car2 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 As some of you know, my son has been turned down for Dla because the school said he has no problems-no suprise there and also because they said that the melatonin should settle him at night!! I don't quite know how to prove that it doesn't always work and Dan still has nightmares and anxieties at night. It's true that his sleep pattern is much better but it's certainly along way from perfect. I'd be soo so so grateful for any advice about gathering exra evidence and how I should go about it. Many thanks caroline Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charliesvoice Report post Posted April 11, 2007 (edited) As some of you know, my son has been turned down for Dla because the school said he has no problems-no suprise there and also because they said that the melatonin should settle him at night!! I don't quite know how to prove that it doesn't always work and Dan still has nightmares and anxieties at night. It's true that his sleep pattern is much better but it's certainly along way from perfect. I'd be soo so so grateful for any advice about gathering exra evidence and how I should go about it. Many thanks caroline Don't give up! this link may be of some help http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1041&a=3330 it expains what you need to prove to receive low, middle and high rates of the care component and some other useful bits of info. Sorry to be a pain but do you already receive any rate of DLA or have you been refused altogether? Since when did teachers take medical training!! I would speak to DS's paed and ask them for a letter confirming your version, after all you know your child best! hope i've been of some help xx Edited April 11, 2007 by charliesvoice Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmuir Report post Posted April 11, 2007 (edited) Hi The school shouldn't even be discussing medication - that's not their remit (theirs is education!). Sleep is just part of the DLA application form. I guess the key is to make sure that you've tackled the other areas as well. My application for my son was granted first time and I suspect that was due to my summary page. I basically gave a day in the life type of summary. Believe me, I didn't need to exhaggerate anything - my son has no sense of danger in the home or outside (deliberately burnt himself on cooker and iron in front of me, lay down in middle of road, etc). how he needs constant supervision even when out in the garden (passer bys are likely to cause problems), etc. Robert awakens every night without fail and I have to lie down beside him before he'll settle. There are so many different areas - try and compare your child to an NT child and think of all the things that you can't do or cause great difficulties. I listed several specialists whom I knew would confirm the information I gave. I also photocopied relevant reports which backed up as well - I had one which said 'R parents have to be vigilant at all times', 'R can go from being calm to furious within seconds'. Every case should be looked at on individual or own merit, so please don't detail anything I've said - just be honest and hopefully your application will be looked at again. Best wishes Caroline. Edited April 14, 2007 by cmuir Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
car2 Report post Posted April 12, 2007 Hi The school shouldn't even be discussing medication - that's not their remit (theirs is medication!). Sleep is just part of the DLA application form. I guess the key is to make sure that you've tackled the other areas as well. My application for my son was granted first time and I suspect that was due to my summary page. I basically gave a day in the life type of summary. Believe me, I didn't need to exhaggerate anything - my son has no sense of danger in the home or outside (deliberately burnt himself on cooker and iron in front of me, lay down in middle of road, etc). how he needs constant supervision even when out in the garden (passer bys are likely to cause problems), etc. Robert awakens every night without fail and I have to lie down beside him before he'll settle. There are so many different areas - try and compare your child to an NT child and think of all the things that you can't do or cause great difficulties. I listed several specialists whom I knew would confirm the information I gave. I also photocopied relevant reports which backed up as well - I had one which said 'R parents have to be vigilant at all times', 'R can go from being calm to furious within seconds'. Every case should be looked at on individual or own merit, so please don't detail anything I've said - just be honest and hopefully your application will be looked at again. Best wishes Caroline. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
car2 Report post Posted April 12, 2007 Thanks for your advice and support!! This is Dans first claim for Dla, i didn't make myself clear on the melatonin thing-it was the dla who commented on the medication not the school- but i'd like to know how they suddenly became experts on the subject!!! My son is also very vunerable-he also lays down in the road, tries to strangle and stab his sister, shouts at members of the public etc and I included this all in the Dla form. My family and friends will be writing to them in regards to the extra help dan needs and I will go directly to Dans teacher who is really nice to confirm he needs more attention than the others rather than his headmistress who likes the phrase "if he was my child........". I have also written to my MP and he is going to argue my case too. The only problem is that Dan has only seen the paed once, but I will send in her report saying that he has been refered to casbat. I will tell the dla that the paed told me that melatonin only works if the child is in a relaxed state and I will tell them to contact her for conformation of this. I will also include information on Asperger syndrome as they obviously haven't got a clue about the difficulties our children face! I hope this will be enough info to keep them busy and make the right descision this time!!! caroline Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
car2 Report post Posted April 14, 2007 Just received the school report from the dla people and it's not too bad. It says about Dan's anger problems but doesn't go into detail about the support he gets when he has a major blow out. It also confirms that he has poor motor skills and finds handwriting difficult, but doesnt mention the extra support he gets with it. Also said that Daniel is aware of danger??!!-yeh right!!! and he does not need assistance with dressing. Now, my son NEVER lies, he is in capable of lying and he tells me that his teacher helps him dress everytime he has p.e. So....... I will ask his teacher to confirm the following in writing: Every support group Daniel goes to and why. The fact that Daniel does need help with dressing the fact that Daniel does need extra support when he is anxious, frustrated and angry. The fact that he does need more support than other children of his age. Hopefully, they will take this on board and give my wonderful son the benefits that he deserves. Anyone think this is the right way to go? caroline Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JsMum Report post Posted April 14, 2007 is your son recieving any special needs support, is he on the school action, school action plus or has a statement, if he is recieving any of these he should have a Individual Pupil Educational Plan, stating clearly all the extra support the school is providing with frequencies stated and with who. If your son is not statemented I would ask for an assessment of need and get him statemented. Schools for some areas are playing the no problems game because if they admit it and they are not on the special needs register or statemented then they are failing their responsibilities and they know that once something is in black and white then the school has to start writing reports, IEPs and keeping good records and monitoring. It could be that the school are worried to state your sons real problems incase they have to provide even more extra support and in the process of statementing the school have to prove that they have tried in vain to support the child out of their own budget first. its a self preservation tactic. JsMum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted April 14, 2007 Hi car 2 - Your last post details exactly the kind of thing you should be doing... The Claim form needs to specify exactly what the problems are, and the reasons why these problems are more extreme or different from a non-disabled child of the same age. I think the link supplied by Charliesvoice is similar to this one: http://www.bhas.org.uk/freeguides/index.shtml Download the two PDF files for 'younger people' on mental health and physical grounds... The guidelines will help you to see exactly what the DLA are assessing and how that may apply to your child... One other thing I'd recommend is using the editable PDF claim forms so that you can do youir claims on the PC... this means you've got the whole thing for future reference, whether that be to 'go back' over certain things or to update next time the claim comes round... http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/...child_print.pdf Hope the links are helpful (even if the latter is too late for this claim, it's worth duplicating your claim on it and saving for future reference) L&P BD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
car2 Report post Posted April 15, 2007 Thankyou so much for all your advice, it is invaluable to me. Unfortunately, Daniel cant be statemented until he has a diagnosis-well this is what I am led to beleive anyway. I will ask his teacher if he has a individual pupil education plan. I know Dan has seen the educational psychologist several times and she is happy with the progress he is making-it's a shame she never visits him on his bad days!!!grrrrrrr caroline Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JsMum Report post Posted April 15, 2007 Daniel cant be statemented until he has a diagnosis-well this is what I am led to beleive anyway. This is not the case if your son has a need because of his difficulties then they should still be meeting his needs reguardless of diagnosis, you would need to decribe the actual difficulties they are having, so socialising, interacting, keeping their attention, keeping focus, help to dress in PE, support with group work, interetation of any information not understood exc.... there is a new law that states if the child need the support they have to give the extra rescources, labels are not essential but support is for the symptoms that your son is having. The assessment actually describes the childs difficulties, not what lable they have, and no two children will have the exact statements of sen, because they will have completely different needs and support which is why they really should be done if your child is failing, isnt progressing and is struggling with accessing his education. you the parent can request the assessment, you can find more information on IPSEA or look throw the thread of statemtenting process. JsMum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmuir Report post Posted April 16, 2007 Hi We were awarded DLA before Robert got diagnosed (read your bit about statementing). I dare say that a diagnosis helps, but it can be done! Caroline. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
