I’ve just read One in 14 children (or rather their parents) are currently claiming DLA for ADHD or autism.

I feel very very sad at the moment.
My 36 year old daughter has OCD and ADHD. She has had it since childhood and her life has been very badly affected by it.
She had to leave university and has struggled with terrible bullying. She will never marry or have children.There are many days when her repetitive ticks are so bad she is terrified to get out of bed. Windows have to be touched in 'lots' of numbers for unspecified amounts of time (sometimes hours) so it is safe for her to be there. She has to stand with her hands behind her back so she doesn't touch the cooker controls, until it's safe for her to do so. Her whole life has been taken over by these compulsions and horrible thoughts in her head and l am constantly waiting for someone to ring me up to tell me she's taken her life.
All l read is folk talking about how people with these conditions are skiving or making it up or giving themselves labels. Well try living for 10mins in my daughter's shoes and see how you feel.
Yes, there are people excusing terrible behaviour for these illnesses but in maligning them you are unintentionally maligning everyone which makes it SO difficult for genuine claimants. I get so worn down by it and l just wish people would stop airing their mostly uneducated views. I can assure you that genuine mental health problems l wouldn't wish on my most hated enemies.
Thank you for listening.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I used to work in a hospital as PA to a highly respected consultant paediatrician and she routinely prescribed Ritalin in the ‘90s saying it was a game changer. Calmer more manageable children.

My son (now in his 50s) was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia in the 1980s and was prescribed Ritalin. It made him extremely depressed and we took him off it.
He was very hard work as a child both for us and his teachers, but we never expected any financial help from the state I can't believe that this is expected by some parents

personality quirks
That’s really scraping the barrel for dismissive comments

Like I said, absolute ignorance if you genuinely think Autistic people just 'have personality quirks'.

Ready Meals, I understand your point of view . However would the school child who has personality quirks not need extra help at school so that she or he can succeed in the job market where certain personality quirks would make it extra hard to get a job?

Readymeals That reminds me of what the Ed psych used to say when we finally managed to get him into school.

If there are more than 2-3 children in the class with special needs, then they don’t have a special need, they can be treated as a group.
I didn’t agree then and with the surge of current conditions, I agree even less.
Having said that, running a class with up to 1/3 with EHCPs it’s not all was made easier the addition of a lot of extra adults.

most just have personality quirks

Really ReadyMeals ?

Luminance , thanks .You answered my question.

Anything that 1 in 14 of us have should be considered part of our normal range and taken off the list of disabilities. Unless the condition is over a certain threshold of severity they don't cost more. The child's school can get extra funding for assistants where needed but for most children with the usual milder form of the conditions I can't think why they would cost more to raise or accommodate. Autism especially covers a hugely wide spectrum of conditions and most just have personality quirks that need to be managed rather than expensive special needs. I am not saying the conditions are not real, of course.

I think if any one had real contact with anyone with any kind of neuro - diversity and not just listen to statistics u would know that their life is the opposite to what this thread thinks . Most do not get any financial aid and help in schools is pretty non existent and no understanding of the issues from privileged people in government does not help . My family for one would much rather be enabled instead of fighting a school system that is out of date and concentrated on academic achievements.

Excellent post, * March*!

March

Do you know how hard it is to get DLA and PIP?
It's not a case of ticking boxes and sending it off, you have to supply medical information from Drs, therapists, medication etc these are from professionals that won't lie or fake information.
Getting a label for a child means more doors open, the correct support is put in place which they need to thrive in schools and work places.
The amount of hoops you have to jump through and waiting lists is no ever ending and don't get me started on EHCPs which are like gold dust to get.
ADHD and Autism has always been there it's more understood now, back in the day they were labeled as 'naughty children', or 'simple' or have addictions, sectioned, thrown into homes and 'loony bins'.

If you have zero experience with Autism, ADHD etc you can't comment on things you know nothing about.

I so agree

I have a neurodiverse teenage GC, they coped reasonably well at nursery and primary school, they received a statement aged 9.

Senior school was a nightmare for them from day one, not just from the pupils, many of the teachers had no idea how to communicate with a neurodiverse teen, let alone teach them.

They are now at six form college, and thoroughly enjoying it, it has restored their faith in the education system along with people in general.

No financial support has been offered at all during these years.

ViceVersa

Well said, March!

Thank you. It's pure ignorance!

'Up to 66% of autistic adults have considered suicide. Autistic children are 28X more likely to attempt suicide. One study showed that 15% of autistic children had suicidal thoughts compared to 0.5% of typically developing children.'

That's by today's standards, dread to think what it was like 'back in the day' when there was no support or even understanding about it.

Well said, March!

Do you know how hard it is to get DLA and PIP?
It's not a case of ticking boxes and sending it off, you have to supply medical information from Drs, therapists, medication etc these are from professionals that won't lie or fake information.
Getting a label for a child means more doors open, the correct support is put in place which they need to thrive in schools and work places.
The amount of hoops you have to jump through and waiting lists is no ever ending and don't get me started on EHCPs which are like gold dust to get.
ADHD and Autism has always been there it's more understood now, back in the day they were labeled as 'naughty children', or 'simple' or have addictions, sectioned, thrown into homes and 'loony bins'.

If you have zero experience with Autism, ADHD etc you can't comment on things you know nothing about.

With regard to the escalation of apparent ADHD in children and young people, this nation is reaping what it sowed during the pandemic. Professionals who said that all those months of closing schools and keeping children at home would end badly for them have been proved right.
Remember the laptops or tablets that were to be provided for children who didn't have access to them, but never were? Remember the reports of 2 or 3 children trying to work by sharing the same mobile? Not surprising that they don't know how to sit still and concentrate when they get back to school.

G'netters on here bellowed for schools to be closed. They also, I remember, bellowed for students to be forced to spend Christmas at their universities in case they infected people by travelling home on the train.!

This is the result and I'm tired of this talk of scroungers (dreadful word) and gaming the system.

I have a child with SEN. However it’s only recognised as part of ASD and not a standalone condition. She doesn’t have other ASD characteristics though. Has cost me a fortune over the years. Secondary school has been a nightmare as they don’t understand her condition. I have the same condition. Didn’t affect me as much when I was at secondary as they weren’t so rigid in their demands back then, despite me being at the strict school. My daughter’s school insisted on her being assessed for ASD because then they can offer her more support. However by the time she gets to the top of the list she’ll probably have left school. I keep thinking I should apply for DLA but we just keep managing.

I get your message glass but it explains why we had no fancy holidays etc. The LA were just too slow in taking action. Slightly different, but I have a disabled daughter and it never crossed my mind to apply for a Motability car to take her to and from school, physio, hospital appointments, etc. I now know of several families who have disabled youngsters and use that vehicle as a family car - taking it to work, etc. Maybe that’s the reason many are seeking these benefits, as insurance is included and we all know that’s rocketed in recent times?

Nandalot, I totally understand what you are talking about. I have a friend whose son sounds very similar to your DGS. She is currently battling with her local authority to get him into a particular educational setting, as the one they want to send him to is totally unsuited to his needs. His anxiety levels are through the roof at the moment and she is the same - doesn't have a minute to herself and even the nights can be very unpredictable if he has panic attacks. Some people have no idea what it is like to live with that, day in day out.

Anyone who does not have a ND child or adult child in their immediate family really should not comment as they have little if any idea how draining and unrelenting it is having members of your household with these conditions. The three adult children who still live in our home are all ND, two diagnosed and one going through assessments.

It’s hideous for them and frankly it’s a nightmare for us! A complete minefield, with lack of sleep and walking on eggshells 100% of ones waking hours.

We are fortunate though as they are all considered “high functioning” and two of them work full time.

Anyone who wonders why ND children “cost more”, some cannot use public transport, (no the local authority won’t provide private taxis unless in “special schools”), some cannot share bedroom space, so adjustments need to be made to their homes, some need special/specific food, bedding and clothing. There’s so much about being ND which still isn’t widely known unless one has direct experience.

Nandalot

My DD has just started to receive DLA for her autistic son. He is almost fourteen. She knew she could claim for him before but did not so so until it was impossible to continue with her successful career because of the demands on her time. His twin sister is also ND. DD was continually taking time out for appointments with specialists for their medical appointments and their CAHMS appointments. Both now do virtual online school though it is hoped that DGD may yet get back into school on a reduced timetable. My DD does not have a minute to herself in the day as she is needed for constant reassurance as DGS’s anxiety level is so high. She gets very little sleep as, despite being on melatonin, DGS is usually awake till 2 or 3 am and even the whole night. She has to be awake because he often tries to throw himself down the stairs when he has a panic attack. As I said, she did not want to claim DLA but has been forced to do so. Watching the threads for those claiming , I can assure you it is not an easy thing to have your claim accepted. There have been several cases where I cannot believe they have been refused.

There are a number of reasons that the number of diagnosed children has increased, for at least a decade teachers now have modules on ASD and ADHD in their Uni training.

There are more medical staff with specific training.

It’s not about the benefits for most people, it’s about getting an early diagnosis so that child is given the best chance of managing it.

Two of my daughters were not diagnosed with their conditions, ASD and BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) til their early twenties. Girls mask very well. How I wish they had been diagnosed much earlier, it would have made their journey and management so much easier for them.

Neither are entitled to PIP as both high functioning and don’t tick the pretty limited criteria.

My DD has just started to receive DLA for her autistic son. He is almost fourteen. She knew she could claim for him before but did not so so until it was impossible to continue with her successful career because of the demands on her time. His twin sister is also ND. DD was continually taking time out for appointments with specialists for their medical appointments and their CAHMS appointments. Both now do virtual online school though it is hoped that DGD may yet get back into school on a reduced timetable. My DD does not have a minute to herself in the day as she is needed for constant reassurance as DGS’s anxiety level is so high. She gets very little sleep as, despite being on melatonin, DGS is usually awake till 2 or 3 am and even the whole night. She has to be awake because he often tries to throw himself down the stairs when he has a panic attack. As I said, she did not want to claim DLA but has been forced to do so. Watching the threads for those claiming , I can assure you it is not an easy thing to have your claim accepted. There have been several cases where I cannot believe they have been refused.