Spanish schools and Aspergers please.

[ALMummy]

DS (5) will probably shortly be diagnosed with Aspergers.

There is a possibility that we could have the opportunity to relocate to Spain.

Anyone in this situation who could tell me a little more about provisions made for Aspergers kids in the Spanish Education System and any personal experiences would be welcome.

Many thanks.

[lokka]

Hi

I live in Spain but I don't have any experience of this sorry. Just bumping it to see if anyone else can help you.

FWIW Spain is very behind UK in this sort of thing normally so you do well to find out before.

good luck

[ALMummy]

Thanks lokka will bump again.

[bebespain]

Hello

I also live in Spain but sadly don´t have any information for you.

However I second what Lokka says, I imagine the provision here is pretty limited. I think SEN provision in general is very much lacking in Spanish schools so its well worth trying to be as informed as you can beforehand. Easier said than done I know

Sorry I can´t be of any real use!

[chicca]

Hi there

Saw your msg a while back and sighed inwardly thinking that you might have a struggle. However, we are moving and the area we are moving to (we've already been here 6 years) has a special needs school which looks really nice (on the face of it). Other than that small amount of info I don't really know. All I do know is that the way that any disability is viewd here is a lot less subtle than in the UK now. For example, I live in a town called Arcos and the local association for disabled people is called 'Disarcos'.

[Anna8888]

My sister used to live in Spain. Just as an example of attitudes she came across: there was a little boy in her elder son's class who had no legs (from birth) and was in a wheelchair. He wasn't allowed in the local shopping centre as it might disturb the other customers .

Attitudes are quite backward in Spain.

[Shitemum]

I also live in Spain and have never heard anyone talk about Asperger's here. I saw a poster about a talk on it once...
As far as I can make out the families of children with SN in this country are largely left to fend/fight for themselves.
Will do a search and see if there are any associations.

[Shitemum]

Anna - that's a bit extreme, are you sure that's right?
DD1 has a friend in her class who has a muscular dystrophy disorder (sorry don't know what it's called) and cannot walk or sit upright unaided. I know his parents have a ongoing battle to try and get the school upgraded to make it easier to get his wheelchair in and out.

[Anna8888]

Yes. The family (from Latin America) moved to the United States, they were so horrified with the restrictions that Spanish society imposed on their son.

[Anna8888]

I don't know about Spain, but there is a major campaign going on at the moment in France about the diagnosis and treament of ASD - current practices are at least 40 years behind the UK, US, Scandinavia.

[Shitemum]

Spanish Asperger's association page

Would just like to add that as with so many other medical things in Spain there are top professionals and investigation but it doesn't seems to filter down into daily life.

[itwasntme]

Not sure about aspergers, but we are in Barcelona and in dd's school there is a place for one special needs child in each class.

In my daughter's year (p3, which is the year before reception) there are two children with autism. They are adored by teachers and students and have sessions several times a week in an external centre for children with special needs. One of the children was a little agressive, but he has thrived in school and has come on in leaps and bounds.

I haven't come across attitudes like anna888 describes, but Catalonia is not typical of Spain, so I don't know about other areas.

hth

[bebespain]

I am so saddened by Anna888´s story but am in no way surprised.

I agree that attitudes are backward here, I mean this is a country where medics still think that pushing a baby boy´s foreskin back is acceptable and when you try and challenge them you are frowned upon.

I hardly ever see any children with obvious physical SN, I suspect they are often hidden away

Chicca - your example is shocking but sadly not surprising

[MB246]

Be aware that if your child is slightly different in behavioural terms there can be trouble; not being able to sit down through a boring 45 minute lesson results in Castigado (stigmatisation), also bullying can be a problem.

If you decide to homeschool there can be Social Services intervention.

It is possible to take a highly intelligent child to Spain, have them completely put off going to school within a couple of years and be steered towards the wrong end of institutionalisation.

Unless you can afford to take your child to an alternative school. Many alternative schools are under threat of closure by the authorities.

Homeschooling is not legal (this not properly defined legally either)