Home visit

Hi

My son is 17 and has autism and a learning disability. He has been in residential care since 2017 and hasn’t visited us at home since.

We would love for him to come home for a visit. I’m worried he’ll want to stay and not want to go back to his residential home afterwards. I think my heart would break again if he was upset.

We could use social stories. Does anyone have experience of this and/or advice.

I want him to have the least distress possible.

Thanks

[BenjiB]

My son is in a residential college so I understand how you feel. I worried myself silly the first time he came Home. We did social stories, but I’m never sure how much of those he understands. It was fine though, he went back absolutely fine.

Does your son have good understanding? I would probably start with a day visit where he goes back afterwards and build up to an overnight.

[Hidden in reply to BenjiB]

Thanks so much BenjiB.

Yes it’s still difficult to know how much he understands but I think with social stories and lots of patience it should work.

It’s great to hear about your experience.

Obviously once we start we’d have to keep it going and build up to overnight.

Thankyou so much

[BenjiB in reply to Hidden]

It’s very hard. My son (his placement is 38 weeks) went back to college On 11th May. Due to the current climate he won’t be home until the summer holidays now on 24th July. It’s the longest he’s gone without seeing us. I love and miss him but I couldn’t have him home full time ever again !

[Hidden in reply to BenjiB]

That sounds great I’m happy to hear that the arrangement suits you. It’s very difficult to look after them full time, even though we love and miss them so much! That’s a long time since you have seen him it’ll be lovely to see him again on 24th July.

I’m hoping our son will be able to return to school in September for his last year.

I wish you all the best