I totally get your point that the concept of someone having ‘mild’ autism is controversial and that care needs can be less obvious for some children. However Rhi gives us a huge insight into her life and by extension, her children's lives. There is absolutely no way that those kids currently require a significant amount more care than other children their age. I agree that the care needs may increase as the children get older but right now, the kids are relatively easy and compliant. The extra support they do need is probably to do with making friends and socialising, which Rhi does absolutely nothing to support.The child has to receive DLA in order to be eligible for these things and it’s very difficult to get DLA - the proof required is very extensive. I’ve looked at these kinds of concessions before for my own children who get DLA and even then, you don’t necessarily get them automatically - I wasn’t able to.
It’s not really fair to assume the children are ‘low care needs’ there is a phrase about autism appearing mild to other people, but it’s not to the person who has it. If you met one of my children, you wouldn’t think she has high care needs but I still have to help her shower and wash her hair and she’s 15 (for example).
I mean, a way to see if that is true will be how well Will copes at secondary school. Most autistic kids will be ok in a good primary, but secondary is a whole new ball game. Most of them burn out by year 9 without an EHCP. The subtle differences in social communication have more and more of an impact as the child grows older, in my experience.
I don’t know if Rhi’s children have adjusted curriculums. Do they have friends or other children to come and play, ever?
I am shocked and disgusted that she's claiming DLA. I believe that she will be able to answer all the questionnaires and manage all the assessments in a way that she will be able to ‘prove’ there are care needs that simply don't exist. She finds her children difficult to parent and interact with because of her own issues which she is determined not to address.