Child with special needs

[keith1]

Can anyone please advise me. My family and would love to move to Australia but one problem that's stopping us seems to be the that my 12 yr old son has special needs. He has a chromosome disorder called chromosome 18. He attends a special school but is thriving. He isn't medical ill and not on any medication. He has a speech delay and is developmentally behind, I'd say the mental age of an 8yr old although I can see more improvement as he gets older. Things are definitely getting better for him. Educationally he's averaging a level 4 but the school has openly admitted if they do more for him and give him better help he could do better!!!Regarding his future I would like to think he will be able to cope on his own but as he's only 12 this is difficult to say. I do claim DLA for him at middle rate which is secured till 2019 but after that I'm not sure if he will still be entitled as I see him be able to do things he can't do now. His ambition is to work with animals, he loves wildlife and is very caring. I would love to give him an environment where he could do what he wants.

 

Also my 15 yr old daughter wants to be a marine biologist so what better place to live.

 

So basically my question is, Will we get a visa? (My husband is a construction manager for a rail company and hopefully will be able to find work)

 

Steph

[MaggieMay24]

Immigration can be quite challenging when an applicant has a medical condition. Australia looks at the potential cost (typically for 5 years, but they can also look at the potential lifetime cost). It's usually recommended that you speak with a migration agent - George Lombard and Peter Bollard are the two most often recommended as they have a lot of experience with applications that involve medical conditions.

[keith1]

Immigration can be quite challenging when an applicant has a medical condition. Australia looks at the potential cost (typically for 5 years, but they can also look at the potential lifetime cost). It's usually recommended that you speak with a migration agent - George Lombard and Peter Bollard are the two most often recommended as they have a lot of experience with applications that involve medical conditions.

 

Thanks for your reply. I'm going to contact one of them on Monday.

[Bungo]

Yes an agent is required when there is a medical condition involved and you have got the two best names from Maggie.

 

But also look into what educational support would be available in Australia. You say you have been told he could do better with more help, well the chances of you are finding that in Australia are far from a given.

[Quoll]

The catch 22 usually is that if a child is able to get a visa then their disability is usually not serious enough for any educational support. Realistically I would suggest that a child who needs a special school will be too needy for a visa (cost to the tax payer around the $40k pa). You've got the best names in the business though!

[keith1]

The catch 22 usually is that if a child is able to get a visa then their disability is usually not serious enough for any educational support. Realistically I would suggest that a child who needs a special school will be too needy for a visa (cost to the tax payer around the $40k pa). You've got the best names in the business though!

 

I understand what you mean Quoll but my problem at the minute is that we're not sure if he needs a special school or could manage in mainstream with support possibly in a unit. The school system here is very different and special school is sometimes an easy option for the education department.Do you think this would still be a problem? I've watched probably too many programmes where children with disabilities have been given visas and keep wondering if they can do it then there could be a chance for us.

I am contacting one of the names given but it's good to hear other peoples opinion.

 

Many thanks for any info given

 

Steph

[keith1]

Thanks for the reply Bungo.

What I mean by him doing better is that the school he is at haven't been doing that good by him. He has just been left to get on with things really and now that they are putting more time and effort into him hopefully everything will improve, therefore his chances of not needing as much support will be better, ideally he would be able to access mainstream, still with some support but only the amount of a lower ability child would receive.

[Quoll]

I understand what you mean Quoll but my problem at the minute is that we're not sure if he needs a special school or could manage in mainstream with support possibly in a unit. The school system here is very different and special school is sometimes an easy option for the education department.Do you think this would still be a problem? I've watched probably too many programmes where children with disabilities have been given visas and keep wondering if they can do it then there could be a chance for us.

I am contacting one of the names given but it's good to hear other peoples opinion.

 

Many thanks for any info given

 

Steph

 

I'm not sure which programs you've been watching but if you have a child needing a lot of support either in special school or mainstream they are not likely to get a visa unfortunately. Just having eligibility for a special school usually means that their needs are going to be too significant and TBH special Ed provisions in Aus are erratic and not that great really in terms of hands on support. Special Ed costs a lot unfortunately and that's what they add up when they consider applications. As I said, it's a real Catch 22 - just having a label doesn't cut it and if a child has a label but manages independently then they may get a visa but will get diddly squat support as eligibility for support is very tight.

 

The two agents will give you a realistic appraisal though.

[milliem]

I was in your situation and did obtain a visa. My son received DLA at the middle rate and full time support in school. The Dept of Ed put some pressure on me to send him to special school but I stood my ground and opted for main stream. I was also able to hand pick the school as for special Ed there are no catchment area rules.

 

I was able to demonstrate that he had made improvements over a period of years. It was not a straightforward process and I had to do a lot of work. I did not use an agent but I did research many case studies and took all the necessary steps.

 

When we arrived in Australia my son was in a private school and did not receive much support at all. I had expected that this would be the case. However as I am a teacher myself and familiar with the curriculum I was able to support him at home. At the end of last year he obtained his year 12 certificate and is now studying at TAFE.

 

If you would like any details about how I went about things pm me.

 

Millie

[scattley]

Most of the experience of People on this forum is with various forms of autism or Downs. Chromosome 18 disorder (if talking about Edwards or Pitt syndrome) is significantly different in that the child will not be able to live independently or work even in a sheltered workshop. They will cost the government a lot of money in that when older the parents will need to look after them and possible receive a carers pension. They will look at the long term cost picture in these cases.

[keith1]

I was in your situation and did obtain a visa. My son received DLA at the middle rate and full time support in school. The Dept of Ed put some pressure on me to send him to special school but I stood my ground and opted for main stream. I was also able to hand pick the school as for special Ed there are no catchment area rules.

 

I was able to demonstrate that he had made improvements over a period of years. It was not a straightforward process and I had to do a lot of work. I did not use an agent but I did research many case studies and took all the necessary steps.

 

When we arrived in Australia my son was in a private school and did not receive much support at all. I had expected that this would be the case. However as I am a teacher myself and familiar with the curriculum I was able to support him at home. At the end of last year he obtained his year 12 certificate and is now studying at TAFE.

 

If you would like any details about how I went about things pm me.

 

 

Millie

 

Thanks Millie, that's really helpfull

[keith1]

Scattley thanks for the reply but I'm not talking about Edwards or Pitts at all. My sons chromosome 18 is a deletion not an addition and therefor has absolutely nothing to do with these other conditions. Most people do jump to these wrong assumptions, as I've said he's a 12 yr old boy, if you care to do more research. There is every chance he will work and live independently but thanks for your positivity on his condition.

 

Oh and thanks for 'liking' it Quoll, very supportive and in the know!!!!

[ali]

I was in your situation and did obtain a visa. My son received DLA at the middle rate and full time support in school. The Dept of Ed put some pressure on me to send him to special school but I stood my ground and opted for main stream. I was also able to hand pick the school as for special Ed there are no catchment area rules.

 

I was able to demonstrate that he had made improvements over a period of years. It was not a straightforward process and I had to do a lot of work. I did not use an agent but I did research many case studies and took all the necessary steps.

 

When we arrived in Australia my son was in a private school and did not receive much support at all. I had expected that this would be the case. However as I am a teacher myself and familiar with the curriculum I was able to support him at home. At the end of last year he obtained his year 12 certificate and is now studying at TAFE.

 

If you would like any details about how I went about things pm me.

 

Millie

 

Apologise to the OP for a side track but want to say Many Congratulations to your son Millie

[scattley]

Chromosome 18 syndrome relates to major intellectual disabilities regardless of what specific disease you are talking about. The chance of your son having a totally independant life is what immigration looks at. If you just indicate "chromosome 18 syndrome" immigration is not going to give you they benefit of the doubt unless you have a lot of medical reports and proof....they will just do a search and come up with all the usual nameless chromosome 18 syndromes and their likely outcomes. Unlike autism where there is a lot of grey and a large range of capabilities....when there is a chromosomal deletion the extent of the disability is mostly know and Immigration is only interested in the most likely outcome.

 

That at is why an immigration agent well versed in medical situations is essential in this case.

[keith1]

Chromosome 18 syndrome relates to major intellectual disabilities regardless of what specific disease you are talking about. The chance of your son having a totally independant life is what immigration looks at. If you just indicate "chromosome 18 syndrome" immigration is not going to give you they benefit of the doubt unless you have a lot of medical reports and proof....they will just do a search and come up with all the usual nameless chromosome 18 syndromes and their likely outcomes. Unlike autism where there is a lot of grey and a large range of capabilities....when there is a chromosomal deletion the extent of the disability is mostly know and Immigration is only interested in the most likely outcome.

 

That at is why an immigration agent well versed in medical situations is essential in this case.

 

Thank you again for your reply but you seem to know nothing of this condition. Firstly it isn't a disease, it's a disorder and secondly it's very much the same as autism where the range of abilities are vast. Some people manage university but some never communicate or walk, it's that extreme.

I have all of the proof, medical reports, prognosis reports, educational reports, every report I could possibly need. Hopefully immigration will have the time to read them as I have so many