Advice please on DLA & Autism

moonbeam2007

Hello all,
Could anyone tell me if they have applied for DLA for a child with Autism [plus speech delay, behavior problems, learning difficulties etc] and how long it took to get a result for this?

Also who did the DLA contact regarding the child?

Many thanks:)

Tigsteroonie

We applied for DLA when our son was 4 months old and diagnosed with sensori-neural hearing loss, he was awarded MRC.

We had to renew that DLA around his 3rd birthday, by this time his deafness had been supplemented with a general "severe learning delay", the level stayed at MRC.

He was diagnosed with ASD in spring this year at 3yrs 8m. We sent all the reports from his various supporting medical teams, including the initial diagnosis letter; and completed the form carefully after reading the guidance on Cerebra's website (they have a fantastic booklet regarding DLA applications). From what we understand, the DWP sent a standard request/form to CAMHS for further information. His award was subsequently increased to HRC & HRM because of the combination of deafness, ASD & SLD.

moonbeam2007

My son has mild Autism, speech and lang delay, learning difficulties [he's 6 but scored as lower than year R] he has anxiety disorder also. He has been pulled out of school as has anxiety attacks going in and gets violent and lashes out. He hates crowds and will get very stressed and again this can turn into an outburst. He will not leave me, he won't even stay with family. I took him out his mainstream school because the head teacher said, and I quote ' I do not believe in Autism, or ADHS or any such like, it's an excuse for bad behavior'. I was gob smacked. Then to make matters worse I took him in one day and once I left he had an anxiety attack. He lashed out so she took his shoes off and put him alone in a room for an hour and shouted in his face. She admitted to leaving him in the room for an hour and said it was ok, I feel it is not.
My son in 2 weeks got OUT OF SCHOOL without anyone noticing. I dropped him off [past 3 doors] and just as I was leaving I heard my son crying running down the street. I took him back in and no one had noticed. This is a huge concern for me as anything could happen to my son so I have pulled him out. I have contacted the director of education and an investigation will start.

Triggles

DS1 has autism, ADHD, speech and language delay, hypermobility, dyspraxia, and sensory processing problems. I'm not specifically sure who they contacted, however, we got our response within a month at the initial application and within maybe 10 weeks for his recent renewal. We put a fair bit of documentation in from his SENCO/teacher/school, his paediatrician, and his OT/wheelchair services, so I'm not actually sure if they contacted anyone or not.


Has your son had a statutory assessment yet with a view to getting a statement? Our son has gone to a specialised school for the last year and a half, and it was the best decision we've made. It's safer for him and less stressful as well, plus he is learning better as he's coping better. We had to fight the LA to get him into the specialised school, but had the support of his mainstream school, his paed, his OT, and pretty much everyone that worked with him in either medical or educational capacity. The LA finally agreed at last minute, after tribunal date set and approaching.

moonbeam2007

He's not statemented as his school will not do it. I have taken him out and having a meeting with them within the next week. I'm just so upset about the way they treat him, they seem to have very little understanding on special needs.

Tigsteroonie

Triggles wrote: »

The LA finally agreed at last minute, after tribunal date set and approaching.

Sounds familiar! Our LA finally agreed to our choice of SEN school a couple of weeks before the tribunal date, too.

moonbeam2007 wrote: »

He's not statemented as his school will not do it. I have taken him out and having a meeting with them within the next week. I'm just so upset about the way they treat him, they seem to have very little understanding on special needs.

Firstly, you can ask for a Statutory Assessment directly to the LA, you don't have to go through the school (though it helps as you will need their cooperation). And secondly, have you asked the school's SENCO about getting additional support through School Action Plus? If you haven't spoken to the SENCO then insist they attend the meeting you have planned.

(Apologies that this is all slightly irrelevant to the question of DLA but it seems a far more pressing issue!)

moonbeam2007

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

Sounds familiar! Our LA finally agreed to our choice of SEN school a couple of weeks before the tribunal date, too.



Firstly, you can ask for a Statutory Assessment directly to the LA, you don't have to go through the school (though it helps as you will need their cooperation). And secondly, have you asked the school's SENCO about getting additional support through School Action Plus? If you haven't spoken to the SENCO then insist they attend the meeting you have planned.

(Apologies that this is all slightly irrelevant to the question of DLA but it seems a far more pressing issue!)

My son is on school action plus already but the seco won't have him statemented, he said only 3 in the school are and that's because their in care? I have never heard of this. I also asked why my son did not have an IEP and was told only children in care do :mad: It's a joke I feel I have gone round in circles for a year now and getting no where.

alyxzandra

moonbeam2007 wrote: »

My son is on school action plus already but the seco won't have him statemented, he said only 3 in the school are and that's because their in care? I have never heard of this. I also asked why my son did not have an IEP and was told only children in care do :mad: It's a joke I feel I have gone round in circles for a year now and getting no where.

Your SENCO is talking rubbish. You can request a statement on your own from the LEA. And SENCO's do not know everything. My son had the SENCO involved and all said nothing was wrong with him despite his multiple exclusions by the time he was 4 years old. None picked up he was autistic. Get some advice from a place like Cerebra and fight for help.

jammother

I applied for DLA for my son when he was 3. He is non-verbal; not toilet trained; doesn't sleep through a whole night. I sent in the multi-team diagnosis report, had his key worker write as someone who knew him, reports from portage and SALT. We were awarded HRC and the turnaround was three weeks.

You can apply for a SA yourself but the LEA may not take it as seriously as if the school applies (speaking from experience). If the school won't support you then it will be even harder. Could you change schools?

moonbeam2007

alyxzandra wrote: »

Your SENCO is talking rubbish. You can request a statement on your own from the LEA. And SENCO's do not know everything. My son had the SENCO involved and all said nothing was wrong with him despite his multiple exclusions by the time he was 4 years old. None picked up he was autistic. Get some advice from a place like Cerebra and fight for help.

He has been diagnosed for having Autism, he has a anxiety disorder and has been having speech and Lang since the age of 3. His SENCO say's they will change nothing at school :mad: I am honestly at my wits I want to cry I hate taking him to school, he cries his eyes out, begs me not to leave him. Then he goes mad lashes out and I get a call from school saying he's hit the head. So they put him in a room unsupervised for an hour?? My son has got out that school without teachers noticing so putting him in a room alone is crazy. His stammer gets bad when he's upset and sometimes its hard to understand him. I just want to see him happy.

moonbeam2007

jammother wrote: »

I applied for DLA for my son when he was 3. He is non-verbal; not toilet trained; doesn't sleep through a whole night. I sent in the multi-team diagnosis report, had his key worker write as someone who knew him, reports from portage and SALT. We were awarded HRC and the turnaround was three weeks.

You can apply for a SA yourself but the LEA may not take it as seriously as if the school applies (speaking from experience). If the school won't support you then it will be even harder. Could you change schools?

3 weeks, that's not bad. I sent in a letter from the hospital who run my son's tests for Autism, his ELP from school and two references from people who know him. I'm not sure if that will be enough but I will find out at some point. I have heard some people wait months.