Covid and Autism
- bethanysfightforfr
- Oct 7, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 14, 2023
Beth did in fact attend lessons and enjoyed the teaching and learning side of university and as her Mum, I was super proud that she was navigating her way to lessons as Beth has difficulty with planning journeys, transitions due to executive dysfunction which is part of her being Autistic.
She also found it challenging to use the kitchen to cook or get food from the cupboards whilst other students were around, the same with using the shared bathroom if there was anybody around.
Using the laundrette was too difficult due to the transition of planning the route and then entering and too peoply along with how to function the machines so we as her family took her washing home and brought it back weekends.
Shopping was another challenge as Beth didn't know where the shop was, we showed her the route but again the anxiety of planning the journey to actually going inside a supermarket was too challenging for her so we took her shopping with us when we were down with her washing.
I didn't want to enable her to do the things that she needed to learn to be able to manage as an independent individual but it was causing her stress and anxiety.
The lockdown rules changed where we couldn't leave our local area but Beth was struggling and was presenting with challenging behaviour and self harm. Options were given, including organising a food delivery but with her anxiety with approaching people and unable to initiate conversation, Beth said she wouldn't be able to approach the van and ask.
This was a huge concern and worry.
We went down still and made sure that she had bulk quantities so she didn't need to go shopping and we knew she was fed. This meant it was not fresh food as it wouldn't have lasted but tinned and packets.
Beth struggled with feeling isolated and the self harm led to her been sent to hospital after her peers in her shared accommodation were becoming upset and frustrated with the self harm and were reporting it and then she was taken to hospital for treatment. This happened on many occasions and her peers said they could not deal with it so Beth was moved to temporary accommodation on site.
I drove down 3 hours alone to help move all her things from one accommodation to another.
After a few weeks she was placed in another on site accommodation so had to face another move.
This would be the last move on campus .....
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