DLA for fused neck?

Oldernotwiser

It really sounds as if driving's not going to be a good idea for your son. If he's going to find it difficult now it will only become more so if his condition worsens. Independence and being able to drive are totally separate issues; driving really isn't essential, although your son, like most 17 year olds, may believe it to be so.

dmg24

Conor wrote: »

TBH, I'd be more inclined to try and dissuade the driving. Being able to look from left to right freely is very important and with current traffic, you need to be able to do it quicker nowadays. Roundabouts and junctions are going to be quite dodgy and no amount of vehicle adaptation can compensate for that.

Surely the OP knows her son a lot better than we do?

mae asked for advice on whether it is possible to claim DLA, not opinions on whether he should be allowed to drive!

Happychappy

Mae

If you have a look at the following link, it is the DVLA disabled drivers medical assessment contacts, if you give the centre nearest to you a call, and raise the matter purely as an enquiry, you dont need to give your sons name if you dont want to, they can give you advice ?

DVLA medical forum

Look at page 45, this has all the contact details

Conor_3

dmg24 wrote: »

Surely the OP knows her son a lot better than we do?

mae asked for advice on whether it is possible to claim DLA, not opinions on whether he should be allowed to drive!

I'm a professional driver. I was merely pointing out some of the issues, not saying not to.

How would you feel if it were your son, you'd pushed him into driving and he ended up dying because he got T-boned on the drivers side whilst pulling out of a junction because he couldn't look right with enough speed or mobility to see an approaching vehicle and pulled out straight in front of it?

I don't know the OPs son and it may not be as bad as I've said but sometimes you're not always aware of all the problems and a fresh set of eyes can provide an insight into something you maybe hadn't considered as well as you should due to emotional involvement.

dmg24

Conor wrote: »

I'm a professional driver. I was merely pointing out some of the issues, not saying not to.

How would you feel if it were your son, you'd pushed him into driving and he ended up dying because he got T-boned on the drivers side whilst pulling out of a junction because he couldn't look right with enough speed or mobility to see an approaching vehicle and pulled out straight in front of it?

I don't know the OPs son and it may not be as bad as I've said but sometimes you're not always aware of all the problems and a fresh set of eyes can provide an insight into something you maybe hadn't considered as well as you should due to emotional involvement.

You are now accusing mae of pushing him into it, and suggesting that he may have a fatal accident!

I would take a step back from this Conor and see how your comments look to others. I have no doubt that mae has nothing but the best of intentions for her son, and your comments are not nice and not helpful.

glossgal

Im 99% sure that OP's son would not get DLA for the problems described-the only possible way would be to argue Low Rate Mobility because he can't look properly to assess traffic risks if crossing the road and so needs guidance.

People with chronic heart and lung conditions get turned down for mobility, don't believe the hype!

mae

Hi thanks all for your posts it helps to get the feedback. I would like to say I am not pushing him into driving at all, mhe wants to learn to drive and his illness's have restricited him enough career wise I would not like to think he would be restricted from driving too, obviously as long as he is safe and that is why I want him to have an assessment I just object to paying £150 for it but if I have to of course I will. I originally posted on other boards about maybe grants etc and some suggested dla which in my gut I thought he wouldn't be entitled to but I thought given I don't know much about it I should investigate to make sure.

I agree I doubt he would qualify and given that his syndrome is very rare there will be no funding for help but I thought it was worth a try. He does have heart problems too but again this would not qualify him for any kind of benefits. I am not disappointed about the dla as we had never really thought it an option but I am disappointed its going to cost him/us in terms of assessments and any adaptions.

Again I really appreciate all posts as I find it so helpful to get the help, information and other views I had not thought of.

Mae x

Js_Other_Half

Would your son be entitled to low rate care? " be unable to prepare a cooked main meal for yourself (if you had the ingredients), if you are aged 16 or over"

My understanding of a cooked meal for this criteria (when I used to fill in forms many years ago) involves preparing veg - chopping, cleaning, etc, lifting full saucepans on and off the hob, and bending down the oven to put things in and takes things out...

Could your son do all of this ?

mae

Js_Other_Half wrote: »

Would your son be entitled to low rate care? " be unable to prepare a cooked main meal for yourself (if you had the ingredients), if you are aged 16 or over"

My understanding of a cooked meal for this criteria (when I used to fill in forms many years ago) involves preparing veg - chopping, cleaning, etc, lifting full saucepans on and off the hob, and bending down the oven to put things in and takes things out...

Could your son do all of this ?

Yes he could do all this if he wasn't lazy I think although part of the syndrome also means that he can't turn his left hand/arm round for example he can't face his the palm of his hand towards the ceiling he can only turn it half way so he is restricted sometimes with the manouvre in his arm like he wasnted to learn to play the guitar but his left hand cannot reach the strings he doesn't have enough movement in it, but I am sure the dla would not care if he can play guitar or not

Conor_3

dmg24 wrote: »

You are now accusing mae of pushing him into it, and suggesting that he may have a fatal accident!

Where? And yes, a fatal accident from the scenario I've posted is possible. After the thick end of 2 million miles driving, I've seen enough of them.

dmg24 wrote: »

I would take a step back from this Conor and see how your comments look to others. I have no doubt that mae has nothing but the best of intentions for her son, and your comments are not nice and not helpful.

Perhaps you should get your head out of your backside and take a real look at what is said instead of a typical handwringing Daily Wail "Ooh, how dare he say something negative about a disabled person" PC view. Well welcome to the real world where people with certain disabilities shouldn't do certain things for their own and others benefit such as someone with colour blindness being an electrician. It ain't a good idea.