Help and advise needed in West Sussex

Hi Chelleypop,

   I don't want to overwhelm you with literature, but if she does get a diagnosis, 'Living well on the Spectrum' By Valerie Gaus maybe of some help.

The book is designed as a work-book to help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesss, but with an emphasis on using those strengths. This book has proved really helpful for those wanting to manage their lives more proactivily and promotes identifying weakness as a positive tool to reduce anxiety, by being able to identify triggers and learning ones own limits.

I must stress again, Sarah Hendrickx does not diagnose, but does use standard assessment to calclate probability. She is well respected and her experience (Over 300) goes well beyond Tony Attwoods reccommendations for assessment (100) of those with ASD.

Her findings do not replace a clinical diagnosis, but in my view, (and it is only that.) having such an assessment can allow targeted support to be implimented way sooner than the pace the NHS move at. Even if it has to be personally driven.

By that I mean, that she can start to access some support from therapists, mentors or societies which can advise her rather than wait for the NHS and loose valuable intervention time. For me, at such a low ebb, this was invaluable!

Ref: stateofindependance comment. 'I am rubbish at maths, but this looks like quite a good business strategy to me!'

I cannot see things in quite the same light.

When those like Chelleypop's daughter reach rock bottom; as she has described, their is nothing remotely 'business strategy like' about it!

Mental health care and indeed assessment for those in need of ASD support is often poor at best, with many suffering prolonged periods of inadequate care and significant anxiety due to delays in diagnosis and even mis-diagnosis. Their is no doubt these failures cost lives and when a concerned parent tells a forum her daughter is at rock bottom, she needs to be heard, offered support and her daughters well-being considered!

My late brother; also an OCD sufferer, bless him, don't get the right support in time for him and it cost him his life.

Having been through the process myself, i know only too well what a difference timely support can make.

It's true that for some a formal diagnosis is necessary to access certain rights under the equality act etc, but for others, (and this is true of many late diagnosed adults) the knowledge alone is enough to carry them through the balance of their lives with a good family and friend network of understanding and support.

In my view assessment needs to be a tool for which a plan can be formulated to assist and support a persons needs, not a business strategy to dispel potential ridicule. Fogive me, but your comment sounds somewhat calculated.

Indeed, assessment of Chelleypop's daughter may rule out ASD, but rulling things in is not the only focus, ruling things out is equally valuable if you are looking for the correct support.

The most important step however, is what you do with that information.

Chelleypop I wish you all the best.

Just ask if we can be of any more help.

Coogybear

Hi Chelleypop,

   I don't want to overwhelm you with literature, but if she does get a diagnosis, 'Living well on the Spectrum' By Valerie Gaus maybe of some help.

The book is designed as a work-book to help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesss, but with an emphasis on using those strengths. This book has proved really helpful for those wanting to manage their lives more proactivily and promotes identifying weakness as a positive tool to reduce anxiety, by being able to identify triggers and learning ones own limits.

I must stress again, Sarah Hendrickx does not diagnose, but does use standard assessment to calclate probability. She is well respected and her experience (Over 300) goes well beyond Tony Attwoods reccommendations for assessment (100) of those with ASD.

Her findings do not replace a clinical diagnosis, but in my view, (and it is only that.) having such an assessment can allow targeted support to be implimented way sooner than the pace the NHS move at. Even if it has to be personally driven.

By that I mean, that she can start to access some support from therapists, mentors or societies which can advise her rather than wait for the NHS and loose valuable intervention time. For me, at such a low ebb, this was invaluable!

Ref: stateofindependance comment. 'I am rubbish at maths, but this looks like quite a good business strategy to me!'

I cannot see things in quite the same light.

When those like Chelleypop's daughter reach rock bottom; as she has described, their is nothing remotely 'business strategy like' about it!

Mental health care and indeed assessment for those in need of ASD support is often poor at best, with many suffering prolonged periods of inadequate care and significant anxiety due to delays in diagnosis and even mis-diagnosis. Their is no doubt these failures cost lives and when a concerned parent tells a forum her daughter is at rock bottom, she needs to be heard, offered support and her daughters well-being considered!

My late brother; also an OCD sufferer, bless him, don't get the right support in time for him and it cost him his life.

Having been through the process myself, i know only too well what a difference timely support can make.

It's true that for some a formal diagnosis is necessary to access certain rights under the equality act etc, but for others, (and this is true of many late diagnosed adults) the knowledge alone is enough to carry them through the balance of their lives with a good family and friend network of understanding and support.

In my view assessment needs to be a tool for which a plan can be formulated to assist and support a persons needs, not a business strategy to dispel potential ridicule. Fogive me, but your comment sounds somewhat calculated.

Indeed, assessment of Chelleypop's daughter may rule out ASD, but rulling things in is not the only focus, ruling things out is equally valuable if you are looking for the correct support.

The most important step however, is what you do with that information.

Chelleypop I wish you all the best.

Just ask if we can be of any more help.

Coogybear