Alternative methods of communication for booking appointments
 

Due to my autism I find it pretty much impossible to communicate by phone to all but a small group of people that I know very well.

However so many organisations (including the NHS services in my area) only do communication by phone except for people who are deaf.

There are a significant number of people that have communication difficulties like mine, for various reasons, and even to this day there are few alternative forms of communication.

I always have to get my friend to phone up doctors, banks, T-mobile, other organisations etc for me as I cannot do it myself.

I want to be more independent and organise my own appointments etc but unfortunately I cannot because the only way to contact them is by phone!

What can I do about this?

My friend and I wrote a letter to the practise manager stating that I cannot call to make appointments and if there are any alternative ways to do it.

The taxi company that the government funds me to take to uni do e-mail bookings and never call me, they only text me. It's really good. However the NHS are annoying me in that they don't do e-mailing or texting in 95% of cases! This is at least in my trust area.

Hey, what about arranging the appointment when you're there for next time? Thats what I normally do. Texting and emailing is good too but Ive found only EIP do that - not camhs.

Sometimes they just send letters out and I just turn up. I dont know much about autism, so sorry if this is a rubbish idea! Because if possible, you could try having notes that you could read off, or maybe aim for 30 seconds, and then increments on when you feel like you can.

take care x

Thanks Ami. I will try but my communication difficulties are neurological so I don't think I could change it much

Ah yea, maybe arranging something with the secretaries or whoever sorts the appointments if email is possible.

My doctors surgery actually texts me to remind me of appointments, so they might be able to work some sort of texting thing out too.

Or arranging a same time, same day thing .. like 2pm on wednesday every week - they might be able to work something out so its consistant, or at least for a while until something else gets sorted.
x

Those are really good tips. I will ask my friend to phone them up to ask about e-mailing or texting, as both would be perfect for me. Regular appts would be difficult though as my GP is not consistent.

What about the same phone that the deaf use as that would expand the amount of people that you can communicate by text with.

I agree there should be more flexibility, and not just because you have autism or are deaf. Sadly it is not commonplace, and also the deaf phone system (I forget what it is called) is not everywhere too.

Hey, I sympathise! life would be so much easier if we could arrange appointments etc via email, I think it would be easier for the other end too, they could spend less time on the phone and just sort things out!

Thanks all. I believe its a "minicom" that the deaf use, but I would need a landline for that; I don't have a landline, only internet via cable. I will be writing to my local MP about this. Because quite a few million people in the UK have some sort of communication disorder.

There is a mobile phone system, but I don't know how expensive it is.
You could ask them to allow you to email you as a reasonable adjustment.

My GP surgery has an online booking system to make appointments. I dont have a problem with using the phone, but it beats waking up early and being held in a phone queue for half an hour to get an appointment! Maybe you could suggest yours does the same?

yeah my old one used emis or something, it was pretty good actually.

likewise for repeat prescriptions.

Thanks all. My friend and I wrote a letter to the practice manager asking for alternative forms of communication, and we suggested what you said - the e-mail system (or the text system). We posted the letter today. Will wait for results probably on Tuesday or later.

Well done for writing.Thats really brave and i rally hope you get a positve response.

i think a lot of people really struggle with this.i have communication difficulties which my team are working with me on but also really struggle with the phone due to my anxiety.

i know we might struggle for different reasons but your certainly not alone!!

Good luck.Thinking of you.

xx xx

Thank you both of you. The letter should be arriving at the GP surgery tomorrow. I hope that they will sort something out. I haven't written the MP letter as I need my friend to help me out.

I agree! I just had to walk to my GP surgery to book an appointment in person as I can't phone them. Its hard trying to fit things around a phone phobia. My boyfriends mum usually has to pretend to be me.

It would be great if everywhere allowed email or text communication. I noticed actually that my brothers autism worker always texts rather than phones, I guess because she knows it can be harder to answer the phone.

Makedamnsure, thanks. It is very hard on phones. I have an autism worker for university and we always text, never call as if she were to calll I wouldn't be able to answer the phone.

I know some doctors allow you to book appointments online if you make an account at the doctors at reception, you could check your doctors website?

I see my doctor regularly so during the appointment he books my next one for me....could be an option? We also have an online booking system which is good. I hope you find something suitable and helpful xx