Autistic boy forced out of school and into care as council stops funding
Updated on 14 July 2001
The parents of a severely autistic boy say their local authority wants to stop funding his place at the special school where he is thriving.
At the end of this week, Bedfordshire County Council will stop funding a place for 12-year-old Ben Haslam at an independent residential special school where he is flourishing.
His parents say the local authority is forcing them to decide whether their son should be taken into care to provide him with the special education he needs.
Ben's parents say the alternative they are being offered by the council requires them to put Ben into care against their wishes.
Their legal battle has already cost them over £60,000.
