Autism assessment

[anyhelpplease]

Hi,

My DD is 14years old and currently on the waiting list for an ASD assessment. We have been told this can take 2 years plus.

She is currently having issues with school attendance due to anxiety around the school environment as she struggles with certain sounds and large crowds. She also struggles with social interaction with new people.

We have tried pushing CAMHS but seem to be getting no where. I have looked into a private assessment but this is going to cost £1950 which I cannot afford.

Can anyone advise on anything I can do to help speed up the process? She is approaching her GCSE's and the school is limited in what they can offer without an EHCP, which she can't get until she has a diagnosis. I feel like we are going from pillar to post and there is no end in sight.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You can absolutely get an EHCP without a diagnosis - who told you otherwise?

Look at the IPSEA website and apply for the EHCP yourself.

As HighVoltageBun posted, you don’t need a diagnosis to get an EHCP. They are based on needs, not diagnosis. I second IPSEA, too. Also SOSSEN.

Even without an EHCP the school has a duty to make their best endeavours to meet DD’s SEN.

In addition to an EHCNA, the LA have a statutory duty under s.19 of the Education Act 1996 to provide alternative education for pupils unable to attend school. This provision should begin once it becomes clear the pupil will miss 15 days, with ongoing condition the days do not have to be consecutive, they can be cumulative.

@HighVoltageBun

You can absolutely get an EHCP without a diagnosis - who told you otherwise?

Look at the IPSEA website and apply for the EHCP yourself.

It was the SENCO at her school that told us she wouldn't be able to get an EHCP as she was too bright!

Thank you so much, will have a look at that now!

Academically able DC can have EHCPs. DS1 and DS3 are both academically able but both have EHCPs.

Schools and LAs often ell parents their DC won’t get or don’t need an EHCP but the parents go on to successfully apply themselves.

@Imitatingdory

Academically able DC can have EHCPs. DS1 and DS3 are both academically able but both have EHCPs.

Schools and LAs often ell parents their DC won’t get or don’t need an EHCP but the parents go on to successfully apply themselves.

I will definitely try applying for it myself, I just took their word that she wouldn't be able to get one.

Trying to push CAMHS doesn't seem to be working, I have been contacting them almost daily and am just being told that I have to wait for them to call back

The benefit of an EHCNA if the LA agree to assess is it can include psychiatrist &/or clinical psychologist assessments without the need to sit on the normal waiting lists.

Then EHCPs themselves can include MH therapies, again without the need to sit on normal waiting lists and usually at a greater frequency and longer length of time than otherwise typically available.

Your local sendiass service may also be of help. They are usually part of but independent from the LA I think.

Be careful with SENDIASS, some are good but too many repeat their LA’s unlawful policies. They receive LA funding so aren’t completely independent and will ultimately toe the party line. ISPEA and SOSSEN are better imo.

Ok - sorry, mine were good. I didn't know some aren't.

school is limited in what they can offer without an EHCP, which she can't get until she has a diagnosis.

This is wrong on so many levels!

Read the Code of Practice 2015 - school should be implementing a graduated response. In the meantime - apply for an EHCP yourself.

When you apply for the EHCP, it’s helpful for the panel if you outline her needs across the four areas.

Communication and interaction
Think about… Speech difficulties, delayed speech. Expressive and receptive needs. Social interaction. Turn taking, starting/maintaining conversations. Understanding of pragmatic language, idioms, sarcasm. The impact of her needs on her daily life.

Social, emotional and mental health
Think about… Relationships with peers and adults. Self esteem and confidence. Emotional well-being. Emotional regulation - quick to anger? Able to self soothe? Negative self talk. Self harm. Ability to recognise, label, and discuss emotions. The impact of her needs on her daily life.

Physical and sensory
Medical diagnoses (or pathway). Fine and gross motor skills. Sensory preferences - either sensory seeking behaviours or sensory avoiding. The impact of these.

Cognition and learning
Think about… executive function. Planning and organisation for tasks/personal belongings. Cognitive ability. Attainment scores. Working memory. Processing. The impact of these.

Then you can also mention:

Independence needs
Able to travel on public transport? Read a timetable? Confident to shop? Age appropriate skills re dressing, cooking and so on. The impact of these.

Hope this helps

What I mean is - yes you can just submit a template letter asking for an EHCNA. But if you can provide an outline of her needs in these areas - and indicate how these needs aren’t currently being met in school - that will be very helpful for the panel.

Your SENCo should be ashamed of herself.

Finally, a lot of needs overlap in different areas. For example, school non attendance could fit in SEMH or in cognition. Difficult talking about feelings could fit in Communication or SEMH. That’s ok. The Ed Psych’s job is to untangle them in the different areas as part of the assessment. Don’t worry too much about it at this stage, just include as much info as you can to begin with. And include any previous professional reports, as much ‘evidence’ as you have.

Hope that has been helpful @anyhelpplease?

@SENstuff

Hope that has been helpful *@anyhelpplease*?

This has been very helpful, thank you so much for all your advice!

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