Issue 16

Hello, Beyond the Label Family! 👋

We're back with another exciting edition of the Beyond the Label Newsletter, and you won't want to miss it! 🌈

Long Waits and Little Support - Autism Diagnosis Crisis

Shocking new statistics reveal nearly half of autistic children endure over 18 months waiting for a formal diagnosis, while 70% of families still can't access adequate therapies post-diagnosis either.

These prolonged struggles force many parents to sacrifice jobs, navigating endless paperwork and fighting with local councils who reject funding applications repeatedly. "It overtakes your life," says one worn-out mom.

Feeling isolated and helpless against a complex bureaucratic system delaying their child getting crucial early intervention is tragically common. But strong advocacy works - one in five parents succeeding with tribunals against council decisions initially denying SEND support.

How You Can Help at Home

Charities have online toolkits giving parents information, tips, and checklists to aid their child, even sans diagnosis yet. Consistent home routines, low-stimulus environments, picture communication tools, and positive behavior reinforcement benefit children as you monitor developmental milestones.

Spotlight on Richmond Council Failures

A damning report spotlighted Richmond council's SEND children provider woefully ignoring teen and primary school cases recently - causing lost education time and parental distress fetching private services uninformed. Though apologizing and refunding affected families now, this reflects the larger national crisis.

Ombudsman Comment

"Councils must follow statutory processes so families can access the support children need quickly, promote wellbeing and reach potential. When this doesn’t happen, parents face painful struggles seeing children miss out".

Join us next month analysing nationwide audit statistics on the SEND support landscape and how proposed government reforms seek to ease the diagnosis bottleneck crisis.

Join the Beyond the Label movement and make a difference! Together, we can create a world that celebrates unique abilities and embraces diversity. 🌍

Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Explore our latest collection, and let's make a difference, one book at a time. 📖

Thank you for being a part of Beyond the Label! 🌟

Warm regards, Beyond the Label Team 📚🌟

PS: Stay tuned for more inspiring stories, updates, and resources in our next newsletter! 📬🎉