Child Disability - Autism

[Megan43]

Hi all,

This is my first time ever posting on here but sort of at my wits end now.

My son who is 3 has been awarded HRC child disability but nothing under the mobility part. I accepted this and left it be however my Health Visitor has highlighted that I should contact them for a redetermination under mobility due to my sons needs with autism and global development delay (not officially diagnosed as we’ve been told we will be waiting up to 8 years for a neurodevelopmental assessment however very apparent that he has both) however the thought of fighting another battle fills me with such dread I can’t even describe.

He is 3 and a half and is non verbal, and has no sense of danger whatsoever so requires constant supervision as he totally lives in his own world unaware of anything around him. Everything is so unpredictable and even when outside he either refuses to walk, wants picked up, has a tantrum and a meltdown, lies on the ground, toe walks and falls, can’t walk in a straight line without being guided constantly or tries to bolt and run away. I’m absolutely drained and don’t know what I can do to help my son.

Has anyone done this and won or is it a waste of time? I’m so drained mentally, emotionally and physically with the every day battles regarding it all from assessments to applications that I feel I have no fight left in me anymore and don’t want to take on another challenge if it’s a waste of time

thank you all for reading
M x

At 3, it is only possible to get high rate mobility. Low rate mobility can’t be awarded until 5. You can see the ways a child can qualify for HRM CDP here.

The 2 ways for DC with GDD/autism can qualify are via virtually unable to walk or severely mentally impaired. This leaflet from Contact is based on DLA rather than Scottish CDP, but the rules are very similar so it is worth looking at. The SMI route will be hard without a diagnosis showing an “incomplete physical development of the brain“ or a state of “arrested development which results in severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning“.

Hi, my 4 yr old has autism and GDD too. No sense of danger and I have the same difficulties as you described. We get HRC but no mobility rate at the moment. I understand they will contact me when he is almost 5 for me to apply for the mobility rate. As previous poster has said for under 5s to get mobility rate has very specific criteria

thank you so much. I’m just not sure it’s something I’m willing to battle if I’m honest. It was my health visitor who suggested it due to his needs but everything is such a fight.

It is very difficult, I’ve struggled recently with it all. He was awarded HRC and said they would contact when he’s 5 to assess for LRM, I never thought about it until my HV suggested it was HRM due to his needs as he toe walks and falls constantly and often lies down on the ground and refuses to walk any further. It’s just all such a battle with everything I’m finding

My son sounds like yours. I supplied extensive evidence of his care needs, day and night, and mobility issues. We have to take a pushchair with us for him. We got MRC and no mobility. So we are going to MR, I wish you the best of luck.

If the HV is willing to provide support and evidence to demonstrate DS meets the criteria, I would go for the redetermination.