Please Help Thomas get His Autism Diagnosis
Donation protected
Thomas is a beautiful, funny, sensitive 9-year-old boy who needs our help. He is Autistic, but we are struggling to get him the proper diagnosis in order to open up the appropriate pathways of support for him.
The current wait time for an Autism diagnosis through the NHS is over 3 years. This is due to an over-stretched system that has been greatly impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic.
In December of 2020, our family had to move across the country after my husband, Tom, lost his job due to Covid. At that time we were in the beginning stages of getting Thomas his Autism diagnosis through the NHS. After we moved, all progress was lost and we had to begin the process again. Nearly a year later, we still have not had any contact with the Assessment Team. We have essentially lost 2 years.
Since our move, Thomas is struggling to settle into his new school and after-school activities. He’s also struggling with anxiety which is greatly impacting his day-to-day functioning. After consulting with an Autism specialist, we have decided, as a family, that a different school placement would be in Thomas’s best interest.
We have discovered an amazing ASD school in Port Glasgow called Craigmarloch, that would offer everything Thomas needs to thrive. The link for Craigmarloch can be found here:
Unfortunately, it’s a lengthy process to be accepted into Craigmarloch, and we will need to gather as much supporting documentation as possible. An Autism diagnosis is an essential component to this.
We are looking to have Thomas privately assessed through Scottish Autism; an organisation whose aim is to enable and support Autistic children and their families.
The cost for a comprehensive assessment is £2,186. There is currently a 6 month waiting list, with all payments needing to be made a month prior to his assessment date.
We are asking for your help in covering the costs of Thomas’s assessment. With my not being able to work due to sustaining two strokes in 2018, (and not being able to receive disability due to my residency status) and trying to get back on our feet after Tom’s unemployment, we do not have the means to help our son.
We know that times are tight, so any support you might be able to offer our family would be very greatly appreciated.
We want Thomas to go from surviving… to thriving!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Bishop
Organizer
Jennifer Bishop
Organizer
Scotland