September 2011 - "If you have a minute..."
I hope that you had a good summer (it probably seems a long time ago now!) The new academic year is now well and truly upon those of us working in the educational field.
I have decided to break with tradition for the past couple of years and have sent out a (briefer than usual) update in addition to my normal beginning and middle of the year ones. In this update you will find sections entitled:
SEN MAGAZINE
I was asked to write an article about the current state of SEN law by SEN Magazine (http://www.senmagazine.co.uk) for their July/August edition. They have kindly said I can put it on my website for people to download. I have provided a link to the article here which is entitled 'Making Sense of SEN Law'. I believe that they may be also running a free trial offer at the moment, so anyone can get a free copy of the magazine, with no obligation. People can sign up for a free trial copy of SEN Magazine at their website.
'KIDZ IN THE MIDDLE' EXHIBITION
You may also be interested to know of the 'Kidz in the Middle' exhibition at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on Thursday 29th March 2012. It is one of 3 of the largest, FREE UK exhibitions organised by Disabled Living, who say that they are totally dedicated to children with disabilities and special needs, their families, carers and the professionals who work with them.
They have said that there has already been a great deal of interest in this event, primarily due to the success of the first two events and the overwhelming success of both Kidz up North and KidzSouth.They say that once again they will have a significant area solely dedicated to leisure activities, with a sports arena where children can participate in inclusive activities. In addition to the timetable of free seminars aimed at parents and health care professionals, there will also be a series of free seminars aimed at physiotherapists, P.E. teachers and assistants, coaches and sports development officers, leisure centre staff and those with an interest in this area. You can find out more information by clicking here.
UPDATE ON ‘PHASE TRANSFER’ APPEALS
Best if I get this one off my chest sooner rather than later. This was the longest section of the update and I realise it may not be of relevance to everyone personally or professionally so I have decided to set it up as a separate webpage which you can read here: ''Update on Phase Transfer Appeals (September 2011)". Feel free to skip this section if it is of no interest to you.
I NEED YOUR HELP…
Most people reading this will know that I am a solicitor specialising in representing parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities and am quite good at what I do (I am rated as joint no.1 in the UK in Education Law by the leading legal directories).
However, I am also a 45 year old man, married with three children (aged 14, 12 and 11) and for the past seven years have been a disabled person with a rare, progressive and degenerative neurological condition known as Cerebellar Ataxia which affects my speech, eyesight and balance and co-ordination and which now requires me to use a wheelchair to get around.
I always like to say to anyone who meets me for the first time that my disability does not affect my life expectancy, my cognition or my sense of humour! In fact, I think that it has actually given me a unique perspective which I consider it fortunate to be able to have – to see everything in the way that it really is and to appreciate all of the things that many other people take for granted. In fact, I only set up my own firm just over six year ago after being diagnosed although I have been practicing in Education, Disability and Public law for over 15 years now. Ironic isn’t it what has happened to me considering what I do?
So what has this got to do with you and why do I need your help?
At the end of they year, in November, Norwood, a charity supporting children with disabilities and helping families in need is again organising one of its famous bike rides in Israel to raise money. It is 380 km over 5 days and is quite challenging. I have always wanted to do something like this but, in recent years, have had to come to terms with the fact that it will now not be possible because of my condition. But the doctors in charge of my medical care advised me early on that whatever I wanted to do in life I should try to do earlier rather than later so I am trying to cram the rest of my life into a few years.
I am worse now than I was this time last year but am better now than I will be in another year’s time. With the rate of my deterioration I have realised that if I do not do a bike ride now I may never have the opportunity to do something like this again. So, with the help of friends, I am planning to do the ride in a specially modified recumbent trike. I am going to do as much by myself as I can but, when I am unable to do any more, I am going to be physically connected to the rear wheel of another bike in front of me and we will ride in tandem.
It is unlikely that I will ever be able to do this again and therefore I want to maximise what I can raise for Norwood. If you have a minute, I hope that you will be able to help me/Norwood by sponsoring me and making a donation. You can sponsor me by going to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DouglasSilas. Please help me make a difference both to my life and to other people’s lives.
SOLICITOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS SHORTLIST
I’ve left my best news for last. I am thrilled to be able to let you know that I have been shortlisted as one of eight solicitors in the Law Society’s Excellence Awards for ‘Solicitor of the Year (Private Practice)’, which is due to be announced at a formal dinner on Tuesday 18 October 2011.
It is, I think, the last award of the night and is a hotly contested one. My ‘competitors’ are all leading practitioners in their fields which are the more popular and usual practice areas of law (e.g. human rights, corporate law, family law, criminal law, etc) but I feel very privileged to have been acknowledged as also doing something that is not so well known as being of benefit for people. Special Educational Needs is an often overlooked and underrepresented area of the law but the many thousands of children and families that I and people like me (not necessarily solicitors) have helped over the past years is testament to the fact that the importance of what we do needs to be recognised in some way as do the difficulties which children with SEN and their families have to face, often having to ‘fight’ the system to get what the child needs.
Over the years I have met many people who either firstly express surprise that there are “solicitors for that kind of thing …” or who instead tell me of the battles they have had to have with the authorities about their own child or that their family members or friends have had to go through with their children. They then (nicely) reprimand me and people like me for not publicising the work that we do sufficiently in order to let people/parents know that there are solicitors like me who exist and who could have helped them!
I can’t win this sort of argument, can I, but at least I have the same chance as the other solicitors shortlisted of winning the award on the night! See what I mean about considering myslef fortunate?
With best wishes.
Douglas
P. S. I always find it extremely helpful to learn what people think about these updates. Please take a minute to tell me what you think by clicking on 'September 2011 Update - "Your Thoughts"'. Many thanks in advance if you get the chance to do this.
P.P.S. Don't forget to sponsor me at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DouglasSilas
I have decided to break with tradition for the past couple of years and have sent out a (briefer than usual) update in addition to my normal beginning and middle of the year ones. In this update you will find sections entitled:
- SEN Magazine
- 'Kidz in the Middle' Exhibition
- Update on ‘Phase Transfer’ Appeals
- I Need Your Help…
- Solicitor of the Year Awards Shortlist
SEN MAGAZINE
I was asked to write an article about the current state of SEN law by SEN Magazine (http://www.senmagazine.co.uk) for their July/August edition. They have kindly said I can put it on my website for people to download. I have provided a link to the article here which is entitled 'Making Sense of SEN Law'. I believe that they may be also running a free trial offer at the moment, so anyone can get a free copy of the magazine, with no obligation. People can sign up for a free trial copy of SEN Magazine at their website.
'KIDZ IN THE MIDDLE' EXHIBITION
You may also be interested to know of the 'Kidz in the Middle' exhibition at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on Thursday 29th March 2012. It is one of 3 of the largest, FREE UK exhibitions organised by Disabled Living, who say that they are totally dedicated to children with disabilities and special needs, their families, carers and the professionals who work with them.
They have said that there has already been a great deal of interest in this event, primarily due to the success of the first two events and the overwhelming success of both Kidz up North and KidzSouth.They say that once again they will have a significant area solely dedicated to leisure activities, with a sports arena where children can participate in inclusive activities. In addition to the timetable of free seminars aimed at parents and health care professionals, there will also be a series of free seminars aimed at physiotherapists, P.E. teachers and assistants, coaches and sports development officers, leisure centre staff and those with an interest in this area. You can find out more information by clicking here.
UPDATE ON ‘PHASE TRANSFER’ APPEALS
Best if I get this one off my chest sooner rather than later. This was the longest section of the update and I realise it may not be of relevance to everyone personally or professionally so I have decided to set it up as a separate webpage which you can read here: ''Update on Phase Transfer Appeals (September 2011)". Feel free to skip this section if it is of no interest to you.
I NEED YOUR HELP…
Most people reading this will know that I am a solicitor specialising in representing parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities and am quite good at what I do (I am rated as joint no.1 in the UK in Education Law by the leading legal directories).
However, I am also a 45 year old man, married with three children (aged 14, 12 and 11) and for the past seven years have been a disabled person with a rare, progressive and degenerative neurological condition known as Cerebellar Ataxia which affects my speech, eyesight and balance and co-ordination and which now requires me to use a wheelchair to get around.
I always like to say to anyone who meets me for the first time that my disability does not affect my life expectancy, my cognition or my sense of humour! In fact, I think that it has actually given me a unique perspective which I consider it fortunate to be able to have – to see everything in the way that it really is and to appreciate all of the things that many other people take for granted. In fact, I only set up my own firm just over six year ago after being diagnosed although I have been practicing in Education, Disability and Public law for over 15 years now. Ironic isn’t it what has happened to me considering what I do?
So what has this got to do with you and why do I need your help?
At the end of they year, in November, Norwood, a charity supporting children with disabilities and helping families in need is again organising one of its famous bike rides in Israel to raise money. It is 380 km over 5 days and is quite challenging. I have always wanted to do something like this but, in recent years, have had to come to terms with the fact that it will now not be possible because of my condition. But the doctors in charge of my medical care advised me early on that whatever I wanted to do in life I should try to do earlier rather than later so I am trying to cram the rest of my life into a few years.
I am worse now than I was this time last year but am better now than I will be in another year’s time. With the rate of my deterioration I have realised that if I do not do a bike ride now I may never have the opportunity to do something like this again. So, with the help of friends, I am planning to do the ride in a specially modified recumbent trike. I am going to do as much by myself as I can but, when I am unable to do any more, I am going to be physically connected to the rear wheel of another bike in front of me and we will ride in tandem.
It is unlikely that I will ever be able to do this again and therefore I want to maximise what I can raise for Norwood. If you have a minute, I hope that you will be able to help me/Norwood by sponsoring me and making a donation. You can sponsor me by going to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DouglasSilas. Please help me make a difference both to my life and to other people’s lives.
SOLICITOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS SHORTLIST
I’ve left my best news for last. I am thrilled to be able to let you know that I have been shortlisted as one of eight solicitors in the Law Society’s Excellence Awards for ‘Solicitor of the Year (Private Practice)’, which is due to be announced at a formal dinner on Tuesday 18 October 2011.
It is, I think, the last award of the night and is a hotly contested one. My ‘competitors’ are all leading practitioners in their fields which are the more popular and usual practice areas of law (e.g. human rights, corporate law, family law, criminal law, etc) but I feel very privileged to have been acknowledged as also doing something that is not so well known as being of benefit for people. Special Educational Needs is an often overlooked and underrepresented area of the law but the many thousands of children and families that I and people like me (not necessarily solicitors) have helped over the past years is testament to the fact that the importance of what we do needs to be recognised in some way as do the difficulties which children with SEN and their families have to face, often having to ‘fight’ the system to get what the child needs.
Over the years I have met many people who either firstly express surprise that there are “solicitors for that kind of thing …” or who instead tell me of the battles they have had to have with the authorities about their own child or that their family members or friends have had to go through with their children. They then (nicely) reprimand me and people like me for not publicising the work that we do sufficiently in order to let people/parents know that there are solicitors like me who exist and who could have helped them!
I can’t win this sort of argument, can I, but at least I have the same chance as the other solicitors shortlisted of winning the award on the night! See what I mean about considering myslef fortunate?
With best wishes.
Douglas
P. S. I always find it extremely helpful to learn what people think about these updates. Please take a minute to tell me what you think by clicking on 'September 2011 Update - "Your Thoughts"'. Many thanks in advance if you get the chance to do this.
P.P.S. Don't forget to sponsor me at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DouglasSilas
