Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Hi Everyone I'm struggling big style
I have 3 daughters aged 8, 7 and 2
I'm a single Mum with no help, that is until the Social Services intervened
I have struggled with my eldest since birth, she refused to feed, sleep and all she's ever done is scream at me, and not just with me, everywhere except school
She apparently is a model pupil,
My daughter Chloe can scream for 10 hours solid, purely because something is new or different,
I took her on holiday and I had 9 hours of screaming in 1 day,
Saturdays are particularly difficult,
When she's by herself she doesn't behave like this,
Anyway I couldn't cope and after asking the social services for help for 5 years they placed my youngest 2 on the at risk and accused me of neglect and abuse, despite her biting me infront of them and her kicking them,
I've always felt something is wrong, and she's even been kicking off in their care, {only when she's with other children]
It's been suggested by a Homestart volunteer that she could be on the ASD spectrum, I don't know what to do next as the courts are involved, they want assessments, I'm so desparate to find answers I need my family back.
Many thanks Mim

Hello Mim I don't have time to reply right now to your post

I have moved it for you so hopefully someone will now see in and reply Hang in there someone will be here soon to offer support

You need to get the assessments not only for you and your family but her too. You don't say if all the children are in care or not, but then you have no need to .

Speak to your GP, your health visitor and ask for referrals for her. Prove she has something wrong.

After what I have been hearing on the TV I would avoid Social workers at all costs and go straight to my Health Visitor for help. Unfortunately they are already involved so get them to organise assessments of behaviour.

For court they need proof of neglect and abuse, I don't know if they have or have not got that, but a Judge won't just take Social Services word for it. However I feel the burden of proof lies with you and you need to gather evidence that you have not done what you have been accused off.

Maybe someone with legal knowledge will come along and help you...I take it you have a solicitor?

I am a single mum with twins, one who may have higher functioning autism. It not easy, especially when my boys teacher is making noises that I am an unfit parent and my son is just badly behaved I have done Nursery Nursing training, so you can understand why I get so mad at this!

I think your next step is to go and talk to your GP, explain your concerns and tell him someone has mentioned ASD would he/she mind requesting a referal for her.

Other than repeat what hopalong has already said, the only other avenue I may try is the autistic society, I am sure they would be able to offer you some lawfull advice.

Good luck

HI yes they are all in care, the courts have to do assessments, they have no evidence of anything except me saying I'm exhausted and I need help,
I'm looking at at least 6 months before I can get my girls back,
I haven't done anything to them except love them, but no amount of love gets through to Chloe, it's never enough and never has been
Can anyone tell me anymore about ASD, maybe it is, maybe it isn't but I owe it to her to find answers,
I have spent years trying to get help, but all I'm told is it's my parenting, [It's not i'm a good mum] I have previously been to Health Visitor etc. but all the so-called professionals have loked with the Social Services.
Any help would be a godsend
Kind regards Mim

Mim ASD has nothing to do with being a bad parent and don't let anyone tell you different you are doing the best you can for your children so hang, you have our support now and we will answer as many questions as we can.

Regarding your question about ASD the best advice I can give you is read as many posts on here as possible, you will soon start to realise what the ASD traits are that your daughther is displaying, they all have different issues so it's difficult to say asd is ........ once you start to read the posts from other people you will soon start to think they are being written about you if your daughter is on the spectrum.

One thing I will say is for some reason girls are harder to diagnose than boy's I think the ratio of girls on the spectrum is 1 to 4 boys, there are some really good books available if you look in the resource section there are some that have been recommend by others here.