A mother in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, has voiced concerns that her autistic son is being failed by the support system now that he has turned 18 and is no longer eligible for services that previously assisted him. Cherrise Lanigan states her 18-year-old son, Callan, who has autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other behavioral issues, is falling through the cracks due to a lack of adequate support for young adults with learning difficulties.
Lanigan believes the system's reliance on IQ tests for assessing support needs is flawed and disadvantages individuals like her son. "My son's autism is so much more than his IQ, and he really struggles with the social aspects of being around people, but any help we had has now been taken away because of one test," she told BBC News NI. She expressed worry that without continued support, her son will be unable to make progress and may be confined to staying at home indefinitely.
The Northern Health Trust acknowledged that their assessment approach "can present significant challenges" for families who do not meet the eligibility criteria. Lanigan described her son's autism diagnosis as complex, emphasizing his significant social and emotional support needs. She feels her son has been abandoned and is being let down by the system, which she believes is not prioritizing his development and well-being after he transitions out of youth services.