DLA - Do I claim?

[Anna85]

Hello, I am new on here and my DS has recently been diagnosed with a ASD more on the high functioning scale. He is 5 in December and just started Reception.

I have had it mentioned that I may be able to claim DLA. I feel that I do give my DS more care as I would another child his age, being I feel I constantly have to watch him and where is he going so he doesn't come to harm, most days have to dress him as or really really promt him and keep saying it. Doesn't have any interests so keeping his concentration is hard. Most nights not asleep very early and then up around 6am wanting to know who is picking him up from school etc.

Out and about is a nightmare as he will either run off into roads etc or on the other end not walk at all and I keep having to prompt him. I cannot go in the local shop as when in the queue he is always running about etc.

Just wondered everyone elses opinion and experiences of DLA.

Its the fact that he doesn't respond when being called etc. I have had to forms for 2 weeks now and keep debating it!!! I feel I do but a lot have said the process is stressful!

It's not easy to get for ASD but it depends a lot on how you phrase things and how much detail you include. There's a good guide to claiming on the Cerebra website. You can get support from an advice worker if there's a local CAB or Carer's organisation in your area.

Hi Anna85 I would definitely apply.My ds1 aged 5 has High functioning autism.I recieve low rate mobility and high rate care for him.The extra money is so helpful.I filled out the form myslef and just used the guidelines on the cereba website.I was upset when it was awarded that some complete stranger felt that ds1 needed that level of care and i warn you it really isn't a nice form to fill out.

I downloaded the Cerebra pack! The specialist HV is coming tomorrow from the hospital so she said she would help me!!

I have a 2 year old and thats how I tell that I give my DS much more care and supervision!!! x

My DS is 15 and has Aspergers. We only claimed this year but got it first time.
The Cerebra guide is very good. I know quite a few people with children with ASD who get it so don't be put off.
As some people have said on other threads you get so used to what you have to do for your DC that it becomes "normal".
Give it a go anyway.
Have heard some people say they asked a friend with a NT child to keep a diary of the help they give their child over a given period and then compare notes on how much help their DC has over the same period.
I got the forms three years ago and didn't fill them in but wish I had now.

Anna that's what i did when i filled out the form i compared a lot of what ds1 couldn't do(then aged 4) to what ds2 could do (then aged 3).You have nothing to lose filling it in.Good luck.

Sorry to sound stupid what does NT mean?

Thanks...still getting used to all the terms used etc as only got diagnosed 2 weeks ago although from birth its been difficult with my DS x

Also do they write to to school etc do I have to tell them I am claiming?! x

You don't have to tell the school you are claiming but it might be helpful to ask them to do a statement as a person who knows your child well. If you don't like what they put you don't have to send it in, but what my DS' SENCo put was definitely helpful.
There is a space on the form asking for the contact at school but as our application was over the summer holidays I got the SENCo statement before school broke up.
In our case they didn't even contact the GP or consultant.

I've just done my draft copy for dla for ds2 asd/as.
I based a lot of my answers on how much help dd needs in comparison with ds2.. She is four years younger... Things like I don't need to physically hold her back from road edges or steer her through people when shopping.. she is a lot more independant at 7 years old in personal hygene and dressing than ds who is about to have his 12 th birthday.

Whether I get dla or not .. They can only say no.
:)

I'm in a similar quandary about whether to apply for DLA for DS1, who is now 14.

He has full-time help available at school (32.5 hours) and a place in an ASD unit attached to mainstream, BUT: we don't actually need the money, as DH is in work and I'm self-employed, so I'd feel like a fraud;

and frankly, he's so easy-going at home now that the schooling suits him, I suspect he's less work than the average teenager.

The thing is, though, he doesn't do half the things an ordinary teenager would do. Doesn't go out unaccompanied, doesn't head off into town, doesn't have his friends round (unless I arrange it, with huge frettning on his part), doesn't do any clubs or activities, can only shop if he doesn't need to make eye contact, can't ask for help, will only talk on the phone if he's sure who it is, and not always then.

Can't see how DLA would help him do any of that. But his school think we should apply now and set a precedent for when he's older, as he is unlikely to manage an independent life despite his intelligence and talents.

Sorry to hijack, Anna, it's just on my mind a lot at the moment.

Definately worth applying my ds recieves HRC and LRM but when filling in the forms use comparison of another child (NT) of the same age.

Lancelottie Do apply.It isn't means tested and even if you don't need the money you are paying into the system through your taxes anyway. We didn't get it until recently and DS is 15.
You can always save it up for him for something he might need in the future.

Thanks. I suppose I'm just not sure what on earth I'd put on it! But that probably just means I'm not helping him to stretch himself enough to do all the things a normal teenager WOULD want to do (fret, fret).

Actaually, I'm not sure we know many 'normal' teenagers the same age, as he's at a school nearly 20 miles away and our other kids are younger.

Does cooking separate food count? I mean, he doesn't need it for medical reasons, just extreme picky eating.