A mother from County Londonderry has stated that her teenage son, who has autism alongside anxiety and other behavioural challenges, is unable to access adult disability support.
Following his recent eighteenth birthday, the young man underwent testing which indicated an IQ score exceeding 70.
Health trusts across Northern Ireland rely on psychometric assessments to determine whether an individual qualifies as having a learning disability.
The family argues that despite these findings, there is no pathway for him to receive necessary care once he reaches adulthood.
This situation highlights concerns regarding how special educational needs identified in childhood translate into adult services provision.
The mother described the experience as one where her son is slipping through gaps in the current support framework.
No further details were provided on specific service refusals or proposed interventions at this stage.