Getting ready for Uni

[BeBraveAndBeKind]

DS is 18 and has a diagnosis of Asperger's and Dyspraxia. He's a year behind his peers as he had to do a level 2 course for a year after GCSEs and is now half way through a level 3 vocational course that's the equivalent of A levels. He's suddenly decided that he wants to go to University next year.

I want to support him (while trying to suppress the fear I have of him living independently) but I don't know where to start getting him ready.

He can cook a little and has started to shower regularly without being told to in the last year but will happily wear the same thing day in day out. He was getting himself to college on the bus independently before the lockdown and has a small group of friends (although he's not spoken to any of them since college finished - he feels no need or desire to socialise unless someone else organises something).

He currently has an EHCP with a 20 hour provision but that won't continue into higher education. There's no way he's got the organisational skills to go without any support.

How can I help him be ready for this?

Have a look at this thread Calmed started last month.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs_chat/3939080-DSA-University-what-extra-help-can-be-available?msgid=97465433

Thanks Ellie56 - wow, there's a lot of useful information there! It all sounds a lot more positive than the "hold your breath and cross your fingers and hope that the local authority continue to fund the support" approach that we've been working with for the last 8 years!

The current EHC Plan should have needs and provision relating to preparing for adulthood ie independent living skills /organisation skills/ social skills etc.

Unfortunately a lot of EHCPs are not worth the paper they are written on.If your DS's is not fit for purpose, ask for a reassessment or early annual review.

Information here:

www.ipsea.org.uk/asking-for-a-re-assessment-of-a-child-or-young-persons-needs

www.ipsea.org.uk/asking-for-an-early-review-of-an-ehc-plan#:~:text=At%20any%20time%2C%20as%20long,

Social services should have done an assessment of his social care needs at some point. Has this happened?

No, we've had no social services input at all.

So ask for a reassessment and stipulate it must include Social care assessment for independent living skills as set out in SEND Regulation 6(1) e) and 6(1)g)

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/1530/pdfs/uksi_20141530_en.pdf

Thanks Ellie56. I didn't know such a thing was even on offer but that would be really useful.