daughter's dla appeal tomorrow

jetcat

After a year of waiting, the appeal for DLA for my daughter is finally here - well, tomorrow. She is 12.

I have a WRO attending with me, and to say i am nervous is an understatement. So, i was hoping that you kind folks here could maybe give me some wise and/or calming words please?

I have attended a tribunal before, for myself, and it wasnt too bad, so i am not obsessing over what will actually happen. It is more how to explain the difficulties my daughter has - she has confirmed diagnosis of dyspraxia with referral made for assessment for aspergers.

I think she meets the criteria for low mobility (she needs guidance and supervision - even in familiar routes) and low care - her biggest issue is problems with communication, i have her latest medical report which states she has communication difficulties.

Due to the dyspraxia, she also has problems with motor skills - ie. doing buttons etc and therefore requires help with dressing, she cant chop the food up in her food tech classes so another student helps her - but school have put she doesnt require any extra help at school. This is not the only informal help she gets at school, but because its not documented, i worry that it doesnt count?

She had an EMP visit, sho stated that she communnicated fine with him, but this was one word answers - for example

EMP - do you like tele
DD - (pause) yes
EMP - what is your favourite programme
DD (longer pause) Eastenders
EMP - can you tell me something that is happening now on Eastenders
DD - massive pause, constant shuffling and looking at me then the floor - no answer at all.

This is DD to a tee - she can manage a one word answer to an adult (kids are a different matter - in her school report every one of her teachers state that she has no interaction with her peers) but really struggles when talking longer. Her consultant realised this, and this what he refers to in his report - but i am not sure if the tribunal will put more weight on the emp report?

Gosh sorry this is a long post! I will stop now to see if anyone replies, even though i have loads more questions:o

Indie_Kid

I can't really help you with your questions; but good luck.

Is your daughter statemented?

This is not the only informal help she gets at school, but because its not documented, i worry that it doesnt count?

I would've thought it counted. I was under the impression that it doesn't matter who gives the help - it just has to be reasonable that she needs the help and it's more than a child her own age.

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello,

All panels will be different, but mine was really well informed, and took the time and trouble to look up terminology that I had used.

My son as 14 at the time I appealed, and I didn't take him to the tribunal.

To satisfy the lower rate mobility, the question was simple.
If my son was in a strange town, would he be able to get himself home...well no! :rolleyes:
I then just gave the reasons, that he has extremely poor communication due to his Aspergers Syndrome, and he will avoid speaking to people, likewise he will avoid going into shops etc. Also, he would struggle to use the phone, or give accurate information to locate him.

Make a list of bullet points that you wish to make. This way, you'll not forget anything that could be important.
If the panel think you have satisfied a condition, hopefully they will move you on.

Also think about other daily living skills, such as making a snack, and all the problems dyspraxia causes. Think about the problems she would have sequencing things, even if they are written down.

Don't worry if much of her help if from her peer group. Concentrate on the help, and just state where the help comes from. Unless a child has a TA to hep in the classroom, then it will be her friends that help.

Has your daughter has an assessment from the Speech and language therapist?
If not, you can do a self referral.
When my son had his assessment done, they were able to relate his scores to an age, so at 13 years old, he had the verbal and comprehension level of a child aged 4 years 3 months.
I know this doesn't help you for tomorrow, but is something to look into for the future.

Most important. Try and keep to the facts.
Try not to waffle, as it wastes time.
Keep calm and collected, as it will help get you points across.

Good luck,
Munchie

jetcat

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

Hello,

All panels will be different, but mine was really well informed, and took the time and trouble to look up terminology that I had used.

My son as 14 at the time I appealed, and I didn't take him to the tribunal.
DD is not going tomorrow - she is too stressed.

To satisfy the lower rate mobility, the question was simple.
If my son was in a strange town, would he be able to get himself home...well no! :rolleyes: DD can't even get herself home in our home town, let alone a strange town!
I then just gave the reasons, that he has extremely poor communication due to his Aspergers Syndrome, and he will avoid speaking to people, likewise he will avoid going into shops etc. Also, he would struggle to use the phone, or give accurate information to locate him.
Sounds like DD, thanks for putting it a lot more succinctly than i did!

Make a list of bullet points that you wish to make. This way, you'll not forget anything that could be important.
If the panel think you have satisfied a condition, hopefully they will move you on.
I hope so - i am also hoping my WRO will do the majority of the talking...

Also think about other daily living skills, such as making a snack, and all the problems dyspraxia causes. Think about the problems she would have sequencing things, even if they are written down.

Don't worry if much of her help if from her peer group. Concentrate on the help, and just state where the help comes from. Unless a child has a TA to hep in the classroom, then it will be her friends that help.

Has your daughter has an assessment from the Speech and language therapist?
If not, you can do a self referral.
She has recently had her first developmental/general assessment, who has referred her to an OT. Consultant said he wanted to see their report first before referring to a speech therapist, incase her speech problems were down to the dyspraxia, and not aspergers.
Should she be awarded DLA, i am contemplating using that to pay for a private speech therapist, as DD is getting really fed up.
When my son had his assessment done, they were able to relate his scores to an age, so at 13 years old, he had the verbal and comprehension level of a child aged 4 years 3 months.
I know this doesn't help you for tomorrow, but is something to look into for the future.
I will enquire about that thanks

Most important. Try and keep to the facts.
Try not to waffle, as it wastes time.
Keep calm and collected, as it will help get you points across.
Thanks, i have a feeling i am going to need it, although WRO seems to think we have a good case. Just re-read claim form, and even her own GP states a moderate developmental delay!

Good luck,
Munchie

thanks Munchie - i will let you know how i get on.


and thanks Sh, no she isnt statemented. On and off the SEN register over the years, am currently liasing with school on the best route to take now.

cookie54

we got it for my son due to dyspexia by stating things like he cant handle coins well and will drop his wallet........... he cant do up his shoe laces......... have you been seen by O.T as they gave a list of excerise / games that we did that improved his willingness to try to do things..... what are her reading / writing skills like ? Are they below children of her own age if so could she read / write information in the same way as her peers? or could she become a danger to herself or others by doing somthing ie not using th school crossing or being unable to interpet signs/ dangers etc.........

jetcat

thanks cookie, she had an OT a few years back, and had a lot of those exercises to do - which helped for a while.

We are currently on the OT waiting list - which may still take a while. She can sort of do her shoelaces - takes her about 10mins for one shoe, and its not the 'correct' way IYSWIM - so she generally just tucks them down the side of her shoes. Elasticated trousers are a lifesaver - as are little strips of elastic on her jeans button, as she really struggles with buttons. After swimming at school (first period) she doesnt put her bra back on as she panics she is already going to be late for next lesson struggling along with her shirt buttons. We are currently trying to work out a way for her that doesnt mean leaving the pool early, as she gets embarrassed being singled out.

Thanks for putting your own experiences on here - i do feel a little strange trying to fight for her dla - i just wish she didnt have these issues and she didnt need any extra help!

munchings-n-crunchings

I'm sorry, but I hate this step by step approach.

My daughter was diagnosed first, out of my 2 children.
Her consultant, referred her to Speech and Language, OT and Physio, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. all the referrals were done at the same time, and it was just a matter of waiting for the appointments to come up.

I would be careful of having a private S&L assessment done, as schools sometimes don't like them. In my area, schools often refuse to take notice of private dyslexia assessments. The reason they give, is that when you are paying for a service, there is a view that professional will say a child has a problems, rather than take a parents money and say the child is within normal parameters. So just be careful, as these things are never cheap.
Try and do your own referral. I just located my nearest clinic through google, and emailed giving the reasons that I wanted my daughter to be assessed. I've just completed her second assessment like this, as her first was done at primary, and now she is well into secondary.

Most children with Asperger's have dyspraxia or DCD, Developmental Coordination Disorder, to some extent. In my daughter's case, it was over and above what would normally be expected, and so was given it's own, separate diagnosis.
It looks like you are going down the same route, in the opposite direction!

Try and do your own referral. It will save time.
I always feel that time is ticking away, and out children are being let down by the system. The disabilities are hidden, and as long as they are not disruptive, or while they meet the minimum required, then they are left to bimble along on their own, without the support to reach their potential....whinge over.

Try and speak as much as you can. After all, you know your child best.
I did try to get WR to attend with me, but they said they were unable to speak on my behalf, and they said I could do it well enough on my own.

Just be confident in your abilities,

Munchie

newleaf

My niece has dyspraxia and gets low mobility & care DLA.
Things which proved helpful to mention in her case were:
Unable to participate in normal age appropriate activities due to co-ordination problems - can't go 10 pin bowling or dancing for example.
Poor social skills, unable to use cutlery properly so encounters difficulty in social situations appropriate to her age (similar age to your DD at the time the award was made).
Exclusion & bullying by peers who perceive her as 'different' and use her as an easy target.
Problems in forming relationships with people of her own age.
Communication problems as unable to interpret cues in normal conversation and has difficulty in expressing herself clearly.
Poor memory and recall.
Problems understanding and accepting criticism without getting angry or distressed.
Difficulty coping with sexual maturity, menstruation, attention from males.
Naivety in dealing with members of opposite sex and vulnerability to abuse because she is unable to accurately assess risks and assumes everyone is good. No sense of danger.
Emotional problems due to frustration.
Needs to do things her own way and at her own pace. Cannot be hurried or interrupted, otherwise has to start all over again - some obsessive traits, doing things in a certain order, hoarding rubbish etc.
These are just a few which spring to mind. Hope they are helpful, and wish you luck.

Cranny44

As a WRO and previously working in child services i have been to many childrens tribuals. They have given some excellent answers here for you. The panel will usually have read your daughters notes etc already and any submissions you or your WRO have sent in for them prior to the appeal and should be impartial.

I find what they are mostly interested in from you is whether or not your child is the same maturity level as a child of the same age. If not then why do you think not?

Ie Most 12year olds could go to the corner shop for milk, but if DD cant then explain she would need to be supervised to get there and back safely and she would forget what she went or where she was going, for couldnt handle the money, would be vulnerable out alone, etc

Just by attending you have upped the odds of being awarded anything.

Good Luck most WROs wouldnt attend if they didnt think you had a winning shot. We dont usually represent as we cant answer the questions on your child as we dont live with you, as a parent or carer you are by far the most suitable person to answer questions with support from your WRO.

Lady_K

Good luck jetcat I hope it all goes well for you

jetcat

well, it was turned down. They seemed to place a lot of weight on the EMP report, despite me saying that a lot of the answers he gave he didnt even ask the question for - such as getting dressed.

They said they couldnt accept DD's consultant's report, as that was dated after the date of the dla decision, despite me arguing that although the diagnosis of dyxpraxia wasnt made then, all the symptoms of the dyspraxia were there!

WRO thinks i should wait a couple of months and apply again, this time include her consultant's report with the application. I am not sure, as i am so fed up with the entire thing!