sorry to be banging on about this yet again but please can you tell me if the following letter is ok - all suggestions welcome. I took bits and pieces from everywhere. Before I send it, (which needs to be very soon) please could you tell me if it is correct?
Thanks in advance. x
Dear Ms XXXXXXX
I write in reply to your letter dated 10th August 2004 (XXXXXX). I was recently refused DLA for my son XXXXXX. I received notification by post and was informed that I should appeal by completing form GL24 which could be obtained from Job Centre Plus. I called them and requested a form but to date, have never received it. I then called DLA and requested the form from them which did arrive.
Wanting to know in more detail why my son had been refused DLA, I called the helpline number and was given the reasons for his refusal.
It is unclear as to where this information came from as it seemed very vague and on the whole, the majority of it is untrue. I was told that my son was “responding well to medication and is a lot calmer, that his speech and academic work is good, that he plays well in games and p.e. that he has good self-care, and good road safety which is age appropriate”. I was also told that my six year old son self medicates Ritalin.
Because p.e and games were mentioned, I am assuming that the school wrote a report which I did not receive a copy of (I requested a copy of my original DLA form from May). Along with the copy of the DLA form, I also received a copy of the letter that his Consultant Dr. XXXX had written, but there was nothing to indicate that there was a second report. I will be speaking to my son’s school when he returns on 2nd September to see if they can shed any light on this matter.
It seems that the details of the DLA form and that of the Consultant have been totally overlooked in favour of the as yet unseen second report. For this reason, I have requested a Reconsideration, as I feel strongly that my son is indeed entitled to DLA.
For the record, I would like to address the points raised in the decision. It is a fact that XXXXX NEEDS Ritalin to be able to lead a more “normal” life (he is currently on 10mg, 3 times a day) and to cope with everyday life. It is the ONLY reason he is still attending mainstream school as prior to his diagnosis, he was at the stage where he was going to be excluded from two nursery schools and his current school. The school is more able to deal with him now ONLY because he is taking Ritalin.
His speech and academic work has always been very good, however when the Ritalin wears off, it is a completely different story. Since starting school, he has been allocated a teaching assistant because of his needs as although he is a bright child academically, he lacks the social interaction skills that “normal” children have. He is now allowed to play games and p.e. at school – in his foundation year, they could not cope with his persistent hyperactivity and excluded him from all physical lessons.
I have to help XXXXX with his self care, although he does like to have a hand in it, I cannot let him do this by himself. His road awareness is atrocious. He could easily run out into the road if not restrained, and given that he self harms, this is a real concern.
Lastly, I was told that he self medicates…perhaps this is an issue that I should take up with Social Services? Depending on whether he is at school, at home or in the care of his childminder after school, he is GIVEN the tablet to place in his mouth by an adult or it is placed in his mouth. He is then watched whilst he swallows it with water to make sure he has taken it. At no time has he EVER self medicated and never will. With or without his special needs, he is a child of six and as such will never be given the chance to self medicate. (Only myself, his childminder and one of two assistants at his school are allowed to medicate XXXXX, and everything is logged fully at school and his childminders.) I would also like to point out that medicating my son with a drug such as Ritalin was not an easy decision to make and I resisted it for a long time and spoke to other parents whose children take it, but unfortunately it is the only option available to me, as without it, my sons life would be unbearable.
I was requested to enclose “evidence” of XXXXX’s disabilities which include photocopies of his Family Fund form, a school diary – prior to Ritalin – and the report from his Consultant (prior to Dr XXXX), Dr XXXXXX MBBS MRCP MRCPCH, before she went on Maternity Leave.
He was referred by Dr XXXXX to XXXXXXX at CAHMS for his self harming behaviour which we attend once or twice a month. Whilst we have been attending, no progress has been made with regard to his self harming or his violent behaviour.
To conclude, my son cannot be categorised simply as a child with special needs – he suffers from ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome and as such needs special attention, love and patience, 24 hours a day. His behaviour can be extremely aggressive either toward me or to himself and he has harmed himself and me on many, many occasions.
For the reasons stated above I would like you to review his case please. If you have any queries or require further help, please contact me via the following numbers: XXXXXXXXXXXX.
Many thanks
Yours sincerely
XXXXXXXXXXXX