ur Vision. An inflexible educational approach is not appropriate for every child with autism, causing suffering to them and their families.

Our vision is to allow children with autism to reach their potential through individualised, specialised programmes that match their needs.

ur History. Formed in April 2007, The Fred Foundation is built on the principle of allowing children with autism to reach their potential through individual specialised education programmes.

The Foundation takes its name after Fred Borer who was diagnosed with autism in 2002 aged three. In early 2007, Fred’s parents lost their latest battle with their LEA (Local Education Authority) to secure an education that mirrored Fred’s Special Educational Needs. They were faced with sending Fred to an under-funded, under-resourced autistic unit attached to a failing primary school which hadn’t even met Fred, let alone assessed his needs. His parents knew that for him to reach his potential, Fred needed a specialised programme.

Along their journey, Fred’s parents met lots of other families facing similar problems and felt something should be done. Chronic under funding by central and local government has left LEAs mainly providing inflexible, unproven and often harmful strategies. The figures are alarming (see What is Autism ; The Facts) with too many children being denied the one thing that will make the most profound difference to their lives and the lives of their families – an individual specialised education programme.

The Foundation was therefore set up to help fund education programmes for children with autism.

The Fred Foundation is a fully registered charity.

hy what we do matters. Trying to secure the right education for a child with autism is an immensely long and stressful journey for parents.

For some, it is a postcode lottery with some LEAs actively being at best unhelpful and, at worst, obstructive and underhand. Faced with overwhelming evidence from a variety of independent professionals, often presented at a SEN Tribunal and compiled at great cost to the parents, LEAs still persist in supplying children with inappropriate education provision. Just getting the child assessed can take years

This has a dramatic effect on the child. They will often regress into their own world and become unteachable. They lack any basic self help skills which enable some semblance of independence and are excluded from making a meaningful contribution to society. When early intervention is key, the LEAs’ process and policy making can actually be harmful to the child.

A common problem facing parents with a child with autism is that LEAs are both judge and jury in deciding the child’s provision. Once (and if) they have eventually assessed the child, they then decide the provision. They are also guardians of the SEN budget and compromise, delay, confrontation and sharp tactics are all too common.

This direct contradiction between supposedly independent assessment and education provision is totally at odds with giving children with autism what they should rightfully expect.

This is why The Fred Foundation matters.

Until assessment and provision are independently judged, parents will always be fighting. And as if having an autistic child was not hard enough.