AARRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!
I’m so cross today! We took J to his Peadiatrician appointment today. Our letter told us that although we were going to the same clinic that we had been to previously and had seen a Peadiatrician who had refused to diagnose ASD (and in fact told us that was nothing unusual about his behaviour asking if I had considered that I may be depressed!!), we would be seeing a different peadiatrician…………….So image how our hearts sunk when that very same peadiatrician called his name!! As soon as I saw Dr W I knew that today’s appointment would be a complete waste of time!
I could feel my heart pounding, my hands shaking and my eyes starting to well up as soon as we entered the consultation room. I just knew that the uphill battle we were already facing had gotten even steeper!
Basically we were told again that just because he was diagnosed with ASD in Australia, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he is on the spectrum! That the paperwork we had brought with us didn’t really mean much! And that we have to start from the beginning all over again…………….Yep we have to go through the whole assessment and diagnosis process all over again!!!
I don’t think I can put into words how cross we felt when we left the clinic. She might as well of told us that everything we had done over the past 2 years had been a complete waste of everyone’s time and energy! That we had wasted the last 2 years of our son’s life! And that we were just rubbish parents who couldn’t cope with a difficult child!
In all fairness the school that we chose for J have been fairly supportive and say they will do what they can to support us in getting J some support at school. J’s teacher and aide are also attending a course about how to support a child with Autism……………but a UK diagnosis was going to help them in their quest to get him support so much. We’ve also been told that we needed a UK diagnosis in order for the school to access advice and support from the Autism Outreach Team. So their hands are tied, there isn’t much more they can do without a UK diagnosis.
So where do we go from here?…………….I guess we have no choice but to start from the beginning again! 
Oh Jo my heart just breaks for you, this is so ridiculous and to put you all through it again!!!!! Shouldn’t common sense prevail? why would a diagnosis from australia be worthless? Lots of hugs for the journey ahead xxxxx
Angela, I just can’t see why his Australian diagnosis is worthless. We brought reports from OT, School, DSQ and the Peadiatrician, all of which stated his diagnosis and the areas that he needed support in……………but as soon as I saw her (the Pead) I knew that after our last meeting with her 2 yrs ago, we’d be wasting our time. Looking into alternative routes for the journey xxx
Oh Jo….my heart is breaking for you and J. I pray things will improve immediately for you all.
Big hugs xxxxx
Thanks Fi, it’s J I’m worried about I think about the progress he’s made in the last 2 yrs and wonder if this woman is going to put us back to square one. I just want him to be able to access some support, especially at school
xxxxx
Shame, Jo. Red tape is a killer in the UK!
Take one step at a time… On a positive note, you do have a supportive school and that counts for something!
Hi Di, yep I feel very lucky that we managed to choose a school that’s supportive. They have arranged a meeting with Educational psychologist at the end of the month, whilst J is at school so he doesn’t have to go through and have given me some numbers to ring, so onwards and upwards I guess….. x