The Point

---

Simon is One of many autistic people are isolated from coronavirus -

For Most People , the Covid-19 crisis is a disturbing, confusing time. But for hundreds of thousands of adults with autism in the UK, the problems are acute.

families, and charities say, this vulnerable group has been forgotten, in the pandemic, and they often do not receive the care they need. Here are some of them describe what things have been like since the lockdown began.

"Sick with worry"

In a couple of weeks, Simon is 53. He was diagnosed with autism when he was three and has been in Residential Care all his Life .

He has a very limited communication but can say when he wants a Cup of tea. In normal times, he would ride and swim once a week.

"He is a very active young man," says His Mother , Andrea. "And for me, he is still a young man. "

fell ill But Two Weeks ago, Simon, with a high temperature and strong cough.

"I just felt sick with worry," says Andrea. "I mean, what happened to him, if he is so sick he has to go to the hospital?"

in Spite of typical symptoms, like thousands of others, Simon was not tested, coronavirus, and Andrea is not allowed to see him.

she has nothing to say but praise for the nursing home staff, but: "no, the doctors come, and that is the whole problem. We don't know what we have to do.

"It was terrible - probably The Most exhausting week in My Life . "

Simon's mom says he would struggle to cope if he had to go to the hospital

Simon brought has no way of communicating how he feels, whether he is better or worse, and no way of processing what was happening to him.

"I can't imagine what he's thinking," says Andrea.

"Also disappeared to his favorite tea-Cup, because it allows for the cold drinks keep the temperature down. He can't say to someone, I would really like to have a Cup of tea. "

Under NHS guidelines, if someone does not need to be treated with autism or an intellectual disability in the hospital, for Covid-19 then a single Family Member or carer can attend.

But Andrea still believes that Simon cope would fight to.

"He would be absolutely horrified," she says. "Most hospitals have very Personal, very little of the difficulties with autism, and learning. I just don't know what would happen. "

she says that Simon, the state began to improve, and he is now eating small amounts and sit in The Garden with a drink.

'What protection do I have?'

David was diagnosed with autism and multiple learning difficulties as a child. Now in his 50s, he spent The Last 30 years spent in three different homes for the elderly.

He is worried about what happens if The Virus spreads in the house and says that people like him are forgotten.

"the test should be carried out daily on the residents and the nurses," he says.

"If my care staff or other residents get it, I'm stuck. What protection do I have? I Am concerned about the lack of PPE for all providers, not just My Own . "

Christopher s two long-term managers have resigned, Leaving him without the care that he desperately needs '

How many people with autism, Christopher finds it difficult to handle the unpredictable.

"He is very confused, very frustrated with any form of change to his schedule or his daily Routine," says His Mother , Jane. "So when situations like this arise, you get a lot of afraid of him. "

Christopher lives on his own, in his own house. He has two long-term caregivers to help with meals, cleaning, body care and other everyday tasks that he can not do alone, but in The Last month, both had to withdraw - a for health reasons, The Other to look after your own Children - let's not support him.

And because Jane is living with another vulnerable person, lockdown does not mean that you will be able to help your son face-to-face.

"Everything that needs to be done, within his travel, keep two meters distance," she says. "But that means we can't offer The Personal care that he needs, urgently, urgently. "

If - as is likely - the blocking fears continue for weeks, perhaps months, Jane, it could be "catastrophic consequences" for her son.

"the longer it is, the more frightened he becomes, the more insecure he became, the more he has to lose what we have built with him over The Years .

"He's a 40-year-old young man who has much to give. He is an absolute sweetheart, but I'm so worried about This Time for him. "

"I'm afraid he's losing his social skills'

Life in assisted living, James* was used to regular visits from his nurses.

But because of the Corona Virus outbreak, his contact is limited to brief phone calls or a knock at The Door .

He has Asperger's syndrome and was recently released from the hospital, where he was a patient for over 10 Years .

"Gradually, he is to stay in the room, no longer see or speak to anyone, stay up All Night and in bed for a large part of The Day ," says His Mother , Kathy.

"I'm afraid that he's going to lose everything, his social skills again, and very depressed, it ends up back in the hospital. "

by your age, Kathy, is self-isolate, so only contact her son via E-Mail or video-call.

"He always says, 'what is the meaning of Life , if We Are in lockdown'.

"He is more and more on me for mental support, rather than to his team. So I'm on the receiving end, the victim of his frustrations. I will be very glad when the lockout is over and he can get the full support that he needs. "

Jane Harris , Director of External Affairs at The National Autistic Society, says: "people with autism often have difficulties in communication. This means, to understand that it is more difficult, what is going on in the First Place .

"But even autistic people, which is not often The Best support networks, to begin with, so it's really, really hard for you to get support in a crisis, things like shopping or even just a call, just to check that someone is OK.

"There are thousands of people across the country, the isolated deeply during this crisis and who need support More Than ever. "

The aid organization has help for autistic people and their families, during the pandemic. To visit for more information about the organisations that can help.

(*names changed)

autism, coronavirus pandemic, disability, home care, anxiety

Source of news: bbc.com