Skimom

Hello all!

I do hope someone can help me and share their experiences with us. We received a brown envelope this morning but instead of a PPR as expected, it turned out to be a really horrible letter informing us that though they haven't yet made a decision on us immigrating and they don't think our son should be let in!

He has dyspraxia and mild Asperger's. He has no problems really with day-to-day life, is in an ordinary state secondary with no extra help. He has no health needs. Most people would not notice anything different about him, other than he has really messy, large handwriting and doesn't like football or pop music! Other than that, he is a pretty normal soon-to-be-teenage boy!

Has anyone else had the same problems getting in in this situation? What did you do? We have 60 days to present further information supporting our case. I am posting on here and contacting anyone and everyone I can think of who could write a supporting statement. Starting, funnily enough, with the Canadian school he attended for 3 years when he was younger.

Would love to hear from anyone who can offer any words of support or encouragement. Thank you so much!

Siouxie

Hi there,

You will need to show (and prove) that he would not be a burden on the system, basically (excessive demand).

There are many threads here covering Aspergers / Autism, a lot with the information you are asking for.

Search: http://britishexpats.com/forum/searc...archid=2065400

This thread might be of use.. http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...tism+Aspergers

It seems if you can get letters from his GP, School, psychologist reports (if available), his development team etc, anyone who has any dealing with him and can verify what his needs are you "should" be able to overcome this hurdle. (the letter from his former school in Canada will be a great help!)

The DMP handbook has this: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resourc...ppendix-02.asp

Question 16: Autism, developmental delay, dementia, etc.
If there is a history of autism, mental retardation or developmental delay, and if the applicant is not excessive demand exempt, provide a specialist’s report from a pediatrician, clinical psychologist or child psychiatrist, as appropriate, to describe:

specific diagnosis
developmental history
psychometric testing, including IQ testing
assessment of adaptive skills, associated behaviour disorders
history of special or assisted schooling, vocational training and/or work records
current and future treatment, support requirements and recommendations for speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, special education or vocational training (including recommended frequency and duration of interventions)
current and future need for ongoing supervision or institutional care.


CIC have a duty to look at each person individually and assess their needs before making a decision. This case might be of use to you as it gives details of what evidence they supplied.

Hope this helps a little, and good luck!

Poppit

Hi Skimom

So sorry to hear about your letter.

It might be useful to get a letter off your GP and also from his school to support your application. I think CIC are try to establish whether your son is going to be a 'drain' on their healthcare. From what you have said, he leads a fairly independent life and should be able to contribute to the Canadian economy.

Goodluck with your application - I hope you get the result you want.

Poppit

debbiem

Did you provide up to date paed/ Ed Psych reports at medical? OT report for the dyspraxia?

If not, you need to get them to CIC as soon as poss.

There are a few posters on here who have been successful with similar circumstances. You might find it useful to pm 'luvmykids' - I'm sure she won't mind. ()

Good luck x

Skimom

Siouxie - thank you very much for your great response. Have checked the threads and will follow up further.

Poppit - thank you for your reply, too. Strangely, we provided ed.psych. report and paediatrician report as well as reports from school when requested from further info. last October. It appears they have not properly read what was written. I feel as if we have to repeat everything and underline the bits we want them to really take in!

debbiem - thanks for your reply and for pointing me in the direction of luvmykids. Will definitely get in touch.

As for now, have set up some appts and made phone calls and have a list of people here in Uk and in Canada to write something proving he will not cost them any money at all.

I don't understand how they think a child in an ordinary school with no IEP, no Statement, no Special Needs Assistant, no meds, etc etc can possibly cost them anything. It is as if they are looking at the worst case scenario. He does not fall into that category.

Thanks again for the responses, I certainly feel a lot calmer than earlier on. This is just a delay, not a refusal so we will carry on doing as CIC asked and them waiting some more!

Siouxie

Here is a list of all the threads she started - you will see the ones pertaining to the medical and aspergers on page 2 - good thinking debbiem!

http://britishexpats.com/forum/searc...archid=2067429

This particular thread details what she did to overcome the excessive demand problem: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=612948&page=2

There was another thread that had some useful advice... http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ghlight=autism

Finally, here is a bulletin on "excessive demand" with full details of what they are looking for and the procedures used. http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLIsh/resourc...2008/ob063.asp

Skimom

Hi Siouxie!

Thank you for this further info. Very useful and I will definitely follow debbiem's advice and pm luvmykids.

Now I have calmed down a bit and am seeing this as just another hoop to jump through. Unfortunately, if the docts already sent had been read properly, we would not be in this situation! Needless to say I shall probably be spending most of the weekend glued to the computer!


Thank you again, we will get this sorted out!

Siouxie

I wonder if ordering your Foss / Caips notes would give you some insight into why they are concerned? I know it may not be feasible given the time constraints, but it may be worth it.

Skimom

That's an idea - will add it to my to-do list.

Robin (The Gadget family)

Sorry skimom...just found this thread. We have a son diagnosed with ADHD and childhood autism, and like your son he has been through a normal state school education without a diagnosis and we we only had him assessed after he was kicked out of his 3rd school for behavioral issues.

We have just done our medicals and I took in a report dated 8/4/10 from his psychiatrist, covering the points mentioned above by- oh can't remember but another poster above, an old Ed psych report, GCSE results, letters from his college and pupil referral unit and had included about 8-10 personal references from those that have contact with him.

We wait to hear whether we are going to receive a letter like yours or a PPR...

Can't be of any help but do sympathize with what you are going through to prove that your son is not going to be a burden. for you.

Skimom

Thanks for getting in touch, Robin (The Gadget Family)!

for us both! It is an awful situation to be in. Our son costs zero here so I don't see why it shouldn't be the same there!

LinsyPinsy

Just wanted to touch base with you all regarding Aspergers. We are currently waiting for med requests and was really interesed in the thread as our wee man has Aspergers too. We have obtained a most up to date report from his ed psych and will submit this when required. He costs the state here nothing apart from yearly reviews.
I will have a look at all these links...but will no doubt be in touch once its our turn!
Good luck all, let us all know how you progress with the process with regards to Aspergers.

lns

Skimom

Hi LinsyPinsy! Thanks for getting in touch! Will keep you updated! At the moment, I am busy collecting reports and statements to forward on to CIC. We thought we had already provided the correct information but now find ourselves having to go through the process again. Good luck to us all!

Mistress Miggins

Hello!

I have worked and continue to do so with people with autism and aspergers at an educational establishment, my understanding when I read the back of the medical form, was that as long as it's not deemed that the inidividual needs residential living or suchlike and can live a normal independent life then there shouldn't be a problem.

Unfortunately, I did at the time try and explain this fact to someone who was facing the same issue, but for whatever reason they decided to tell everyone that I said there was no way their child could get PR even though I rang them from the doctors and read the form to them???? But that's another story. It's black and white and totally clear to me, if a normal and unassisted life can be lead, then PR shouldn't be a problem. And rightly so too Try and not worry if that's possible

A supportive,
Mrs M x

Skimom

Hi! Thank you for that, Mistress M! Yes, it is all clear to me too. They have to treat everyone on a case by case basis, which is right. We now have to show that a child with mild Asperger's is NOT severely autistic, as they are implying. I am spending all my time on the phone and the computer at the moment but it will be worth it in the end!