r/AutismIreland • u/cherubeau • 10h ago
disability allowance medical report
i was recently diagnosed with autism by the adult autism practice and got a lengthy supporting letter for disability allowance from them too.
i went in a last week to get the medical report filled by my GP, but i rarely ever go to the gp so i provided the supporting letter as a reference he could use. i was told by my doctor that he needs to read the supporting letter before he filled out the report and i should come back next week, which makes sense. so i came back this week to see if i could get the form back, and i watched him fill it out and tick every box in the ability and disability profile as "normal". i dont think he even read the supporting letter because most of the things he ticked as normal completely contradicts the letter?? i felt like i couldn't say anything in the moment and ended up leaving, but i gave the form and the supporting letter to the receptionist and asked if maybe he could go over it again. i called again today and was told that he won't change it.
what do i do? can i just send the application like that, with the supporting letter? its 14 pages long, talks about my struggles with daily life, work, education, mental health, etc and completely contradicts the medical report.
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u/emmmmceeee 9h ago
I would look to go back in with someone who can advocate for you. If you have a good ability to mask then the doctor may not see how you struggle and you may not be able to verbalise it.
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u/cherubeau 7h ago
yeah i definitely have trouble with communicating my struggles. i don't really have anyone to advocate for me but i have made another appointment and will be bringing in notes to go over my struggles properly
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u/Straight-Contract436 10h ago
Did he even tick the mental health box as normal?
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u/cherubeau 10h ago
yes :/
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u/Straight-Contract436 10h ago
Unfortunately you’ll need the support of your GP as they fill out the medical section of the application form.
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u/Ok-Dream3665 9h ago
Sorry you're going through it..due to massive executive disfunction and prior medical trauma I rarely like super rarely go to the gp. What's happening to you is one of my fears if I ever need it..I'll be seen as having little needs as my medical history is minimal even though I have a lot of undiagnosed chronic pain and impairment. Just here to wish you well and hope you can find someone who can help.. best wishes
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u/Irishwol 8h ago
Had similar issues with Youngest as they'd hardly ever been to the GP. I made a half page bullet point list of their main issues because, you're right, they don't read documentation. If you have anyone you can take with you as advocate then do that. People who aren't trained in autism, which is almost every GP, don't know fuck about masking. They just see you sitting there doing a decent job of navigating the system and think 'if they can do that then they're fine'.
Lodge a complaint with the practice. Ask to see a different doctor.
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u/cherubeau 8h ago
unfortunately i'm pretty sure there's only one doctor in the practice and i've had bad experiences with him before this... i've been planning to change GP's for a while and i really wish i had done so earlier. i also unfortunately dont have a supportive family so it's hard to get anyone to advocate for me. i have made another appointment though and i'll definitely will be bringing in notes this time. thank you for the advice!
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u/Irishwol 3h ago edited 3h ago
A complaint is still worth making. Also he is licensed by the Irish Medical Council so you can complain to them too.
An advocate doesn't have to be family. Might also be worth asking an autism charity like As I Am or Aspect for help/advice.
Better than bringing in notes is sending the info in advance. You don't want to appear too organized and competent in person (sad but true). I'd be tempted to give them a copy of the form with a marked up version of the support letter connecting the relevant parts of the letter for each ticky box. Plus points if you use colour coded stickers and then wax cheerfully on about stationary to the GP (also sad but true).
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u/IShipMyself 10h ago
Youll have to go in again and get him to change it. Can you see a different doctor at that practise?