I have JUST finished DS3's application. It's being sent back tomorrow. I've never bothered with the older DC's, thought it too time consuming and difficult as they don't yet have FORMAL ASD dxd, though a whole host of other dxd issues that point to possible ASD.
The Cerebra guide certainly helped me, and we shall see if DS3 gets awarded any DLA.
He has multiple life threatening allergies that limit him from playing in a park, going to toddler groups, going to preschool (no MS will touch him when the allergies are combined with his other SN's, and even one SN Nursery turned him down...).
He was dxd as 'hyperactive with a high probability of ADHD' at just 21mo. He has NEVER slept for more than 4 hours at a time in his whole life. He is awake for a 3-4 hr period in the night, every night. He climbs out of the pram, and runs in the road, climbs over stairgates, throws himself off things and out of windows, is reckless and has NO sense of danger or self-preservation.
His assessment for Autism will be done in May when he will only be 27mo.
He also has over a years' worth of receptive and expressive speech delay, and communicates using a combination of single words (very few), Makaton, PECS and gestures.
If I don't at least get high rate care to cover his night time needs when he needs constant supervision from the moment he wakes at around midnight / 1am until he goes back to sleep around 3am / 4.30am, I WILL be appealing.
I don't expect to get anything towards his mobility yet, even though he requires far more supervision outside the house than other 2yo's, because he isn't 3yo yet. But if I get anything for that, it will be a bonus because then I can buy him a Crelling harness that he can't get out of, and it might help.
I'm hoping also for the HRC because of the extortionately stonking cost of buying specialist food to cater for his allergies, as it costs me £60-£70 a week just for HIS food alone...
We shall see!!