Well I've got the date for the assessment

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February 2019. Apprehension /expectations levels are through the roof . Ideally they would like to speak to someone has known me from birth/infancy. That is tricky. Father is 88,lives in the States and has a patchy memory for my early years . My mother is dead. I have a brother and sister who live in London. I'm doubtful they'd come to Wiltshire to be with me at the assessments. There are no Aunts and Uncles to come to an assessment.
Best I can really do is my stepdaughter who has only known me since I was 25 .

They say they'll go by medical/social care reports if not , but I'm wondering if written info from my brother and sister will suffice.

How about having either brother or sister on speakerphone during the assessment?

Or the doctor can call them after the fact.

There should be no requirement for them to physically be present.

Have emailed brother,father and sister asking them if they'll write a statement about me. My sister has said she'll try to attend but can't commit because of work. She has to travel quite frequently.

I hope the assessment goes well.

Thank you.

I think it's worth doing some preparation for the assessment if you have not done so already. It will help you to get all the information in order and not forget items if just relying on memory.

When I was assessed last year, they conducted an interview over the phone with my mother as she does not live close to where I am. You could speak to the clinic and see if this is possible for you?

I have posted this list before when someone on here asked what the questions were for their own assessment. Hopefully it will be of some help to you.

These are the subjects of interest working backwards from the summary of the conversation with my mother:

AS A CHILD:
Hit key developmental milestones? sitting, walking, talking etc.
How verbal is the child?
Phase of play/imitating everyday acts? Cooking, cleaning etc.
Attached to unusual objects?
Unusual interest in objects? Spin, patterns,shapes etc.
Unusual hand or finger mannerisms?

Interactions with other children?
Taking part in group games?
Difficulty taking turns or sharing?
Imaginative play?
Scripted play?
Over-riding interests?

AS AN ADOLESCENT & ADULT:
Social and conversational skills
Reciprocal communication, butting in, tendency to monologue.
Avoiding eye contact or making others uncomfortable with eye contact.
Ability to make and sustain friendships.
Recognising and respecting boundaries/personal space.

Ability to show normal range of emotions.
Use of descriptive gestures.
Smile when greeting people.
Excitability.
Ability to determine other peoples emotional state.

Sensory sensitivity.
Particular or special interests.
Rigid daily routines.
Distressed by unfamiliar events.
Arranging objects in specific ways.

I wasn't on speaking terms with anybody in my family when I had my assessment. I presented myself as all of the evidence that was needed and the report concluded that there was no doubt. So it's not essential to have other people make statements, but obviously if you're borderline then it's going to help.

I didn't have anyone. He wasn't bothered at all, I was given a questionnaire that should have been filled in by someone thst knows me, I took it blank because I had no one to fill it in, he said I could fill it in myself but it didn't matter and he just interviewed me. It's unlikely you're making it all up.

Good luck, don't worry about it, they understand, they will make you feel at ease, I loved mine, most confident I've ever felt in a conversation!

Well got email back from my dad. According to him-