Autism Assessment - Compulsory FSW and Parenting Classes

[PenguinPandas]

DS's school want him to have an autism assessment - both this school and last and Ed Psych thought he's autistic. No issues at home. Go to doctors and they say they don't do referrals after making us wait 2 months for first appointment as apparently its not urgent.

School gave me details of who does assessment and phoned them and they say school or doctors should refer. School are doing but place told us they reject most referrals from doctors and that we need Ed Psych (got), EHA, Parenting Classes ?? and Family Support Worker before will meet us.

Seems like trying to make as difficult as possible and implying its terrible parenting despite fact issues just at school. Anything you can do about this or do you just have to put up with this?

Looks like they're under resourced and trying to put as many people off as possible. That's a really unfair process as most children don't get to see an ed psych. Our school refused. Complaining very loudly might work.

My Son has been referred by his Community Paed. My Go, My Health Visitor and Speech Therapist couldn't do it. I believe some Cahms can refer and some accept self referrals, However the services everywhere are struggling. Just not enough money.
We waited 2 years for the appt which finally happened on Monday.
Information is what you need, from every professional you can speak too. Do your area accept self several as some do. We found help from talking to others with SN kids in the local area a great help. Do you have access to Facebook. There are some fab groups on there you can turn to for advice.
Good luck with it. Xx

Thanks very much. We are lucky have already had ed psych via school - had a battle for that - had to call LEA SEND team who intervened and we got it. You need an EHA here to get that so have these two but think all these requirements before they will even see are to make it as difficult as possible to access help.

The compulsory parenting course on NT kids and compulsory FSW I think are very possibly breaking discrimination laws (as well as delaying process 6 months or so) so I did put a complaint in. It also seems to be wasting limited resources on things that won't help - I can't parent autism out of him - if it was a parenting course aimed at autistic children that might be useful but disagree with it being mandatory or delaying first meeting.

Though wish school would apply for EHCP without it, they seem to think its essential but its not. School have done cahms referral though doesn't really need this as no MH issues but at least its something though that will be taking resources from suicidal /self harming kids who can't get help so mixed feelings.

At least school are being more supportive now but its making it almost impossible for me to work due to number of times he's sent home, school refusal and appointments and DD is very ill now too. Guess it can only improve.

Not on Facebook though there's lovely Mums of SN kids on here and know some in RL and have talked to fair few professionals so that's fine. Glad you got your son seen. We did start process in old area but gave up but new area is so much worse - in old area it was a 2 year wait but just waiting mainly. They don't accept self referrals but school are doing referral and think they are best placed to do it.

Guess alternative is going private but expensive and they don't always accept them.

YOUR right over private diagnosis. We were told by Cahms ( we also didn't need to see them but went anyway as we didn't want to go against what the Doc wanted us to do and make it look like we went cooperating)
Cahms said they don't accept private diagnosis, as they felt people were paying for a diagnosis, not a fair assessment!
I was gobsmacked tbh. Surely it's taking the pressure off the waiting lists but not according to our Cahms!
I'm also surprised that your being made to feel your parenting skills aren't up to scratch! That's really sad. As if it's not hard enough just getting through each day with SN kids....That's the last thing you need.

My son's school have been fab, even though they don't have the resources to provide for him, they have don't their best and the Ehcp has mad a big difference. School advised me to request an Ehcp assessment. Their opinion was that the LA reject applications from schools as of course all schools need extra funding. They felt that a parent asking for funding was more likely to be assessed because the parent doesn't gain from it. It sort of makes sense I guess.
I agree over the time wasting you've suggested. Sounds really stupid to me to suggest you participate in all these costly courses before they will assess. Could it be worth ringing Ofsted for advice? I wonder if they have specifics on what should be offered and when??
Good luck with it!

Thanks very much - that's interesting about ehcps being more likely to be accepted if parents apply.

I saw on another thread that someone had been told they make the autism assessment as difficult as possible to weed out people just after DLA though there surely must be easier ways of getting £20 a week or whatever it is.

School are being OK now. They historically used to encourage SEN to leave as outstanding rated, head has changed but new head initially told us we should consider a special school. Pointed out he was very bright and there weren't any special schools for kids like him in state sector and she agreed and backed down and said he should be given a chance. She's since said she's met him and he's amazing so she now seems more on side. Initially we were told no funding for SEN support but called LEA SEND team and SENDIASS and support has now appeared - he only started in September but already has plan, reduced timetable, TA at times, adjustments, Ed Psych, cahms referral so they are on track now and seem to love him mostly. He does take a lot of resources though and school funding is cut to bone and so they desperately want ehcp. Only thing they do is send him home when he's not coping but that's gone down a lot. This week it was twice but nothing previous two months and last two weeks before that 100% fine. His sister has been very ill this week and was in hospital in December so whether he's worried about that don't know.

Hope you get your assessment and thanks so much for your help, all so stressful.