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Life Insurance to provide Support

Mhairi

Hi

I like many parents of a child with ASD worry about what will happen to him when I may not be around anymore.  Who will understand ASD and his needs and help him?  It is painful to think of.

I have an idea and would be interested to hear what others views on it are including the NAS.  It is a bit morbid but a practical issue that could lighten the load.

An insurance policy which we, as parents/guardians would purchase via the NAS, which will mean if I died, an appointed NAS person would visit my son after my death to help support him with the aftermath and for say, a quarterly visit for the remainder of his life.  Perhaps it would be a small group getting together with an NAS member of staff quarterly.  My thoughts are at the initial brain storming stage but I can see potential in this for the parents to benefit from peace of mind, the child/adult with ASD and the NAS to raise funds.

I know we would pay whatever it took to know someone would be visiting him and checking he was ok, pointing him in the right direction of support, new initiatives,  assisting filling out paperwork for benefits or whatever may be needed and that they understood his ASD.

I know this would be a big undertaking in terms of vetting the staff involved and the administration but I think it would be worth it.

What do you think?

 

 

 

  • Thanks for your replies.  Great to hear you feel the same.

    I know there are public sector bodies that are "supposed" to help adults with ASD but given the state of the public sector currently it does not give me any reassurance whatsoever.  That is no disrespect to anyone working in the public sector, but realistically, we know everyone is stretched and doing the job of 3 people, long waiting lists and often you need to be able to fight for your rights.  This is something many ASD adults would not be able to do on their own.  I know my son may be likely to forget, get in a muddle, just ignore the benefit forms if it was too stressful, avoid going to a group session if the travel was stressful and so on. 

    I believe it is vital every adult with ASD has this back up support from someone who "gets it".  I suppose it would be a kind of private support insurance, but I would gladly pay for something that could get even a few steps closer to this.  It may even be something lottery funding could be sought to help it be available to all.

    An even more radical idea, maybe the parents of children with ASD could partner up to be a sort of support co-ordinator, guardian for each other.  I know that would need a lot more thought but worth developing.

    I hope the NAS pick this discussion up to at least get it discussed as an idea at the infancy stage by those that can make these things happen.  It does seem crazy that  adults that are not able to cope fully on their own are just dropped and left to flounder in the world.

    Thanks for your support on this. Fingers crossed it goes somewhere.

     

  • I agree my sons are 5 and I have had 2 close calls with death in those 5 years ..my health is poor and my partner is awaiting assessment for possible Aspergers at present.

    Much as my partner is a loving, and intelligent Dad and provider I know he cannot deal with money and has trouble with paperwork etc. I was so scared last year when I was told I may 'not make it'..in the main my fear was how will he and the boys cope on a practical level.

    SO yes well done for raising this subject I would welcome something like this whole heartedly. 

    And you have reminded me that I still having done a will! I need to put that on my 'to do' list.

    Oatie

  • Hello Mhairi,

    I think, morbid as it is it, it is a very real concern. My wee son is just a tot and is severely autistic. I have no family members who could help or support him when I am not around. I have lost hours of sleep worrying on this very issue. I think it is an excellent idea to get people/groups discussing this in real terms and potential schemes being proposed.

    I am very sure it is a very live and frightened issue for thousands of parents with autistic children across the UK. As parents and carers I think we need to be brave and realistic and get people talking about ways of moving forward.

    Well done for raising such a relevant topic.

    Catherine :)

  • Hi Mhairi,that would be good for our young one's, there are organisations that help people if they need it for every day living and to help them maintain independance ,shopping form filling ect it all depends on there needs. would be when they go into adulthood. We have one child of 11yrs we too worry what would happen if something ever happened to us (god,forbid)