We have recently started fostering and have a 12 year old girl placed with us.
Since th first day she came with us, I picked up on classic autism traits. But my concerns were dismissed by social worker as apparently a CAHMs assessment she had while living with her mum, said all her behavioural issue were environmental.
When she arrived she was unable to wash her self or brush her teeth properly. But upon putting in quite a structured routine, she's doing really with those things.
But her social skills are pretty bad. She doesn't understand when it's innappropriate to ask certain things, she repeats thoughts and opinions that have been said by either us or her social worker, even when the things are against what I think she actually wants because I don't think she understands the situation or what's being asked of her.
She desperately wants friends but doesn't know how to make them.
She doesn't understand jokes, sarcasm, inference, the notion of time, taking turns in conversations. And she seems confused when she's told she's being rude. She genuinely seems to not mean to be.
We gave her a drinks flask to use when she first came and now she will only drink out of that cup.
She's obsessed with 'gacha Life' a game on her phone. And zones out whenever she's allowed on that or her DS to play Pokémon. But struggles to focus on anything else.
She can't pour her water without spilling it. And her diet is very limited.
Her school have now requested we instigate a referral from GP to get her an autism screening. So it's not just us seeing the traits.
I know her birth mum has been stating she believes she has autism for years but it's always been dismissed as she has rejected her from early on and then refused to engage with the CAHMS assistance that was offered.
And as I said initially, her social worker is adamant she doesn't have autism as CAHMS stated the issues are all environmental.
Could CAHMs be wrong? I have booked an appointment with GP so I am hoping we can get her some help whether it's autism related or not. But I'm just trying to get my head round it all.