Autism and Housing

chazzygirl

I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me some advice. I currently rent my home from a housing association, we live in a two bedroom house (myself, partner, teenage daughter and four year old son.) My son has Autism, Global Development Delay, Sensory Processing Disorder and Hypermobility. Our house is far from ideal and the older my son gets, the more challenges we face. I am having a battle to get our local council to understand and recognise that my sons medical conditions are getting worse due to overcrowding. We are back on the housing list but in a low banding as we have gained points for being overcrowded but nothing as far as my son is concerned. Our OT and his early years special education teacher have both written into the council to explain his condition but its almost just dismissed. He is non verbal, doesn't understand many instructions (cant dress himself, still in nappies etc) He makes a lot of noise day and night and my poor daughter (who is sitting her GCSEs) is also now struggling. If we did get his condition recognised and how much being in a two bed is affecting his development we would be considered to have compound needs, meaning we would higher up the list and be able to be more successful when the right property is available. I don't want to seem ungrateful as I actually love our home (we have been here for 11 years) but it just doesn't work now we have a child with complex needs. He is in the process of having his EHC plan created and he also has a 1to1 at preschool. Any advice would mean the world as I know the best way to move forward is to stay positive and not get to overwhelmed. Thank you for taking the time to read about my family. 

April2018mom

Have you contacted the National Autism Society or not? https://www.autism.org.uk/

Chloe_Scope

Hi @chazzygirl and a very warm welcome to the community! It sounds like you have a lot doing on and I imagine that is stressful for everyone involved. Thank you for reaching out.

Has your son ever had a needs assessment? This can be done through a self referral online, it won't be housing but they may be able to provide more support for you all.

Here is some information about how to challenge the councils decision around housing and refusing an offer.

Would you mind telling us how long your son has been diagnosed for? At Scope we have a service called Navigate that supports emotional support to parents who's child has received a diagnosis within the last year. Here is the list of our family services.

I know you mentioned about being in the process of getting your son an EHCP, Scope have lots of information about the EHCP process and making appeals that you may find helpful.

Also here is some information about Family Fund, they are a charity who provide grants to families who have a disabled child. The support can be practical but it can also be days out for the family and respite type things.

I am tagging @SparkleSheffieldAutismAdvisors who is our amazing Autism adviser.

Sorry I have given you a lot of information, I just want to give you all the options you have around you. Please do keep us updated and let us know how you get on!

chazzygirl

April2018mom said:

Have you contacted the National Autism Society or not? https://www.autism.org.uk/

Thank you for your advice. No, I haven’t as yet but I will. Thank you for taking the time to message me back x

chazzygirl

Hi @Chloe_Scope!! 

Thank you so much for all the great advice. I will work down your message and read everything you have tagged me in. My son got diagnosed on 14/09/2018 so I’m just a little bit out of the year. 

Hopefully s@SparkleSheffieldAutismAdvisors will also be able to give some great advice.

Best wishes and I will let you know how I get on.

Take care

Chloe_Scope

No problem at all @chazzygirl! If you have any further questions or need more advice about something then please just let me know.

chazzygirl

@SparkleSheffieldAutismAdvisors Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me back. You have given me some valuable information. Isaac doesn’t have a social worker but he is under the Early Years SEN team so I will ask them about an assessment or if they could point me in the right direction. Thank you again ??

Chloe_Scope

Hi @chazzygirl, how are you doing?

chazzygirl

@Chloe_Scope Hi, it’s really thoughtful that you have messaged me. Not a huge amount has change but I have now made contact with our local MP and she said she is going to try to help us and I have an appointment with Citizens Advice tomorrow to discuss our housing need. I’m going to call The National Autism Society early next week. I have also filled out a requested online for a needs assessment through a social worker but as yet I haven’t heard back. I did that on Saturday so I thought I would leave it a week and chase if I haven’t heard anything by tomorrow.

I will let you know how I get on

Thanks again for thinking of us 

Chloe_Scope

Sounds like you have been really busy!! I hope you here something back from the social worker soon.