Aug 24, 2024, Ross-shire Journal: Invergordon boy (7) waiting over two years for autism diagnosis is among 1700 Highland children on waiting list
Scotland
AN Invergordon mum has praised an Alness charity for giving much-needed respite to her son to “just be himself” amid the two-year - and counting - wait for an autism diagnosis.
Sian Goss has shared how a Highland charity named Fox and Friends has provided her family lifeline support. Fox and Friends is working to build stronger communities and fill the “gaps in provision” for ASN families in the Highlands, and running events and activities in the region. As a part of these ambitions, charity founder Lisa Davidson has now secured the Perrins Centre in Alness as their new community hub, to continue to support the many residents and families in the area.
Sian Goss is one the families supported by Fox and Friends, where her son Nathan (7), who is awaiting autism diagnosis, is given a judgement-free zone where he feels safe and “doesn’t have to hide it all”. . . .
As well as Fox and Friends being a lifeline support for Nathan, the charity also provides Sian with a non-judgemental space to speak to other parents of neurodivergent children, who are facing the same issues as her.
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Sian continued: “Nathan is in mainstream school at South Lodge Primary, and manages most of the time but still has moments where he struggles.
“The support in school is a bit hit and miss depending on what teacher it is. Last year they had a poor guy in the last year of his training who was chucked in the deep end with half the class likely being ASN. There was only one support assistant who was only in the class half the time. They need more support — Nathan needs one-to-one guidance and support to get his work done.
“The school have been amazing with putting a Child’s Plan in place for him, but its just making sure it’s put through all the teachers rather than just the additional needs teacher. They’ve also been great with letting a play therapy come into the school, which really helps him cope.
“It’s ups and downs.”
Despite receiving some support through his primary school education, Sian anticipates that without a diagnosis things will be more difficult in high school for Nathan — but the Neuro Developmental Assessment Service (NDAS) waiting list appears to be never-ending.
She continued: “Our experience with NDAS has been rubbish — we haven’t heard anyth
ing from them since we got a letter confirming he was on the waitlist two years ago.
“It’s pretty poor… we’re not even sure if they are still going through the process for Nathan or if they’ve stopped because of conflicting information.
“If we still don’t get a diagnosis by the time he’s heading to the academy, we will have to go private because the academy doesn’t give support without a diagnosis in place. . . .
As of August 2024, there are 1700 children and young people in the Highlands on the NDAS waiting list.
Explaining what she believes needs to be done about the situation, Sian continued: “There needs to be a massive increase in the amount of people who are actually working with these children, because so many of them are being let down. Until they get a diagnosis, they cannot get the support or treatment they need.
“I also believe that the schools need more training, and it has to be mandatory.” . . .
As well as Fox and Friends supporting ASN families, they are also passionate about supporting OAPs in the community — with Sian’s dad, Bob (85), inspiring this drive.
“My dad came to a lot of the sessions when it was just starting up, and it was such a good opportunity for him to chat to folk. He’s often quite a isolated, but the events like afternoon teas gives him a chance to talk to folk in a space where he’s accepted — it’s made a big difference for him, and he always comes out a lot happier.”
