Assessment Report -- Texting, TV Remote and Gaming

Hello,

An autistic family member who has poor fine motors skills (he cannot reliably peel and chop any veg for example) was declared to have good manual dexterity because he admitted to playing console games and can text his friends. Here is a snippet of his Assessment Report...

"The IO's show functional use of the upper limbs and the SOH shows he can play computer games, operate a TV and text on his mobile phone which would indicate good manual dexterity....it is therefore likely he can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided reliably"

I know for a fact he cannot peel and chop anything reliably. His texting and use of a game controller seems to be false evidence for manual dexterity because he only uses his thumbs for these activities.

The Assessment Report repeats the same "evidence" (literally cutting an pasting the same sentence) for each daily activity, and uses this to state the family member can reliably do all such activities.

I am preparing evidence for his Mandatory Reconsideration so any advice on how to argue using facts against such conclusions? For example, should I take a video of my family member attempting to reliably peel and chop a carrot (a deadly experience btw!)? How can I emphatically state that using a controller is all about thumbs and that is it.

Thanks in advance.

F.

Hello,

Thanks again for your prompt response and sorry to be a bother. Would the following text be a suitable reply to show how the Assessor has missed some things regarding my family members gross/fine motor skills (I have removed his name). This example for the "Preparing Food" activity...

He cannot prepare and cook food. The Assessor noted that he can press the buttons on his phone, gamepad and the TV remote. These devices primarily require the use of thumbs to press single buttons, a skill that he possesses. However he has great difficulty with the fine and gross motor skills requireed to prepare food. For example he cannot reliably peel vegetables and is a danger to himself when handling sharp utensils. His Psychological Therapist outlined these motor difficulties in a letter that I again attach.

regards

F.

Hello,

I thought I would show you the completed (fingers crossed) section. If I haven't made any mistakes then I can complete the rest of the submission based on this approach and not take up any more of your much appreciated time:

"Preparing Food
He has been awarded no points for preparing food.

He cannot prepare or cook food due to his lack of fine and gross motor skills - these include using a peeler to peel vegetables and holding and cutting with a knife. He is a danger to himself when handling sharp utensils. His Psychological Therapist outlined these motor difficulties in Letter Appendix A when she says:

"He has great difficulty with fine and gross motor skills as well as motor planning and sequencing."

and

"He needs his meals cooked for him"

The Assessor noted that he can press the buttons on his phone, gamepad and the TV remote. These devices primarily require the use of thumbs to press single buttons, a skill that he possesses.

The Assessor also noted that he did not receive 1 on 1 support at school. However he was not diagnosed with severe ASD until he was 14 (and at the point of a breakdown) and it was at school that he developed his significant anxiety. His Psychological Therapist highlights this..

"He ruminates excessively, particularly in regard to incidents that occurred in primary school"

Letter Appendix B and Letter Appendix C are medical evidence of his period of diagnosis from 1993 to 1994. In Letter Appendix B dated November 1993, a Clinical Medical Officer says:

"Mrs XXXX tells me that just recently XXXXXX has been diagnosed as having Asperger syndrome, by his Psychologist, XXXXXXXX XXXXXX. This is part of the Autism spectrum..."

And Letter Appendix C dated April 1994, outlines the results of the tests performed by his Clinical Psychologist:

"He has had a recent psychometric assessment by XXXX XXXXX , Consultant Clinical Psychologist which gives results of Verbal IQ of 81, Performance IQ of 65 and Full Scale IQ of 70. He also has additional problems of communication difficulties which are indicative of Aspergers Syndrome"

Letter Appendix D, from an Occupational Therapist to his GP dated November 2004, outlines the limits of his functioning, albeit in difficult to read handwriting:

"needs supervision for nearly all basic needs"

Due to the severity of his ASD and his significant anxiety he is unable to judge when something is cooked and his awareness of this inability also adds to his anxiety.

I believe he should have been awarded 8 points for this activity."

kind regards

F.

Oops! I forgot to add that family members cook his meals for him, his Mother and Brother.