Supporting 16 year old

[Blue-2007]

Hi, I've been looking for some support/advice for a while now. I'm not sure if this is correct place. My son was diagnosed with cerebral atrophy at the age of 10 after looking at autism and explaination for a number of difficulties. Does anyone support a young person with this? Weve just be left to muddle through, My son is now 16 leaving school but couldn't hold a job. How can I support him. Any advice or sign posting if this isnt the correct group would be great. Many thanks x

[chester2107]

hi if your son was diagnosed at the time , you should have been given help and support through school etc (my son has asperger’s)

and also disability allowance (think it is called personal help or something now ) and then they can re apply for it when they are 16

my son didn’t want to though

i would look on government website and see what help they can give you and they will point you in the right direction for looking for the right job (if he isn’t working he has to be in education until he is 18)

hope this helps

best of luck to him

elaine x

[Blue-2007 in reply to chester2107]

Thank you, I managed to get him 121 support and statemented. They have encouraged him to stay in sixth form but it's the daily task and getting him more independent ready for possible work.

I've started the Pip application, hopefully he will get awarded some help.

[chester2107 in reply to Blue-2007]

that’s good

[TK-67]

Hi - MSA is a very different condition, there may be another group that would be more suitable and able to give you more support.

[Blue-2007 in reply to TK-67]

Thank you.

[KatieMSAT Moderator Staff]

Sorry to hear you are finding it difficult to access the appropriate support.

This site is not going to be the best place for what you need as MSA is a very different condition to your son's.

Other organisations that may be of more help are The Brain Charity and Cerebra, both support families in your situation.

A couple of pointers that may be helpful from my previous professional role :-

You need to contact your local authority both the education side for Special Education, and social services for support in finding placements post 16y old especially if your son has chosen not to stay in education, and also to guide you to benefits he may be eligible for now.

If your son had a Special Educational Needs assessment for school with an Education Health and Care plan (ehcp) in place then this should have been reviewed in light of his post 16y old plans - potentially he is entitled to stay in education till 18 y old and the local authority have responsibility for helping identify a suitable educational setting in your area. If he has an EHCP then he may be entitled to supported education up to 25y old.

I hope something here gives you a starting point to find a positive solution enabling your son to enjoy life to the full.

[Blue-2007 in reply to KatieMSAT]

Thank you so much, this information is really helpful.