So..... apparently parents with ADHD children are "unscrupulous". Still if it paves the way for cutting DLA then that's okay - after all we're just milking the system

[DillyDaydreaming]

here

What a pile of shite.

My son received his ADHD diagnosis alongside one of ASD. I didn't SEEK the diagnosis and never even considered it until the paediatrician brought it up. The paediatrician based that opinion on extensive observations and reports of my DS - it certainly was not "just a tick box" affair. Even then it was not conformed for several months for further observations and assessments.

And if the head teacher quoted is SO sure it's just a parent milking the system why is she aiding a positive diagnosis by ticking her "tick boxes" in a positive way>

Stupid bloody woman - just hope she never gets withing 100 feet of MY son because with teachers like that he needs NO enemies. In fact she might wish to meet my son - he is NOT disruptive/bouncing off the walls. Instead he is much quieter and struggles to maintain focus and attention enough to understand the curriculum without visual aids and support. Nor is he on any medication.

What a shite report and what a shite head teacher. We are not all milking the system - as a mother and as a health professional I can tell you there are many more of us who don't seek a diagnosis because we don't suspect ADHD until it is suggested.

Still if it makes people feel more friendly to the idea of cutting DLA I assume that's okay with Shiney Dave and his pals in power.

And fwiw - all assessments of my DS suggest he will do well in life - he will work (just as I do), pay taxes (just as I do) but hey - lets stuff ALL parents doing their best - shuffle them all into the "shit parents" pile and cut off all support - that'll learn em!

I mentioned this in a thread months ago!

No one believed me. I was evil incarnate that day.

That some unscrupulous parents were pushing for an unnecessary dx to get a higher rate of benefits.

It doesn't benefit teachers to deny disabilities though, they lose funding that way!

So instead of gaining funding by having SN children at the school they lose it from elsewhere and end up with less?

Thats interesting because ds" school is about to become an Academy. At the meeting a parent asked about sn provision and how it would affect funding. We were told that currently sn funding comes directly from la but once academy status is achieved the school will receive a budget which it will administer as it sees necessary but will of course make any sn provision necessary.

From that im guessing that your school is already an Academy?

I live in Germany and ADHD alongside other similar profile, complicated to diagnose conditions are all looked for in mandatory pediatric check-ups which continue until children here are in their teens.

Doctors here have conversations with kids about; their eating habits, how much TV, video games and computers play a role in their lives. Its a long term preventative approach which takes all children into account, plays a role in educating broadly the society on healthy behaviours, and facilitates early diagnoses where required to prevent conditions escalating out of control for anyone affected.

Obviously the net doesn't catch everyone, but it does speak to a more joined up approach... if you haven't been taking your kids to regular check-ups through out their developing years then its more difficult to demonstrate a random case of ADHD for example. This system requires a number of professionals over a long period alongside parents to come to these sorts of diagnoses.

I don't think the 5live report looks left to right across this issue, and the token anecdotal evidence from a handful of headteachers whose subjective opinions are otherwise unqualified, is insufficient to make a valuable decision about whether parents are inappropriately abusing a benefit they could be entitled to.

The undefined cost to society of mental health issues in young and mature adults that go undiagnosed and lead to more serious consequences is far greater than the cost of providing early medication, support and where appropriate, benefits.

"My Sister in law lives on a council estate, where the mothers are telling each other how to get the kids diagnosed and what you need to do to get the most amount of money. So what they are reporting really is happening"

Well, mothers on the SN board here swap tips on how to get a diagnosis and how to fill out the DLA forms to get the most money. Because otherwise it can take years to get a diagnosis, with the children getting worse in the meantime, and the DLA forms are a bugger to fill in and many parents have to go to tribunal so of course they need advice on how to do it.

plantfamily has your SIL ds been diagnosed with anything? The forms are not just a case of put a load of stuff down and they'll give you some money.

If she has been awarded dla that means professionals who know his case are in agreement that he has additional needs.

It is thanks to head teachers and people like her, why us parents sruggle to get the support for our kids with adhd. We are not bad parents, yes we can struggle with the childrens impulsive behaviour and lack of concentration. Just like some teachers who have no training struggle to teach our children. The kids dont want to be different. They are iintellegent individualss who the "every child matters2 REALLY DOESNT INCLUDE!. We are not gett them diagnoses for benefits. Those that do get them use them to replave the furniture or our cause the walls the kids destroy or damage. To pay for babysitters who can cope with the impulsive behaviour....you try getting one....its not easy.....to get the child the help they need to become a rounded education.

I find this subject hard I dont understand how these families get away scot free... why do these kids deserve more than any other and why can these parents not work termtime as others have to.

I think not all but most have found this loopwhole which pays carers if there is a disabled child and so they are jumping on it and recieveing 250 in tax credits per month extra and 50 per week as a carer thats 450 per child. Discusting why does that child deserve more than my child when he struggles with life just as much as others who are going through a difficult time?

tell me this if you had a birthday party and invited 15 children out of the 15, 4 of them had ADHD would you then give those children extra in their goody bags and an extra prize for the part games? im guessing the answer is no as you should treat all children equilly.

"I find this subject hard I dont understand how these families get away scot free... why do these kids deserve more than any other and why can these parents not work termtime as others have to."

That is incredibly short-sighted, loving. These children don't 'struggle with life as much as your DS does.' IF a parent gets carer's allowance (a whole £58 per week) then their child has been awarded at least mid-rate care component of DLA. This means that the child must:

"...satisfy one of the following conditions:

need frequent attention throughout the day in connection with your bodily functions.
need continual supervision throughout the day to avoid substantial danger to you or others.
need prolonged or repeated attention at night in connection with your bodily functions.
need another person to be awake at night for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals to watch over you in order to avoid substantial danger to you or others.

For the disability test for the highest rate DLA care component you must satisfy either of the following:

have one of the day needs and one of the night needs shown in the middle rate conditions.
you are terminally ill.

Children must satisfy one of the above tests but, in addition, their care, supervision or watching-over needs must also be greater than those of a child of the same age who is in normal physical and mental health."

The 'test' for children is more stringent than for adults.

DD1 is 6.4. I can't leave her unattended. At all. Or rather, I can, but if I do then there will be consequences. Even 5 minutes to go and brush my teeth this morning resulted in a whole bottle of washing up liquid being emptied into the sink because she 'wanted to make bubbles'.

What job do you think I could get? I have to be at home until 8.40 am because DD1's school transport picks her up from the house. I have to be home by 3.10pm because DD1's school transport drops her off shortly after. I have to be available to take her to the paediatrician, orthotics, visits from the learning disabilities nurse, social worker, etc. She has been ill on and off since January. No rhyme or reason, but ok for a week or two, then ill, then another virus, etc.

Despite DD1 being a danger to herself and her sisters when she can't cope with the busyness of home life, and us getting a care package from SS, DH has had to take a part-time job. Because, during term time, we get 4 hours SS support, 6 hours KIDS and 3 hours Homestart each week. Except that KIDS are only able to offer 3 hours now, because their funding is cut.

The trouble is, that KIDS all but disappears in the holidays, so we suddenly have a very frustrated little girl, who can't understand why her routine has been changed, and we have her home for an extra 35 hours per week, yet our care package drops to 7 hours per week (the 4 hours SS support and the 3 hours Homestart).

So, DH had to take a job that pays under £11k pa., but allows him to compres his hours in the holiday to help look after DD1.