What rate of mobility am I likely to get?

[Imsuchamess]

Dd cannot walk 50meters . She runs out into the road and will not hold a hand as she dislikes contact. She flops to the floor in any busy area and covers her ears with her hands. She walks on tip toe and sometimes shuffles so walks slower than my two year old. For the above reasons we use a buggy she is 5 end of this months what rate mobility would you say she is likely to get?

She can actually only walk about 10metres.

What is it that stops her from walking? Is it a physical disability or a behaviour disorder? When you say she cannot walk more than 10 metres, is that because she physically cannot or behaviourally won't. What happens if she does try to walk further. Does she used a wheelchair or mobility aid in the house or at school? Is she at mainstream or special school?

It's really difficult to answer but most of the time, behaviour disorders (such as autism), tend to get the lower rate. It's only the most severely autistic children who get the higher rate. Having said that, it's not unheard of. I know a few on high rate, but most have additional factors such as epilepsy or visual impairment.

Have you already applied?

It is very difficult to get high rate but not impossible! My ds is 6 and has severe learning difficulties and ASD he can walk but has refusal episodes and no sense of danger. He was awarded high rate on the grounds of severe mental impairment, I was expecting it to be turned down and to have to appeal as so few people get high rate but he was awarded it straight away.

I am confused by your op though - you say dd can only walk 10 meters but also say she runs into the road? You need to be very clear in how you word the claim form..............

Thank you she has asd. After ten meters she flops to the floor and refuses to walk further.

There are four ways to get High Rate Mobility:

1. The claimant is physically unable to walk.
2. To walk a reasonable distance would be medically unsafe (e.g. brittle asthma, cardiac conditions) although physically possible.
3. The claimant is 'virtually unable to walk given the time, speed, distance and manner of walking'.

This is widely interpreted. If the claimant can walk 100 metres then rest for 30 seconds and walk again, it wouldn't meet the test. If someone can physically travel 250 metres but it takes them 30 minutes, they probably would be considered 'virtually unable to walk'. Or if they can walk 250 metres but will trip over 6 times, etc.

1. The claimant has 'Severe Mental Impairment' with 'Severe Behavioural Problems' and requires restraint to keep him/herself or others safe.

This test is pretty extreme. To succeed, the claimant must qualify for High Rate Care, because to succeed in the 'Severe Behavioural problems' test, the claimant must need someone to watch over them whenever they are awake.

Severe Mental Impairment is that which results in severe impairment of intelligence and mental functioning.

She sounds similar to DD who gets high rate.

Can you get a letter from paed to support your case?

Dd (severe asd and LD) is the same. We got low rate mobility (and even that was a battle).

as others said, high rate mobility is very difficult to get for Asd.

Thanks all she already receives hrc.

Ds can only walk a few meters or less before he falls over or needs to stop due to pain (discomfort!), he has hypermobility syndrome. He was turned down for the mobility element as he 'can actually walk' I wouldn't get your hopes up to be honest as I really don't think they know what they are doing.

I get low rate mobility for ds 9 he needs hand holding crossing roads he has hfa

Yes. DD1 is 8.7 now. She did get HRM for a couple of years because they decided that she met the virtually criteria.

Now, she can walk a bit further and although she does the sitting down in the road, needs hand holding near roads and uses her buggy, etc., she gets LRM.

Have you already put the application in OP?

Yes I've sent it off. Thanks for all replies.