Did you know that you can apply for disability living allowance (PIP) if your child needs help above and beyond what would typically be expected for their age? It doesn't matter what the reason and they don't need a diagnosis. You just need to be able to evidence the difficulties with support from school and/or other professionals. At 16, disability living allowance stops and you need to apply for personal independence allowance (PIP) instead. There's two elements to PIP - care and mobility. If a young person is eligible for high rate mobility than part of the allowance can be used to hire a car through the motability scheme. Motability cars are taxed, insured, and serviced, and up to three people can be insured to drive the car. One can be a learner driver.
Most local authorities offer a disability bus pass scheme which allows free travel during off peak hours - some local authorities allow people with a disability bus pass to travel free at any time. Again, it's about providing evidence that a child, young person, or adult, needs a disability bus pass.
Children who struggle in school might be eligible for an education health and care plan which sets out help they need (and are legally entitled to) to help them to access their right to an education. A diagnosis can be helpful but it isn't needed. Again, it's about being able to evidence the difficulties and the need for help that schools can't provide within their usual budgets. A lot of parents (and schools) don't realise that parents can apply for an assessment whether school agree or not. EHCPs can last until 25 for those young people who stay in education. They can run alongside an apprenticeship or a supported internship.
There's disabled students allowance (DSA) for young people and adults who want to attend university but need help to manage. DSA can fund specialist equipment, a mentor/coach, and transport.
Did you know you can also apply for government funding to help young people (and adults) with disabilities and mental health problems to get work and to stay in work. Access to Work is a fantastic government scheme that can pay for things like specialist equipment, job coach/mentor, emotional support, transport, and a travel buddy - among other things. The application process is easy and everybody is helpful.
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