MR self-referred into the Western Bay Integrated Autism Service in April 2019 for a diagnostic assessment of autism. She told the service that she’d had “severe difficulties” since leaving university. MR explained that social situations are incredibly difficult for her and she is unable to attend appointments or meetings unaccompanied.
MR received a diagnosis of Autism in May 2019 and attended a Post Diagnostic Course in September 2019. Attending the course gave MR the opportunity to think about her autism and open up about her struggles. The IAS talked with MR about her rights as an employee and as an individual, and discovered that she’d had an upsetting experience with a PIP assessment, which she found traumatic and resulted in the loss of her payments. Due to her social and communication difficulties she was unable to effectively explain her struggles to an assessor. Without these payments, it was becoming likely that she would have to move back into her parents’ house, as she would no longer be financially able to live independently.
As a team, the IAS were able to support her to challenge the way she was assessed and acquire a re-assessment. The IAS were also able to provide evidence of how MR’s autism affects her day to day.
MR’s PIP award was successful, and she is now able to continue to live independently.
