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Transition
Transitioning into adulthood for autistic children Making a transition into adulthood is a difficult time for any young adult. It is particularly challenging for autistic children, writes Manar Matusiak In this article, I will look at the legal side of transitions, the practical side of transitions and some strategies that might help autistic children in particular.
The law and statutory guidance Children under the age of 18 who need extra support at school or college will be assessed for an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) under the Children and Families Act 2014. This plan can continue up to the age of 25. If a child requires support beyond the age of 18, the Care Act 2014 requires that a local authority carry out a Child’s Needs Assessment (CNA). A CNA can be requested by the young person themselves or the parents at any age before the young person turns 18. For those who are over 18 years of age, the local authority has a duty to carry out an Adult Need’s Assessment which must include a personal budget. Discussions on whether a child will need a CNA should take place from Year 9 and should include the child, their parents or guardians and the school staff. Some young people with EHC Plans might be eligible for the NHS Continuing Healthcare funding (NHS CHC). This comes into force at age 18 and assessments also need to be carried out to find out if they qualify for this.
Practicalities For autistic children, when considering assessments for the EHC Plan it is important to remember that children on the autism spectrum can be as capable as their peers academically (or even surpass their peers), but that their social and communication challenges can impede their learning. SEN111
“Children on the autism spectrum can be as capable as their peers academically”
Consider the following (hypothetical) situations; Literal understanding When asked to grab Mrs Jones when she walks past, a child literally manually grabs the teacher. In this example, the child’s behaviour might be considered challenging or even aggressive. Misunderstanding tone of voice A teacher tells a child holding an empty crisp packet “You throw that on the ground and just see what happens!!!” An autistic child might totally miss the tone of voice, and throw the crisp packet on the floor. The above examples show how an autistic child might find themselves in constant trouble without understanding what they are doing wrong. Often, their self-esteem and self-confidence suffer. Their frustrations might reach levels that cause them to lash out leading to suspensions or even exclusions which in turn lead to the child falling behind their peers in their education. senmagazine.co.uk
