Easter brings good news

Happy Easter to all of you my friends, and family!

As the season approached, I have finally received the long awaiting decision from the Department of Work and Pension regarding my appeal against their reward of my daughter's Disability Living Allowance.  Originally, they rewarded her lower mobility and lower care components saying that she needed only 1 hour of extra care...
I appealed, as for a 13 year old, she is not as independent and resourcefull. As most of people with autism she simply lacks common sense, which really, really is a disadvanage in everyday life. That and for many other reasons, she needs a lot of help from us on daily basis to maintain a healthy and safe lifestyle.

It took two months, school reports, GP reports, babysitter's letter and of course my own letter of appeal.

We WON! We won with the most unsympathetic government body, who is being pushed to cut the disabled benefits even more! I consider it my own, great victory. They agreed to raise the care component to medium, and left the mobility as lower (which I did not expect to be raised). It will be backdated 6 months and will remain at this level indefinately. Finally they realised that you don't "grow out" of autism and there is no real cure?  I hope so.

I am all over the moon, this will be the additional chunk of money I needed so desperately to pay for the independent clinic to run the dyscalculia and dyspraxia tests, after school activities, holiday activities etc...
Cirwen already is making a list :D

In all that, I have an advice for all, who have been awarded lower DLA than they deserve. Appeal. Fight for your right, and the right of your children to live to the full and with dignity.  It is hard and stressfull, but it is worth a while. The more of us voice our anger and disagreement, the less reasons for further cuts, the government will have. Don't suffer and don't let your children suffer.

 Your voice counts here. Let it be heard.

I should know that, shouldn't I?

It's been very quiet on the school front lately.

Cirwen is happier, goes to school without fear, so I don't have to call and complain, remind of hypersensitivities, beg for help.
The school does not call to inform me of good or bad incidents.

Today, my daughter came back from school and told me she has been taken from the PE class to take a dyslexia and dyscalculia test ... ?!  She has told me that it is organised by the school SEN -Co (Special Education Needs Coordinator).

Well. I am happy, as that's what I begged for since September and was refused.  I felt I failed, lost the battle and failed my girl. Now, suddenly, out of the blue the tests just been done...
Yes, I am glad that it happened, but... but I'd like to be informed!  I should know that it's being done, shouldn't I? What if I already had an appointment in a private centre arranged?

Hmm... I'm glad, but I am also disappointed that the SEN-Co didn't think worth to keep me informed...