Diagnosed with ASD but told it " might not be accepted " in new area.

[SadieChanges]

I spent all of last year getting ds diagnosed , he had his ADOS just before Christmas. It was a multi disciplinary assessment with paed/ salt and ot. He was diagnosed ASD . I have all paperwork relating to this .
I moved recently and NOBODY had ever suggested the diagnosis would be an issue until yesterday.

I had a visit from early years support and she said it might not be accepted here. I was shocked at the time so didn't question it but now I'm really upset and thinking the whole of last year was a waste and I have to start again!

It's more than I can bear , I have two emails forthw council but both out of office , so I contacted a family information service and they said they will look into it , I have searched online but can't find the policy on this, please help ! Thanks

[porridgeLover]

What the what the?????
How ridiculous. Unless you've moved overseas? Is the early years support worker actually qualified in any way?

Most of the professionals would have used standardised assessments. One of the purposes of using standardised assessments is to ensure that the results are the same regardless of who and where they are used.
Therefore, the results would be the same if you had been assessed in your new area.

Try not to panic. If they do try to wriggle out of accepting his diagnosis, I would be appealing.

If it comes to it, can you ask your previous Paed, OT, SaLT to write to your local (new) service providers asking them to 'accept referral of SadieJunior whom we diagnosed with ASD on X date last year'.

[SadieChanges]

No I've not moved overseas , same country different county, yes all professionals involved are transferring his care. Eg SALT has sent details over and sent me stuff to work on in the crossover period,

I am probably panicking over nothing but why do these people get to come in my home and say what they want. It's probably nothing to her but it was my whole life for a year . I keep all his paperwork in a folder so I can be organised the thought that its all a load of nothing because I moved to be near to family to help support us is v distressing .

[porridgeLover]

So when you moved, did your DS's paediatrician transfer his care to someone else where you are now? That would be your first port of call?

[StarlightMcKenzie]

You're panicking over nothing. The early years worker is just using one of her tools to reduce your expectations and get you to be grateful for minimum support.

Don't pay any attention to her.

[moosemama]

Do you think she could have meant that they won't just accept any/all SEN provision and will want to do their own Statutory Assessment? I believe that's fairly common if you move LEAs.

As for not accepting the diagnosis, they aren't allowed to do that. If he has been diagnosed properly via multi-disciplinary assessment and he meets the DSM criteria for ASD then they can't simply ignore the diagnosis.

I would imagine it just means that they won't continue to provide anything/everything he had under the previous LEAs Early Years service, but will want to reassess his needs. However, iirc, they have to maintain his previous support until their own assessment is completed.

(It might be an idea to contact IPSEA to check that last point though.)

[SadieChanges]

I have only lived here a couple of weeks , joined GP and they refer to paediatrician but assume will be waiting weeks to hear of any appiontment . My expectations of support are low anyway but I assumed he would still have his diagnosis!

[SadieChanges]

He had nothing provided , he is only 2 and at preschool on old area for 2 months. He literally had a diagnosis that's it. I got DLA last week too.

[moosemama]

Well in that case I would echo Star and say just ignore her. She almost definitely has financial reasons for trying to wrong-foot you.

They cannot remove a diagnosis just because it was done in a different county - imagine the chaos if you were dx with say, diabetes in one county, then moved house and they said they won't accept your dx so you can't have any insulin - ludicrous!

Your GP should only have referred you to a paed to make sure your ds has someone to oversee his care. It should be routine, probably a quick appointment to make sure you have no concerns etc and then he will stay on his list. Ds1 doesn't see his paed very often, but he is ultimately in charge of his NHS related support - so SALT, OT, Dietician etc, he also has a hand in the educational side of things as and when necessary.

[EllenJaneisstillnotmyname]

Have to agree she's talking bullshit. Statutory assessment is often not transferable LA to LA, but even then they usually honour it until they can reassess, but a medical DX by medically qualified doctors is always transferable. As moose said, what if you had diabetes?

[SadieChanges]

I still haven't had a definitive answer. I know it's daft but I've been in tears all day. I've been up since 3am as both kids up in night. The only thing I had was a diagnosis I was then hoping to get SALT / Portage etc . If they don't accept his diagnosis here it might be another year of waiting.

The family information service say if its done through the right channels it should be fine but the people who I could talk to arent there until next week . I really can't cope with not knowing until next Monday :(

[MareeyaDolores]

Phone old paediatrician's secretary and cry lots. Say none of them are doctors but they say they won't accept her boss's medical opinion and you don't know how to insist. Ask him to write to new hospital.

Then go to GP and cry more, you've been told that moving house can cure autism but with all the changes your ds's autism seems worse than ever.

[MareeyaDolores]

(Above obviously can cause fireworks and doctor-strops, so maybe let proper channels have another few days first )

[SadieChanges]

I could ring the old paediatricians secretary but I wouldn't do it in tears but would ask him to confirm his diagnosis is acceptable throughout the country. I'm sure he would be disgruntled at the suggestion it wasn't . I can't believe this is even a problem .