Is it worth appealing?

hunnybugs1

hi guys

Advice needed please re 6 year old son. He has hypermobile joints accompanied by pain and flat feet. He has just been turned down for dla even though he cannot walk very much without being in pain. He needs to get carried or driven nearly everywhere he goes and is constantly complaining that his legs are sore. He needs special insoles in his shoes to help with his flat feet. The dla are trying to say that he does not need any more care than children the same age,even though he constantly trips and cannot run at all. His balance and coordination are affected also. I would like to know if there is any point in appealing and, also, how to go about it please.

Indie_Kid

First of all, is there any evidence from doctors and any consultants that your son has balance problems and can't walk far without pain?

Secondly - appeal! Don't go for reconsideration and get help from a welfare rights organisation, such as citizen's Advice, DIAL, etc.

hunnybugs1

sh1305 wrote: »

First of all, is there any evidence from doctors and any consultants that your son has balance problems and can't walk far without pain?

Secondly - appeal! Don't go for reconsideration and get help from a welfare rights organisation, such as citizen's Advice, DIAL, etc.

Yes, I told them he was seeing a paediatrician, physiotherapist and occupational therapist. Whether or not they have contacted them, I don't know as they have not said. I will look into help from the above named groups, thank you.

Indie_Kid

I think you're better off contacting the people your son sees and getting evidence. Ask for any letters that get sent to your son's GP, to also be sent to you. (the hospital I was under, does this for me without me havign to ask)

Bit of a silly question - did you give them permission to contact the people named?

hunnybugs1

sh1305 wrote: »

I think you're better off contacting the people your son sees and getting evidence. Ask for any letters that get sent to your son's GP, to also be sent to you. (the hospital I was under, does this for me without me havign to ask)

Bit of a silly question - did you give them permission to contact the people named?

Yes, I did. It seems a really daunting process to appeal, doesn't it? Think the best people to help are going to be the Citizens Advice as the 'local' DIAL group are 300 miles away :rotfl:

Indie_Kid

Another organisation that can help would be the disability derpartment of your local council.

jennie-jack

i knwo the frustration on being turned down. i am appealing at the moment for my son.

a question? when you say your son cant walk far and things like that, how does he manage at school. does he go in a buggy or sit out of pe and things.

i ask because they will, they will think if school say he is ok then he is fine.
school was the reason we were turned down as they didnt mention my sons feeding tube. my son also has hypermobility but he doesnt have anything special in place at school so i think it was disregarded.

it might help to get reports from school to send with anything they have to do for your child different to any other child then they know he is the same everywhere.

good luck it is so frustrating. i have done the above and got letters from doctors myself to send then they will have reports from who i want. i even offerred for them to send a doc out for a medical but not sure if they do that for children like they do adults.

hunnybugs1

jennie-jack wrote: »

i knwo the frustration on being turned down. i am appealing at the moment for my son.

a question? when you say your son cant walk far and things like that, how does he manage at school. does he go in a buggy or sit out of pe and things.

i ask because they will, they will think if school say he is ok then he is fine.
school was the reason we were turned down as they didnt mention my sons feeding tube. my son also has hypermobility but he doesnt have anything special in place at school so i think it was disregarded.



it might help to get reports from school to send with anything they have to do for your child different to any other child then they know he is the same everywhere.



good luck it is so frustrating. i have done the above and got letters from doctors myself to send then they will have reports from who i want. i even offerred for them to send a doc out for a medical but not sure if they do that for children like they do adults.

The school dont seem to care that he has problems as he constantly comes home saying they tried to make him do things at PE that he is not able to do. They have already received a copy of the OT report but don't seem to make any allowances for him being different. IT is really frustrating for him because he can't run about like the other kids but I don't even know if the school notice. I feel so sorry for him and wish I could take away his pain.

Broken_hearted

Good luck with the appeal. They turn people down in the hopes that they will not have the energy or emotional strength to fight it. You know how your sons condition effects yours and his life, take it as far as you can. You have nothing to lose stay strong.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Definitely appeal. Schools say legally, they have to focus on what the child can do, not what they can't - it probably gets them in trouble somewhere along the line if they are found saying that a kid spends days just sitting on the side, unable to join in because it make it sound as though the school hasn't made adequate provisions.

hunnybugs1

Thanks to all who have helped. I am going to appeal, just don't know who to talk to first. Cant do anything till my day off on Thursday so will try then.