Mr Bob Breen

Bob Breen, chairman of Yorkshire support group ADDept
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Bob Breen, chairman of Yorkshire support group ADDept

PARENTS of children excluded from school are being urged form a help group.

Bob Breen, chairman of ADDept, the Yorkshire support group for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is asking parents to contact him for help and advice.

His bid comes after The Press revealed the number of cases of children being booted out of York's secondary schools is set to soar by more than a fifth this year, and blamed council policies for the figures.

The Press reported on Tuesday that new figures released by City of York Council show the number of permanent exclusions is set to rise from 44 last year to about 53 this year - an increase of 20.5 per cent.

Mr Breen said that quite often excluded children had ADHD, or a disorder on the autism spectrum, and this could be overlooked by some mainstream schools.

He said: "These people are scared and don't know where to turn quite often.
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Mr Breen would like people to contact him on (01904) 782556 or 07949 627242 as soon as possible to help get a group up and running.

Bob Breen
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Bob Breen

"WE told you so."

That is the message to council chiefs from Bob Breen chairman of ADDept, the Yorkshire support group for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

He made his comments after The Press revealed the number of cases of children being booted out of York's secondary schools is set to soar by more than a fifth this year, and blamed council policies for the figures.

The Press reported yesterday that new figures released by City of York Council show the number of permanent exclusions is set to rise from 44 last year to about 53 this year - an increase of 20.5 per cent.

Mr Breen said: "In the past York has had a good track record dealing with cases where children have been diagnosed with ADHD or cases on the autistic spectrum, but there has been a change of officers and that no longer seems to be the case.

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder support group chairman Bob BreenAttention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder support group chairman Bob Breen

A MENTAL health charity is stepping up its campaign to stamp out what it claims is a postcode lottery putting York residents at a disadvantage.

Bob Breen, founder and chairman of the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) support group ADDept, said he believed there were hundreds of families in the city whose lives were being torn apart because the authorities in York could not give their child the diagnosis they needed.

He said up to 1,250 children in the city could be suffering from ADHD - even though they had not been diagnosed.

He said: "At Limetrees Child, Adolescent And Family Unit in York, they diagnose hyperkinetic disorder, but they don't diagnose ADHD.It's not acceptable.
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Mr Breen is now urging families in York who have been fighting to get their child diagnosed with ADHD to fill in a questionnaire.

He said: "North Yorkshire County Council have asked ADDept to encourage people in York to fill in this questionnaire, which aims to assess the services that are available for people with attention difficulties.
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For details about the questionnaires, phone Mr Breen on 01904 782556.

Copies of letters between Harry Marsh of Contact a Family and Bob Breen, ADDept.
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Bob Breen (Chair/founder of ADDept )

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