DLA Appeal?

Tristesse

It's entirely possible to get HRM for autistic children. The National Autistic Society has a good guide here:

http://www.autism.org.uk/en-gb/living-with-autism/benefits-and-community-care/disability-living-allowance/dla-high-rate-mobility-for-children-with-asd/dla-high-rate-mobility-routes-to-qualifying.aspx

More from Cerebra:

http://www.cerebra.org.uk/OneStopCMS/Core/CrawlerResourceServer.aspx?resource=D7A27785-152F-4993-88AA-47C09FD60C78&mode=link&guid=0d6310deda0d489aa4247877e022bc37


Good luck!

SingleSue

It is entirely possible to have behaviour modification in a fair few autistic children (not all though) but it takes time and a hell of a lot of work.

I have succesfully managed to get some modification to the point where we can now go out to restaurants for a meal..albeit with some ministry of funny noises and movements but relatively well behaved. To get to this point though has been about 7 or 8 years of constant work and includes distraction (in my youngest sons early days, we would give him maths questions - toys and handheld games never worked with him), calming, picture diarys letting him know what was going to happen at what time, planning and going through the plans weeks in advance and as he (and my other son who has aspergers), got older, a set of rules that is gone through before we leave the house, when we get into the car, half way there on the journey, before we get out the car and at certain points while we are out.

It does mean I am seen as being a strict parent but without it, life is hell and their behaviour is intolerable. I also never shout, never smack and always have to keep a calm demeanour...any sign of stress from me sends youngest into panic meltdown mode.

It also means I can never let up as they will soon forget, it is a constant teaching them of what is socially acceptable, I can never rest on my laurels and sit back and relax but I much prefer that to the constant beatings and the aggression I had been receiving from my middle son whilst in an Aspergic rage and the never ending high pitched screaming from the youngest one. We do still have occasional times when middle will get violent or when youngest goes into meltdown but not like it used to be.

Mind you, bus trips are still out....youngest still cannot cope with a bus.

Tristesse

SingleSue I've been wondering why you repeated the initial words of my post which was only meant to be helpful?

The links clearly show that ASD is recognised as a physical organic brain dysfunction and that the behaviour is beyond the child's control thus qualifying for HRM.

I don't disagree that behaviour modification can be achieved with some autistic children which is why I thanked you for your post.

ABA for example isn't funded by LEAs and is extraordinarily effective but very expensive. Many parents of children with autism use the HRM award to partially pay for this.

They're not all after free cars. Motability as any moneysaver should know isn't the most cost-effective way to own / run a car in any case.

I was just pointing out after speculative and quite wrong posts about the criteria for the mobility component of DLA that ASD is supported by case law for HRM.

SingleSue

Oh I know....I was only trying to give hope to other parents of children with ASD that some (not all) behaviour can be modified in some (but not all) autistic children, even if only by a little bit. The repeating of your initial words was purely accidental, at the point I made my post, I hadn't actually read yours.

I never said anything about free cars nor did I suggest that, my youngest son may not receive HRM but that is probably more down to the fact that I didn't take advice and didn't appeal the decision to award LRM and HRC.

The HRC that I receive for youngest (middle son had his removed because of a report from a new school which again I didn't appeal against...I was having a breakdown at the time due to middle sons behaviour and didn't have the strength or sanity!) goes completely to fund his care, his special foods and the various interventions needed to keep him on a sort of even keel.

It is due to posts like yours that I now know I should have appealed against the LRM award and would positively encourage you to continue posting that information so that other parents have that knowledge and don't struggle on as I have accepting the decision.

annies_mum

Tristesse wrote: »

SingleSue I've been wondering why you repeated the initial words of my post which was only meant to be helpful?

The links clearly show that ASD is recognised as a physical organic brain dysfunction and that the behaviour is beyond the child's control thus qualifying for HRM.

I don't disagree that behaviour modification can be achieved with some autistic children which is why I thanked you for your post.

ABA for example isn't funded by LEAs and is extraordinarily effective but very expensive. Many parents of children with autism use the HRM award to partially pay for this.

They're not all after free cars. Motability as any moneysaver should know isn't the most cost-effective way to own / run a car in any case.

I was just pointing out after speculative and quite wrong posts about the criteria for the mobility component of DLA that ASD is supported by case law for HRM.

sorry to appear dim.....whats ABA?

Tristesse

ABA is Applied Behaviour Analysis. Most LEAs won't fund it, in fact I was told by a Paed that "there is no evidence to support that it works" when the one thing is does is generate reams of evidence! I know of a specialist SALT who is doing an MSc about it and is obviously convinced that it is beneficial. Private tutors exist but they cost money which is why I was keen to refute the fact that children with ASD can't get this extra financial help which case law says they are entitled to.

When the LEA / NHS will not fund the early intervention which all the studies show leads to best outcomes, then why not empower people to help their children themselves?

My son is three, autistic and challenging but he is also delightful in many ways. I am entitled to help from social services apparently including a £30K grant to improve our house. I don't want or need it. Respite too. I don't want or need it. Direct payments for a cleaner or someone to watch DS. No. He needs me and professional input. Not all parents of disabled children are just out for what they can get.

Lovely reply SingleSue and I wish you all the very best.

sunnyone

Tristesse wrote: »

My son is three, autistic and challenging but he is also delightful in many ways. I am entitled to help from social services apparently including a £30K grant to improve our house. I don't want or need it. Respite too. I don't want or need it. Direct payments for a cleaner or someone to watch DS. No.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Just try and get any of these things and you will find its like trying to catching air in a string bag.

annies_mum

Tristesse wrote: »

ABA is Applied Behaviour Analysis. Most LEAs won't fund it,
.

Thank you, my son has ASD and we have just being turned down for DLA at any level. we are appealing but just writing this i'm in tears, it all seems bad days at the moment with no good. Sorry, don't want to hijack the thread. thanks for the info, i'll look into it more

Tristesse

sunnyone wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Just try and get any of these things and you will find its like trying to catching air in a string bag.

Well yes, I did guess as much although I do know people who have had these things IF they have a decent SW. Sadly a common tactic is to raise trumped-up child protection issues in order to put people off asking...

It's hard enough chasing up medical personnel such as the specialist SALT and the ever-elusive sensory-trained OT.

Lovely analogy though

I've been told by various people (HV / specialist teacher form LEA / SN HV) that the SS "help" is out there if I want it but even if that were true it seems to be more trouble than it's worth so I'm happy to completely retract that part of my post!

annies mum I'm so sorry to hear that things are so bad for you at the moment. Keep going with the DLA. You are entitled to help.

The guides from Cerebra and the NAS I posted earlier are immensely helpful and you can always phone them up.