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no statment

Mum of J

Hi its the first time i have come on line my son(10 years) was diagnosed a year ago has ASD not Aspergers but was told he was nearist their on spectrum for when looking up info by doctor. He struggles with writing i have noticed this is not helped by the fact he continually reads through all he has writen often ever few words, and often writes over words again. He was recently turned down for staitmenting as he is very bright but i am worried as he goes up to senior school in a year and he will struggle moving from class room to class room. The class he is in at the moment has a high level of statmented children so although they see him as not needing support he has had it since reception. I was also told on a corse i went on we should be claming DLA but i can noy see how has he has no physical needs other than any other child of his age. any advice would be very welcome Thank you.

  • The form has to be based on how your child is for most of the time. Therefore, by doing it on their worst day, you're claiming they need more help than they get. The help must be reasonable. It doesn't matter who provides the help.

    When you do the form, you need to break each activity down. For example - getting dressed. Can your child pick out suitable and clean clothes? Will they dress themsleves or do you have to do it? Do you need to remind them that they need to change their clothes? And so on. I think there are tick boxes on the form to help you with that.

    You have to spell it out for them. They are not going to assume that your child with ASD has problems with communicating or getting around out doors, etc.

  • I'd try for DLA as well. See if your local authority have a "quids for special kids" project - this may just be Devon's name for it, but i think its national supported by the CAB. A lady came out and filled in the form with us. I also thought i wouldn't be eligiable as he has no obvious physical difficulties, but the more you talk though what you do for your ASC child the more you realise you've just got used to living like that and other parents of the same age child dont have to do - constant vigilance when out, bathing, personal care, sleep settling etc (mines 9 now and we still have to do all this). We haven't heard whether we'll be awarded it yet but the CAB lady thought we should at least get the lower level. I also felt uncomfortable about taking benefits when we are luckily a financially secure family. But she recommended using it for an enabler to support him at cubs and football so that he can continue to attend mainstream activities, giving us a break as well. Or investing it for when he is a teenager and his peers are getting saturday jobs but he wont be likely to cope with a saturday job (he's be a dreadful babysitter, shop assistant, bar man or waiter - doesn't care what anyone else wants!). Also with all proposed benefit cuts its being advices to apply now before they start cutting child DLA. 

    As for a statement, it doesn't matter now bright he is, if he is struggling to cope with school and joining in with mainstream lessons, he needs help. We were advised to keep a daily log of feedback from his class teacher, so that you and the school can have a realistic picture of his participation. And yes at 10 he needs to be in the system before secondary school. Good luck, let battle begin!

  • I'd certainly try for dla.  If the form's still the same as I remember it, it was more interested in physical problems.  Eg : Q:  do you have problems with hearing?  I wrote my son had problems with noise sensitivity and gave examples. Q: how far can you walk?(or similar).  Reply : I can walk a long way but I cannot go out to do that without help.  You answer the qs in that way, lateral thinking.  As your son's moving into secondary school soon, I'd definitely push for a statement so he can get the extra help he may need. bw

  • How is it fraud, so last week my daughter slept all night twice this is the first time in a year if she falls a sleep before 12 she has slept through, so now do i put can sleep during night because she hasnt cince?

    1/5 times she will cope stood in a que of more than 2 people, so my worst day and an average day she cant?

    As parents we have days that we think we have turned a corner and imagining the problems our child has then bang they are there curled in a ball having a melt down, No parent wants to make out they cant cope with thier child but they need the support and sometimes financial is the only way so they can pay for activities 121 that an average child will do in a group, And no i dont get DLA as my husband is anti benifits but i am considering applying for it after the recent school holidays when my daughter has been asked to leave mainstream events, so we can fund 121 activities for her.

  • Worst day is fraud. You also need to prove that your son has needs that are either the same as a younger child or above that of a child of his age.

  • My daughter was diagnosed with AS over a year ago but our application for DLA was rejected as she was not 'severe' enough.  I am a teacher and there are a number of diagnosed children at our school who have been refused statements by our LEA...once again because they are not considered 'serious' disabilities.

    By all means apply for DLA, but it is far from automatic for children on ASD.

  • In our experience, DLA is readily available to anyone on the spectrum, as Autism is regarded as a disability.  Even if you don't think you qualify, do fill out a form (which will be available from the NAS), and you may be surprised!  I was advised to fill it out as the worst case scenario.......just describe your son's worst day ever.  You say he has 'no physical needs', but does he have awareness of danger?  How does he cope in a strange place?  All these things are included on the form.  Also, if you care for your son, you will probably qualify for Carers Allowance - ask the NAS about it. 

    Good luck!