Scot's teen with Down's Syndrome 'failed by the system' as support runs out

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A teenage boy with Down's Syndrome is being 'failed by the system', according to his family. Kyle and Gillian McCormick, from Knightswood, Glasgow, say that their son Mikey has been left with no support after finishing school over a month ago.

They fear that he will become reclusive and regress in social ability while waiting on a support package to be offered by social services.

The couple, who look after 17-year-old Mikey full time say they may be forced to put him into supported living earlier than they planned as they struggle to cope on their own.

Previously the family have relied upon school and organisations like the Buddies for respite. However, they say they are facing an uncertain future as due to Mikey's age he is not able to access many of the services. "Mikey was supposed to be finishing school earlier than he did but because the care packages he needed weren't put into place, the school kept him on until the rest of the pupils finished", Kyle's dad told Glasgow Live. "The packages still haven't been put into place despite us meeting with social workers in January to discuss plans for him moving into adult services." While he's consistently had support while at school and through after-school clubs, Mikey is now facing months of not interacting with other teenagers or building on his social skills and most importantly, a total upheaval of his normal routine.