Our Vision
An inflexible educational approach is not appropriate for every autistic child with complex needs, causing suffering to them and their families.
Our vision is to allow autistic children with complex needs to reach their potential through individualised, specialised programmes that match their needs.
Our History
Formed in April 2007, The Fred Foundation is built on the principle of allowing autistic children with complex needs to reach their potential through individual specialised education programmes.
The right education provision has been proven to be the most influential factor in finding that child again.
The Foundation takes its name after Fred Borer who was diagnosed with autism and complex needs in 2002 aged three. As Fred grew older, his parents quickly realised that finding a suitable education provision that mirrored his needs was exasperatingly difficult.
Along their journey, Fred’s parents met lots of other families facing similar problems and felt something should be done. Children were being placed in wholly inappropriate places and in some cases being severely affected as a result.
Too many schools were under-funded and under-resourced. Too many children were being denied the one thing that would make the most profound difference to their lives and to the lives of their families – an individual specialised education programme.
The Foundation was therefore set up to help fund education programmes for autistic children with complex needs.
The Fred Foundation is a fully registered charity.
Why What We Do Matters
Trying to secure the right education for an autistic child with complex needs is an immensely long and stressful journey for parents.
For some, it is a postcode lottery with some Local Authorities 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 Special Educational Needs Tribunals and compiled at great cost to the parents, Local Authorities still persist in supplying children with inappropriate education provision. Just getting your child assessed can take years
This has a dramatic effect on the child. They will often regress into their own world and become unteachable. Autistic children with complex needs 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 Education Authorities’ process and policy making can actually be harmful to the child.
A common problem facing parents of an autistic child with complex needs is that Local Authorities are both judge and jury in deciding the child’s provision. Once (and if) they have eventually assessed your child, they then decide the provision. They are also guardians of the Special Educational Needs 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 autistic children with complex needs what they should rightfully expect.
This is why The Fred Foundation matters.
Until assessment and provision are independently judged, parents will always be fighting for their legal right to an education which meets their autistic child’s complex needs.
