ASD and DLA - first timer.

[nicand2]

Hello,

My DS is 2.5 and wax dx 6 months ago, we had another apt with the paed yesterday who said is is mid way along the scale with very little social understanding. I have applied for DLA and I was just wondering what level is likely to be applied. He can walk fine but has no sense of danger etc so will run off and the paed seemed to thing his running was slightly 'loose' so I don't know if that means we will qualify for any motibilty benefit.

Also an orange badge has been mentioned which would be a god send as he gets very anxious at supermarkets etc has anyone else been given this for ASD's

I'm all very new to this and a bit over whelmed.

Hi nicand2, welcome to Mumsnet.

My DS is 4 and also has ASD, he goes to a SLD special school.

The same as your DS, my DS has no sense of danger and is a runner/escaper.

We get higher rate DLA and Mobility for him, although we did have to ask them to reconsider his claim a couple of times to get this. We contacted our local DIAC (disability information and advice centre) who told sent us some information from the Disability Rights Hanbook 06/07 about claiming mobility on the basis of severe mental impairment.

I can find this for you if you like.

Oh I forgot, we also have a blue badge for him, which we got without any problems.

Which makes shopping etc a lot easier.

Ds2 (ASD) was awarded higher rate for the care component of DLA. He was then 2yrs old and had just got his dx. I think you can get higher rate if your child needs a lot of supervision/care at night as well as during the day. Ds2 was frequently awake until midnight and later and would then also wake up several times during the night too.

Their awards don't always make sense though. Ds1 (also ASD) was further along the scale than his brother when dx'ed but was awarded middle-rate care when I first applied for him.

It can be very difficult to get the mobility component at 2yrs as the DLA people will argue that all 2yr-olds have no sense of danger, run off into the road etc (Ds1 was awarded the mobility componenent in his 2nd application at 6yrs old). I think some MNers have had some success with this though so hopefully they will be able to advise you.

We don't have a car so I know absolutely nothing about the badges.

In my experience high night time requirements are a pre-requisite for getting the higher rate. We were reassessed recently and now get higher rate plus mobility and I was told by our local money advice unit that the fact my son is awake 3 hours a night, needs constant supervision and nappy changes in this time is why the higher rate has been applied. Good luck with the claim - dispute it if you are not happy with the outcome.