mobility compenent of DLA for ASD??

[aSilverlining]

DS age 5 has ASD and currently receives high rate of care (as he needs constant supervision and reassurance, and help with personal care such as changing his pull ups, 24 hours a day). I put my claim in when he was four so didn't apply for mobility but I am currently learning to drive paid for by family fund, and a friend suggested I apply for mobility. Said she knows a parent of an autistic child who receives it.

Are there any MNers who were awarded mobility for their child with ASD? Does it have different rates like the care compenent?

Obviously it would be a help if I were to get it, but don't want to feel like I am pushing it by applying for mobility too. Plus the DLA forms make me want to curl up under my duvet and never reappear.

Mobility comes in two levels and you need the higher one to get a mobility vehicle. I know of a couple of parents with ASD children who get the lower rate but I think it's possible to get the higher though I'm not sure about that

Thanks for that info, I figured there would be levels to it. I wouldn't have considered applying if my friend hadn't mentioned knowing someone who receives it for ASD, not sure I would get high rate, but even if I were to apply and receive the lower rate that would help! Just don't know if I can face the forms.

I have some links, going to apply myself when DS turns three. Bear with me!

www.rexpride.com/dlahelp.pdf

www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=300&a=3330&view=print

Sorry, after three you can apply for Higher Rate Mobility, and after five years for Lower.

HRM automatically qualifies you for a Blue Badge.

Mobility only forms do exist I was told. I know how awful they are, aSl, not to worry they are apparently much shorter

Thanks for those links, my eyes are involuntarily closing but I will read them in the morning, also good that I can just fill in the mobility section.

DS has a maclaren major which I have to take with me everywhere we go. Cannot wait to be able to drive, life will be much easier in the respect of getting from A to B.

we are given low rate mobility for dd1, but tbh have no grounds for higher rate

LOL at eyes closing, that is why I saved them and will only look when the time comes!

Using a Crelling or other harness and a Major buggy is good evidence regarding disability aids and worth mentioning.

I don't drive either (aged 38) and have realised that I really need to do it especially if DS needs to attend a special school. I'm scared though!

My J is 8 and has autism and ADHD and receives high rate care and high rate mobility. TBH, low rate mobility should be relatively easy to get, though high rate took me a very long time and an appeal to get. The criteria that he met were: qualifies for high rate care, displays 'reckless' behaviour that requires restraint on occasion and has severe mental impairment caused by arrested development of the brain (autism is automatically accepted as arrested development of the brain now) that impairs intelligence and social functioning. It was only the impairment of intelligence bit that was a problem and led to the tribunal but J's consultant provided evidence that his academic intelligence was of no relevance in terms of awareness of danger and 'real-life' intelligence. Tribunal lasted 5 minutes in the end once I had that evidence and now J has HRM and HRC until 2012. So will be filling in forms again next year - joy!

Good luck.

Ds got hr care and mobility at 3, had to go to tribunal for mobility but it was awarded straightaway when they saw just how severely affected he is, asd, sld,non verbal (still) It is possible although as others have said can be yet another battle
Good luck

ds has had low rate mobility since 5 you could only get mobility at 5 back then though. In the middle of filling post 16 forms now.

My DS is 5 and receives HRM and HRC. He has ASD but also SLD and a genetic disorder. We got it because he had "severe mental impairment and severe behavioural problems" and received HRC. This criteria isn't very well know and I had to do quite a bit of research to understand it, the best bit of info was a few pages in the guide book for benefits from the Action for Poverty group. Absolutely brilliant info and it detailed what you had to demonstrate. So I wrote a long letter going through each criteria and how it fitted my son and added reports from all professionals involved (OT, SLT, Ped., school, social worker, statement, etc...). It worked and we got HRM until 2015. I then wrote a letter saying I was surprised they didn't backdate it to when he turned 3 and a couple of months later got a letter saying they will and they did! I was very surprised but delighted as you can imagine.