Hi
My 15 year old daughter is awaiting an ASD assessment and the school will not offer any help until a diagnosis is made. I have insisted on a meeting but am unsure of how to approach this or what to ask for (I am autistic and have difficulty in meetings, conversing, absorbing info etc).
As the school feels she is academically 'ok' and not displaying traits at school they are not in agreement with my requesting an assessment. They are very dismissive even though I have been telling them for 2 years there are issues and my daughter may be 'ok' but she could be even better if they only listened.
Does she have to have a diagnosis before help is given? I have been trying to speak to someone at various helplines but never any answers.
These are her main issues at present.
Lack of focus and distracted very easily.
In exam hall she is very distracted by noise and invigilators walking around, can hear clock ticking, other students shuffling etc. She has to restart any questions once distracted which means she is not completing all her questions on time. Her school do not offer quiet rooms.
She takes everything literally and so has difficulty answering some questions.
She has trouble breaking tasks down.
She needs instructions broken down into manageble parts.
She has OCD which is worsening daily.
She cries all the time at night.
Because at school she is very quiet and hard working the teachers say nothing is wrong. The senco lead says he has 20 years of experience but is failing my daughter as he is not registering my input regarding masking etc. I have told him that teens are known to 'cope' at school and then emotionally collapse at home but nothing.
All I want is for my daughter to get the help she deserves and to do the very best she can.
Any advice please would be greatly appreciated.
S
