My autistic brother is 21 with an EHCP, need advice please

[988ghghgd]

My 21 year old brother is autistic and has an EHCP. He has struggled in education his whole life, and was homeschooled with a tutor from the age of 11. At the moment he is enrolled in a life skills course at the local college on a reduced timetable. He's been there for the last 3 years but has never managed to have good attendance. They have been flexible with his hours, but he still struggles to attend and will have meltdowns where he locks himself in his room, shouts and throws/damages things. The college are saying he needs to attend everyday, it seems he can attend 2 days in a row but any more than that sends him into a meltdown. However, when he does go he enjoys college and I think he wouldn't want to be removed from the course completely.

I'm really worried about his future and how best to support him and support my parents to help him. I don't think he will ever manage to live an independent life, he wouldn't cope with a job as the slightest thing triggers him into a meltdown and I don't think he will ever be able to live independently either.

Is there anything we can do? I feel quite lost with it all, I'm not sure whether he should see a GP to get advice? Will he get benefits to support his living costs? Are there any courses or activities available to him that aren't as strict with attendance?

I may be wrong, but I would have thought that as part of his annual EHCP review they would have transitioning plans to adulthood, which should include whether or not he needs to move to supported living?

An early review of the EHCP is needed - on their website IPSEA has a model letter that can be used. The EHCP isn’t currently meeting DB’s needs. Was the homeschooling actually EOTAS? A part time college college is possible with provision other than at college the other times.

Is DB already in receipt of PIP and UC?

If you ask for you thread to be moved to the SN section there are posters there who had/have DC in similar situations.

Re benefits he could well be entitled to PIP and UC which would give a safety net, they can be slow to set up, our PIP took 6 months to come through but did back date. We got set up as appointee which is useful if he can't manage himself. We had to get a letter for DWP from psychiatrist saying he couldn't manage himself. But it made it so much easier in that we could do forms and interviews for him.

If accommodation is needed then I believe its adult social care disability that manages though worth raising via EHCP as well as they can consider residential placements. Some schools are much more flexible than others. You can also get education at home with EOTAS packages (education other than at school) or alternative education via EHCP. Its also worth thinking about wills if there is any money due to be left to him as this can get taken by the state if in state accommodation so worth considering putting in Trust.