every child is a priority

as every one on the Australian/New Zealand APD group could tell you, gaining services at school for your child can be a hard and sometimes an impossible obstacle course.

Our children are often not seen as a priority
(as i learnt only to well this week at school for my daughter Holly)
because their disability is invisible.

 If she were wearing a hearing aid, or in a wheel chair then the help would (you would think) come thick and fast and be automatic. (I certainly wouldn't want anyone in those circumstances to not get the help they deserve and need)

 but what about our kids...? I'm so tired of hearing "there are many worse off than your child" or "APD isn't that bad" or worse still "what is it"

this week was an eye opener for me in many ways,
firstly how the "mumma bear" comes out in me when my child is wronged
(i mean seriously I'm a Leo with red hair - there is bound to be temper attached)

but i also learnt how people with APD and other invisible disability's get pushed to the side line, how they are not necessarily a priority at school.
(since when does a child who cannot learn in the same way as others, who needs constant revision, guidance, assistance and a much slower pace not make a priority list?)
does this mean their needs are not as important, does it mean they don't deserve all the same services and help as someone with visible problems???

 in my opinion, our children and we have to fight all the harder - just to be able to move forward.
and to be honest, i don't care for schools/teachers or anybody else pushing the words
 " there are plenty more worse off than your child" I'm sure there are!, but my priority, my concern and my desperation for help - is with my child.

there is also the battle with services for our children - should they improve (what is that about, its not like the APD has been fixed, it means what you are doing is working keep it going!!!).

If they make a few steps forward, if they can read and write and remember a little better at this time then we risk the services being pulled. The Government also decides, because our children can shower alone or sleep through the night that our need for help and assistance is not considered a priority -
we don't tick their boxes.

so tell me - what happened to every child is important, every child has the right to quality education, every family has the right to access the services needed for that child's future,

every child is a priority....