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UC50 Coping with social engagement. Attending medical appointments

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5 days 11 hours ago #303419 by Totoro
What does social engagement refer to?
My partner always requires social support when they engage with others due to their mental health issues - causing distress anxiety, paranoia.
They avoid mixing with others, but do have to attend several of medical appointments - I always attend these with him.
Is attending medical appointments considered to be social engagement?

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5 days 3 hours ago #303426 by David
Hi Totoro

I would refer you to this judgement in the Upper Tribunal-
18. In my view, social contact in this sense is not the same as contact for business or professional purposes. If one goes to a medical examination, or a tribunal hearing, the rules are firmly established by the process and/or the person conducting it, and are typically clearly defined, often in writing. If the person being examined or whose case it is does not respond in a way that a person without disability might, the person conducting it may because of their professional responsibilities be expected within generous limits to accommodate the non-conforming response and certainly not, as it were, to take a poorer view of, or attempt to avoid further contact with, the person because of it. That is precisely what is lacking in the social sphere, where people are free to interact on their own terms and to accept the behaviour of another or to reject it, and largely do so on the basis of the sort of unwritten rules to which the National Autism Society guidance makes reference, an inability to respect which could, in the words of the descriptor, be an indication of “difficulty relating to others”.
administrativeappeals.decisions.tribunal...px/view.aspx?id=4100

David

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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4 days 16 hours ago #303436 by Totoro
Thank you, that was very helpful.
The following user(s) said Thank You: David

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