PIP CHANGEOVER FROM DLA worring developments

Hi spoke again to DWP regarding my sons autism tonight.Again I do not understand, so any help would be great . summary below

Son diagnoised by lorn wing herself (wonderful lady)

Son then has diagnoises of autism and severe communication disorder.years of specialist appointments etc

 Son gets DLA and after DLA  tribunal ruling .JUDICAL REVIEW FOR HIS EDUCATION. court of law except he is autistic plus other disabilites  .

change of law from DLA to PIP form recieved

major fact :our son does not talk to people

Phoned atos to discuss

ATOS STATE"WE DO NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT IS AUTISTIC "

I ask what information they have , they said they were no made aware by DWP that he has autism and severe communication disorder.

I asked what information they have?

14 pieces of evidence  (would not confirm exactly what has been sent by the DWP) but did not have diagnosis ,  tribunal order, etc

So atos put me through to the DWP again

DWP stated that it is not required as part of the assessment  for the assessor to know his diagnosis .Assessor does not have to have mental health trainng/autism training .

WHY? how can you assess without facts?

I  am awaiting surgery and feel this is completly wrong , how can i ask for a reasonable adjustment if the person making the decision is not made aware of his needs, diagnosis etc.

Is equality law dead? where are my sons rights , where do we we do nex?

  • Thankyou for your post I cannot understand the logic ,I am sure lorna wing and the experts who assessed him would be in utter disray.

      How can you have a diagnoisis that the DWP not included in evidence? how do they expect the assessor to make a reasonable adjustment ? or is that the point? is equality dead ?

  • This just keeps happening. And it will keep happening until someone takes it seriously. (I was reprimanded by NAS for being too negative, but how are we supposed to feel when these questions keep coming to the forum because NAS cannot otherwise deal with it?).

    In an educational context I saw young adults with marked autism and not the slightest outward indications of it - you had to get to know them to see the signs. I also encountered people with mild actual autism but very conspicuous behaviours. It is that variable - so how come any panel or tribunal can determine need without a diagnosis to back it up is beyond comprehension.

    I still insist it is the Triad of Impairments that is at fault. It is a diagnostic tool, not a blueprint for living with autism. Yet it is used regardless in training packs and training courses for all kinds of professionals including the numbskulls at DWP.

    The Triad implies that you can see obvious symptoms in a short interview. It was designed around diagnosis of children and teenagers who were in difficult peer environments, and hadn't developed any coping strategies or compensations. So the characteristics described would tend to be fairly obvious.

    Does this really apply to adults who, in order to get along in a difficult life have endeavoured to modify their behaviour, become less obvious to avoid ridicule and criticism, etc?

    The Triad implies you will see/hear echolalia, pedantic speech, inappropriate loudness or quietness of speech, monotonous speech, using wrong words etc. It leads professionals to expect to see people conspicuously failing to make eye contact, conspicuously wrong or blank facial expression, very obvious preoccupation with narrow interests etc.

    And if the panel doesn't see this you haven't got autism.

    Well that's what keeps happening. But training packs and courses are still being provided based on the Triad being readily detectable, when it adults it most certainly is not reliable!

    And NAS can accuse me of being overly negative, but these instances keep coming up on this forum, whereby it is clear approaching NAS helpline hasn't helped.

    This needs a fundamental change in training of professionals, and that means a fundamental refiorm of how the Triad is used - and too often abused.

  • Hi sorry  need to add

    I need to add DWP comment "the caseworker chooses what information is sent to ATOS"

       This does not include his diagnosis !!