Mother Says Autistic Son, 18, Lost Support After an IQ Test

An 18-year-old with autism in County Londonderry has been shut out of adult disability services in Northern Ireland because of a single IQ test, according to his mother.

Cherisse Lanigan, from Draperstown, says her son Callan has been "abandoned and is falling through cracks in the system". Callan has autism and ADHD, as well as anxiety and other behavioural issues. He was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and spent most of his school years in a special learning unit within a mainstream school.

After he turned 18 he took a test that found his IQ is above 70. Health trusts in Northern Ireland use that kind of psychometric assessment to decide whether someone has a learning disability. A score above the threshold means no access to adult services, even though Callan was assessed as having special educational needs as a child.

"My son's autism is so much more than his IQ," Ms Lanigan told BBC News NI. "Any help we had has now been taken away because of one test."

Callan now attends a further education college with support one day a week. His mother takes him to local youth clubs a few nights a week. She says he can explain how a computer is built but struggles with social and communication skills.

Gap after school

A statement of Special Educational Needs ends with school. In England a care plan stays in place until a young person is 25. Campaigns in Northern Ireland in recent years have called for more help for young people with special needs after they leave school. Earlier this year the health minister said there was not enough time to bring in new policies on post-school support before the next assembly election.

Sinn Fein MLA Emma Sheerin, who has raised the case in the Assembly, said Callan "has just missed that threshold by the tiniest of margins". Northern Ireland's Independent Autism Reviewer, Ema Cubitt, called it "indefensible" that adults with autism are left to navigate "the most complex of systems".

The Northern Health Trust said it recognised the approach "can present significant challenges" for families who do not meet the criteria, and would keep engaging with the Lanigans. Ms Lanigan confirmed that talks on more support for her son have begun.

The Department of Health said work is under way "within a financially-constrained environment" to improve clarity, consistency and support as young people move into adulthood.

Source: BBC News