Hi!
I'm a neurotypical married to an autistic man (29 years old). We immigrated from a non-English speaker country to Australia recently, and since then my husband feels worse than ever. He has long non-verbal periods what used to lasts for a few hours at home, now even lasting for 2-3 days straight. He has more frequent meltdowns.
My husband speaks only little English, and for his English class he needs to do an interview with the school (probably to see which level his English is at), which takes place tomorrow. When he has to attend somewhere, I usually accompany him, because he's only speaking little English. But the problem is that I can't come with him tomorrow as I have my own studies to attend to. I saw it as a good opportunity, to him finally being a little more independent, since the school doesn't expect him to speak fluently, that being the reason that he's there at the first place. Also since it's an immigrant program, they probably have interpreters as well, and phone interpreters available 24/7, and if something goes wrong, he can call me as well.
He just told me that even back at home a few years ago when he had an interview for school, he payed the cheque, travelled more than 200 km, brought all of this equipment with him, but stopped at the school door, and didn't manage to get in, and he had to go home. And he's afraid that the same will happen now.
I'm hesitant if I should call the language school for a reschedule (the waiting list is really long so I'm not sure if it would be possible) in hopes they give an appointment when I can go with him, or should I encourage him to go alone? Is there something I can do to make it easier for him? (I know I can't go with him everywhere forever, but I really hope after his English will get better, I won't be needed as at home he was a working professional and fully independent, even if he needed to go to new places or be in new situations.)
I was even thinking about calling the school for more information about the interview (the exact process, the duration, etc), but then I probably would have to explain to them that my husband is autistic, so I don't come off as over-controlling (I don't know even how's that as a first impression that my phone number is listed as my husband's number) and since it's a new country, I'm not sure what would be the consequences (maybe even not letting him attend to a program, I'm not sure how realistic is that fear is), or he would be viewed as problematic before the school even starts. He wants to be able to pass as an introverted neurotypical, like he did at home.
Thank you in advance!
