What Will Happen If Harry's Needs Are Not Met?

Case studies

‘Julie,’ the mother of ‘Harry’ - a child with a learning disability, also believed Harry had Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The educational psychologist from the Health and Social Care Trust did not agree. Julie was convinced that Harry showed signs of ASD and this was affecting his performance at school, so she went privately to a doctor for a second opinion. He diagnosed ASD.

Julie subsequently sought reasonable adjustments to be made for Harry at the school. However, the Education and Library Board would not help as their policy is to only accept a diagnosis from a professional working within the Trust. As Harry did not have ASD included in his Statement of Special Educational Needs, he could not avail of the additional
Due to the school not providing Harry with the correct services to aid his social and educational skills, he will struggle to keep up with his peers. It also means that when he leaves school he will find it harder to interact and socialise. Because of the treatment he is receiving from the school in regards of his ASD and the health and social trust refusing to recognise his condition, the effect is marginalisation. This is because he will not be able to socialise well due to him not receiving the correct help on how to read social situations, this means that he will not feel like he is part of the social norm.

It also means that he may end up feeling disempowered as he may feel less confident in social and educational situations, this is because he will find it harder to socialise (read social situations) and will take longer to understand lessons. Also later in life he may feel disempowered as the lack of help he is receiving from the school and health and social care trust in regards to his condition could mean that instead of being one of the people with ASD who can be self-reliant and sufficient, he will need to be cared for or live in an assisted environment. This shows how lack of help he is receiving will have physical and emotional long term
Another thing that may contribute to low self-esteem may be that his peers will probably surpass him in academic terms. Due to this he will have less confidence.The physical effects include the ones mentioned above about him living in an assisted facility. It also includes the struggle he will have to socialise or interact with others. This is an important life skill to have as it will help with his self-esteem and help him in life. By being able to interact with others he will find it easier to find a job, the more he interacts with people the better he will become at this meaning he may be able to cope by himself. If Harry were to get the appropriate help in school, he would find social and academic situations easier to cope