Bubbling when your kids are over 18 but have autism

[Crapcrimbo]

Since my ‘children’ are over 18 I’m officially not allowed to be in a bubble but they have autism and I can’t deny I feel incredibly lonely and isolated.
Any know if there’s any exceptions to the regular rule?
Would you risk it otherwise? I’ve not broken the rules at all until this point.

I know autism isn't always considered a disability, but there is an exception in the rules for families with disabled adults. You can form a bubble if you're the only non-disabled adult in your household, for support and respite. I would take advantage of this personally.

Is there still a clause for looking after someone vulnerable? Do they come into this category?

Are you the only other adult? If so you can form a support bubble from the 2nd December.

Yes I’m only other adult.
So from Dec 2nd? That’s great, any idea where I can find it in writing should I get challenged? Thank you!

Someone caring for a person with dementia who needs continuous care is able to form a bubble. I would have thought autism was the same depending on whether the person required continuous care or not.

I never know whether they’re considered disabled.
I help them loads with things but they’re relatively able. They couldn’t live alone though.

Not continuous care but it feels like it.
They’re forever asking about every little tiny thing. I could go out fir a couple of hours though, if I had somewhere to go. I’d need to be on my phone in case there’s an issue that said.

@Crapcrimbo

Yes I’m only other adult. So from Dec 2nd? That’s great, any idea where I can find it in writing should I get challenged? Thank you!

It’s in the government winter plan document but hasn’t yet been updated on the website. It should be soon though. Hope bubbling helps you!

www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae#all-tiers

Support bubbles have been expanded. From 2 December you can form a support bubble with another household if any of the following apply to you:

you are the only adult in your household (any other members of the household having been under 18 on 12 June 2020) or are the only adult who does not have a disability that needs continuous care

you have a child under 1

you live with a child under 5 with a disability that needs continuous care

This is the wording:
a child under 1 (regardless of how many other adults are in the household)
a child under 5 with a disability that requires continuous care (regardless of how many other adults are in the household)
a single adult carer (living with any additional adults in the household that have a disability and need continuous care)

Form your bubble. If you can't leave the house without them needing to be able to contact you, that's continuous.

I was told (by camhs) that legally autism is classed as a disability. This was important at the time as it gave my kids certain protection from disability discrimination at school.

I would class what you are describing as requiring continuous care eg not being able to live alone. My two are 16 & 19 and could easily be left alone as much as any teenager (& dd does live alone at college). What you describe (needing to be at the end of the phone at all times) sounds very different and more akin to my mil with dementia.

Thank you all!
You have literally made my year (and made me cry), I have missed other human contact so incredibly much.
I don’t think others get how bloody hard work it is (and made so much worse when you’re stuck on your own).

enjoy your bubble. You deserve the support.

I’m a mum with a teenager with autism. He is in a special school. I would not hesitate to see my children as much as they needed me if I was you. You are giving continuous support by needing to be available to them all of the time by phone. Plus, autism is a recognised disability. This pandemic is very hard for everyone, and those with disabilities need extra support. And so do you