here you go

brownie67

thank you very much ,will they accept the forms if they done this way???

NikiL

I asked them that as I couldn't access the online forms for my eldest 2 stepkids, and they told me to use these, and to put the TRN in the office use only box.

Our meds have been finalised, so I'm assuming they were accepted!

brownie67

thankyou
better buy some more ink then ?

loubiegreen

Hi Diane

I have a friend who has a child that has gone through some of these tests as he is now in secondary school. She was told that it is really hard to get them statemented at such an early age anyway. He has dyspraxic tendancies but this does not mean that he is dyspraxic. He also has dyslexic tendancies but that is totally different to being diagnosed with dyslexia. She was informed that he was far too young to be statemented at 10 yrs old.

Please note that this is not personal experience but from a friend.

Kind regards and hope all works out for you.

Loubiegreen xx

Devonfamily

Hi there,

(this is just our experience)!

My son was mis diagnosed with ADHD at 4yrs old - just as he was about to go into Reception. He was Statemented just before this due to his difficulties and delay in Speech. He has seen loads of specialists, Ed Psychs, Occ Therapists, Speech Therapy etc. At his next check up I saw a different Paediatrician who wasnt so ADHD and Ritalin happy. He said No way is this boy ADHD!!! He has a primary diagnosis of Aspergers which is on the Autistic spectrum. He is a very bright young lad (now 9yrs old). After two nightmare years in Mainstream and moving counties - he is now in a school that caters for children with Social Communication difficulties (Autism falls under this as do Speech probs). He is a very bright young lad and has all his faculties about him. We had his annual review last week and he is top of his class! His teacher said that he believes that Jonathan should be able to be re-intergrated back into Mainstream Education in the future (with his statement). We do not want this - as there are too many children in the class and our kids are seen as a burden to Mainstream teachers (most of the time).

I have contacted a Head teacher in Adelaide at a Montessori school (as recommended by "Wendy"). They are the only school so far that seem to cater for children with Sp.Needs. This is also a concern for us as a family as Aussie do not seem as jacked up with Sp.Needs Education. I don't even think they have such things as a "Statement of Special Educational Needs".

Don't know if I read correctly but I think in Aussie you even have to pay for Speech Therapy.

IMHO I would find out what your childs diagnosis is here in the UK. Having a child who has Special Needs (as they refer to them) - can be very demanding and getting the right diagnosis and help for them is detrimental to their future. I say this because from our experience a child cannot get the right help they need until you get to the core of their problems. I had to fight really really hard to get where we are now. If my son had'nt had me to fight for his rights to a decent Educational setting and the help he needs - his future would probably have been bleak! But instead he is thriving.

I would try and see if you can get a diagnosis and speak to your Paediatrician - explain that you are planning to immigrate to Aus and whether they think it is better to have it in writing now or wait. But remember it's gonna cost you in Aus to see Paed's etc, and it can take months before getting the diagnosis.

Hope that helps - I'm just talking from my experience and I also work closely with the Parent Support Advisors at my sons school. There are plenty of children there with Dyslexia, dyspraxia etc. I was told by 2 Paediatricians in the past - that sometimes if they have 1 they'v probably got the other too. I don't know if thats a fact - but just what I was told in conversation.

Good luck

(PS* Whereabouts in Aus are you heading to - as I'm currently doing alot of research into "Special Needs Education" in Adelaide).

kind regards
maz

dmelloy

Thanks (Maz & loubiegreen), for sharing your experience.

Our son's 'problems', whatever they may be, seem to become more apparent the older he gets and progresses through school. Its really his quite eccentric behaviour and lacking social skills that concern us most. The school he's at, although deemed to be a good one, doesn't really seem to feel the need to get him assessed or give more TA time. They feel he's within 'normal' limits for schoolwork, and maybe don't see the behaviour/social aspects as much as we at home do, with younger siblings. Hence we're looking into going through the GP for a paedeatric assessment; at least this may allay our fears, or start getting us some extra help if he needs it.

From what I've read and the advice I've had so far, I understand that a child diagnosed in one area, eg dyslexia, is more than likely to have elements of other areas too, dyspraxia, ADD, aspergers etc. One box rarely fits all symptoms.

I originally wrote this post just to see if anyone else has experience of going through the visa process with such labels attached to their child, and see what the outcome was. I don't want to get our hopes up of an Aus move if it's really not going to be possible.

BTW we're looking at Brisbane currently. I have also spotted a montesorri school there, but have had no contact with it as yet. We're quite willing to pay for private education (it's less than nursery here!).

Cheers,
Diane

The Woods

Does anyone have any experience of the Visa process regarding kids with Special needs and/or any problems with getting visa granted. I have a 17 yr old with Special needs and have applied for a 120 Labour Agreement visa. It would be tragic if it we were refused visas on the basis of my child's needs.

OriginalSunshine

two cases:

1) friend's kid aged 4 definitely had (quite severe) autism that was very obvious but passed medical as he hadnt been diagnosed officially. they got visa

2) cousin's daughter was diagnosed with autism aged 8, and they failed their medical because of this, albeit 10 years ago, and so did not get the visa.

If you havent already paid for the visa application, I would personally advise getting the medicals done first in your case, to find out whether there is likely to be a problem or not. Ask the medical doctor what the outcome is, directly.