[senco-forum] Disability Living Allowance

Well said Tim -- you do not need to feel guilty -- an ASD child needing the

I've been trying not to answer this thread but can't resist the temptation - sorry.  

Don't feel guilty - feel thankful that you were granted this allowance.  My son who had a brain tumour 5 years ago is not so lucky.  He has had 5 operations on his brain, which left him with some damage and he has ataxia down one side - is 100% deaf on the same side and has restricted vision.  He had radiotherapy and chemotherapy for one year, he was in a wheelchair for two years and nearly died of the treatment.  He is left with kidney damage and osteoporosis as a result. His spine has not grown due to radiation so he has a very short torso, the radiation also knocked out his endocrine system for ever so he is supported on artificial hormones  and thyroxine.  He now walks with a lurch which means he cannot catch a bus or anything that might knock him off his feet.  He was turned down for all levels of the DLA as he could "walk 100 yds without PAIN and he could open a tin of beans to feed himself"  which was the criteria.  No other circumstances were taken into account.  Yes he can walk without pain but in an alarming zig-zag way! And he can pick up the phone and call for Pizza which he does on a regular basis.  But normal life - no.  We have appealed and been turned down.  We have had to spend over £1,000 adapting a car for him to try and learn to drive in - not really successfully - I don't think he will be able to at least for a while yet.  We are having to move house as we live in the sticks and he leaves school in 2 weeks and will be stranded at home without a chauffeur (me), as I will be at work - filling in forms no doubt.   I may add that our forms were filled in by a social worker - expert in these matters and signed by the consultant.  This is not a pity seeking call - he has just reached his 5 year remission - hooray,  merely a demonstration of how difficult it is to get this darn allowance.  
So, if you are offered it - go for it.  

PS I throw into the ring the Disabled Student Allowance of laptops and other goodies which my other (Dyslexic) son, about to go to uni, will get - lets face it - without much difficulty.  Have we got this right?  I was called yesterday by a (wealthy) parent of a 13yr old boy who had heard about DSA and wanted to register her son early... 5years?!  

Which of my sons is disabled?  Yes, the one who drives a car, has the stamina to earn money by working unsociable hours, meets his friends, can hear in pubs, can walk straight, can play sport, can catch a train and can peel potatoes with both hands.  

I'm all for DSA if means tested...  I'm ready - flak jacket on - for the replies.     

With kind regards

Mrs A J Bremner
Head of Curriculum Support

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk [mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of David Bowles
Sent: 06 June 2006 14:13
To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: Re: [senco-forum] Disability Living Allowance

I concur with everything Tim and Brendan have said. There is no need
to feel guilty about receiving DLA. Yet I still find it hard to accept
a benefit such as this, mainly because I've always worked when I can
and tried to make an active contribution towards the welfare of others
throughout my adult life. In a subtle sense it almost feels as if this
allowance is trying to 'pay me off' because I have difficulty working
full time -- the result of my disability. Irrational I know but that's
how it feels to me.

As for 'painting the blackest picture' or 'laying it on thick', well
I've struggled with this and reached the conclusion it's OK and
totally honest to say how bad it can be, but always with the rider
that of course my condition can vary considerably over time. This way
I've left up to the assessors to get back to me if they are not happy
with my answer or require more details.

The other problem that Tim mentioned is I don't want to keep reminding
myself of just how bad it can get at times. By nature I'm an optimist
and this is what gets me through my blackest days. Fortunately the
right medications mean these are becoming fewer than they used to be.
Nowadays I usually know in advance when it's about to get bad -- after
my immune system gets triggered -- and have learned to plan ahead for
these times.

From what I gather on the grapevine there are moves afoot to move away
from form-filling for allowances such as DLA more towards 'telephone
interviews' instead, where you are put on the spot and won't have the
opportunity to give a considered response. More reason to keep handy
copies of your previous applications and correspondence. This will be
great for saving the government loads of money, but I'm sure a lot
less really deserving people will qualify as a consequence.

David Bowles

David Bowles

> Well said Tim -- you do not need to feel guilty -- an ASD child needing the
> level of school support you describe definately qualifies for the middle level
>  of DLA in my experience. Significant autism is a well accepted reason for
> awarding DLA. After all, autistic children have the most difficulty of any
> children in coping qwith "daily living" and it is a benefit to assist daily
> living! This benefit was introduced for children such as your child. The  form is
> hard to fill in -- but (I suppose) people would be critical if it was  easy to
> qualify for it -- and too many children with insignificant needs  might be
> receiving it -- and you might feel even more guilty trying to work out  if your
> child deserves it. The advice you have received to paint "the blackest
> picture" (I always used the term "clearly highlight all difficulties") is  because
> parents always want to point out the positive things about their child  (the
> one they love) and will always understate the difficulties a child has  unless
> strongly advised in the way you have been. Without clearly stating the
> difficulties in detail -- there is no chance of DLA being  awarded. I'm not sure I
> would go to parent partnership -- but  definately CAB -- they are very  good.
> Brendan

David Bowles

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