Planning for our autistic teenager's future | Independent Living | Autism Family Vlog

[@75maxdv35]

Andy’s definitely starting to look a lot older!

[@stevedehaan9143]

Yes Andy is definitely looking a lot older and he's much more mature now too with a extremely deep voice!!!😀😁😘

[@imaginaryenemy2565]

I agree I think that if Andy continues on his awesome path of progression he'd do really well in a semi independent assisted living situation I'll also just mention looking into day programs for autistic adults because once school ends they tend to crave that 5 day a week schedule again and without weekly activities they can regress and become agoraphobic day programs are great because they take them on outings, do games and activities with them and they get access to a peers so that their social interaction is always in practice it's like respite but they only meet for a couple of hrs then go back home

[@oliviaelliott1333]

Agree with this, I’m sure Andy will do very well and gain lots of independence.

[@hannahinnerd4099]

A close family friend of mine, with autism, transitioned to the adult services, we noticed that from 15 to 20 her communication skills rapidly improved and actually the transition was a huge learning curve for her. As it was being implemented and she had little choice, her understanding of change management improved. We made sure to inform her on every step, explaining the why, and allowing her to suggest ideas (she also loved to watch The Apprentice so we think that also helped) Just like Andy, she has a keen interest; hers was airplanes and airports. As you can imagine it was difficult (and expensive) to fulfill her interests lol. But now, at 23 she works at Heathrow Airport in the duty-free and could not be happier; the airport is extremely supportive of her needs. She is now going to college 1 day a week to study travel and tourism and aspires to work for an airline

[@untamedgeek3D]

Kev, Anna, all I can say is I don't know how you both do it. You get the people shouting 'clickbait' as you'll know, but from what we/I see your all doing a stella job.

[@kisachudley2469]

I'm autistic married and living on my own people sead I'll naver do it but i puffed them wrong I'm from the uk to

[@herkeyoldaker5916]

kisa Chudley why u married but living on ur own?

[@kisachudley2469]

@@herkeyoldaker5916 i mant I'm married living with my wife with out mine or her parents gating in r way

[@riawnarayner5560]

I live in 24 hours supported accomadation And it's really helped me they really nice It's helped me stay in the really world for longer and I've learnt so much like cooking Sorry about my spelling I have learning disability as well it's hard but supported accomadatoon really help get a structure in my lifs

[@EvTheVeg]

I love Dave 💖

[@suzyblackbourn9038]

Awww just love Dave we need more Dave time

[@Max-xk9bl]

Andy reminds me of an old friend from school.

[@herkeyoldaker5916]

Max Inc Calvin Jacks G

[@Max-xk9bl]

herkey oldaker what ?

[@zippycohen5496]

Just an idea here as you said any advice would be welcome; maybe if Andy is ready for independence but not full living overnight on his own/with other people; he could have like a day thing where he is with other teenagers with autism or other 'issues' or even just in a college or Friends; and he gets support throughout the day by a support worker; and evenings at a youth centre kind of thing but then he comes home to you and Anna at night and evening so he's half independent but still has care from you and anna! Anyway only time will tell what Andy wants/is able to do! Just a thought x

[@coreysgirl04]

I have two special needs sons who will hopefully transition into independent living situations someday. “Scary biscuits” indeed...thanks for talking about this! Somehow the biscuits seem less scary when I’m not eating them alone. 😂❤️💪🏼

[@lewispewsey6843]

Kev your the best KZbinr

[@annegood3745]

Again, loads of useful information, things I hadn't even gotten around to thinking about for my wee man, thank you guys

[@stevedehaan9143]

Andy is looking, acting and SOUNDING a lot older and he is a lot more mature too. Plus I just love love love his deep mature manly voice!!!!!!😀😁😘😇

[@lolnan4875]

This video was so sad for me because I have two younger brothers with bad autism and it is worrying me about the future

[@TheKellyGreen]

I love Dave, such a goof! 🤣

[@gg41r]

I was epsecially interested in this video, as "we"are at the stage of planning for my Autistic Sons future after school is finished. I had always imagined he would just come into my care full time when he leaves school, but his mother and those charged with looking after his needs all think that supported living is the way ahead. To be honest....that terrifies me and upsets me. My boy has a fear of being on his own (for fear of getting bullied). I just never imagined a time when i would have to let go and leave him (mostly) fend for himself. I am upset again just typing this. Part of the problem is, we have never had the same level of support you have had with Andy, like weekend respite etc, he has always just been living with me (at weekends and school holidays) or with his mum, (Mon to Frid during school term). From a selfish point of view....i love having my boy around me......i will struggle when the time comes to see him live on his own

[@zippycohen5496]

I tottaly get where your coming from; but maybe as he developes and you can see when/if he is ready for independence like that; then you will feel less upset and more happy to let him do those things as you can see he is ready for it? As it seems at the moment he wont be as he's never been on respite away from home? Just a thought xx

[@rustyshackleford8296]

It'll be ok he'll still visit

[@mrsdiana324]

Stick a camera on dave and have a from daves eyes lol

[@75maxdv35]

Barry Maynard i would love to see that!😂

[@blooga3941]

All you hear is him *commentating aka barking.

[@colinomeara4949]

The pillow is on the shelf

[@jenlfpotter3870]

I'm almost 36 years old, will be 36 next Monday week, 4 November. Let's just say, I was born with less than half a functioning face, which means I am both legally or totally blind plus partially deaf in my right ear and my hearing is deteriorating in my left ear. I definitely have Autism, I don't need to make it official or anything, the industry online Autism screening test which Kevin filmed on here once and then, I found it and took the test myself. I scored 29, indicative of Aspergers, so I had some Autistic traits as I knew all along. I would like to say, I started living somewhat independently from when I started Secondary School at the age of 11, but I continued to live at home but still using everything I'd learnt with regards to cleaning, laundry, cooking, stripping beds, shopping Etc, while living at my mum's house until we found a sheltered housing complex which had care staff on call as and when we needed them. I moved out of my mum's house and lived in the complex only returning home every couple of weeks for 6 years, from age 27 to 33, but, I hated it. I missed my family life at home far too much, so they were pulling out all the stops for me. I have an assistance/guide dog who Is Urwin, hence my channel name, Jen and Urwin, so we couldn't move into social or council housing because they wouldn't let me have a two bed house which had a garden over a 1 bed house without a garden, but we needed that garden for my dog, so we found a tiny two up, two down house with a garden just a few minutes walk from my mum's house. Cut a long story short, I've lived here and been a lot happier about it here for the past 2 and a half years, aside from house inspections every few months. BTW, I rent my house. I will never be buying my own home, the money just isn't there for that if you're disabled and work isn't very forthcoming even when you're out there jobseeking. Money's tight, but comfortable. I do have support courtesy of Surrey Independent Living Council, from a care agency which also operates in Lincolnshire, Skegness. I have support workers come in and help me clean the house, walk the dog, do any shopping which I can't manage myself online, cook meals, snacks and things if I need help with that, they can help with independent public transport travel on the bus or the train, but I live in quite a rural setting where public transport isn't as good as it could be, but I know they could help me there if I found I did want or need to go places by myself. They're in the care profession because they really do, care, they're not in it just for the money by any means. The agency also runs various activities and trips out where service users and support workers can meet up with each other with a good time or good day out thrown in, so life isn't just me, flying solo all the time, which would drive me bananas. It might take another 20 years for Andy like it took nearly 20 years for me to start to live how I wanted to be living independently, but hopefully, he will master things like cleaning, laundry, cooking and shopping, the 4 basic household chores he would have to be able to do himself to keep himself alive.

[@bethdavies6695]

@KevinChapman Dave is so cute I love Springer Spaniels!

[@wolfieology2264]

I saw the pillow in the vlog yesterday

[@amieculverson8122]

Have you asked Dave about the pillow? He does like a pillow.

[@sianypops2012]

I manage 3 supported living houses for individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities and a large community sector supporting those with less severe disabilities to live in their own flat etc with support. The environments are wonderful and promote independence. Currently having a conversation with one of my clients parents about the exact same situation. She needs to move into supported living as they are getting too old to care for her needs.

[@crazycat1166]

Edit : Ah OK seems Andy isn't ill after all! Glad he is OK 😂 I think something illness can hit when you can finally relax. This may be the case with Andy. I always find ill be fine when I'm working all the time then I have a holiday and my body crashes and I get unwell.

[@catherinegleed6339]

My cousin is autistic and is now is 25 ish I think might be older and he still lives with his mum but she’s gotten him into work and he pays her board and lodgings. I’m pretty sure that’s what I’m going to do with my autistic son. Even now he knows how to make himself a sandwich he knows how to use the microwave and regrettably the toaster we’ve had a few smoke alarms going off 🙈 so yeah positive that’s what we will be doing, he’s only 10 so have a while yet and he’s slowly learning to do stuff which we will expand on as he gets older 😀

[@WyattRyeSway]

In the US you set up a third party trust for the person. Not sure how it is in other countries

[@imaginaryenemy2565]

Yes but that's mostly for well off families many choose not to make one because the strict SSI and Medicaid regulations means that any money in an account thats reaches 1k or more results in cuts or even the removal of their federal aid and families can't risk the removal of health insurance and SSI even if it is very little every month it's at least monthly and finite and better than nothing

[@johnhall4917]

Why is short stay called short stay?

[@callumltfc]

Shortsday

[@jenlfpotter3870]

Captain Slow Shortstay only stays for short time, IE, weekends?

[@aaronharkin6184]

Hi Kevin did you have your pillow on your sofa in the video from aaron

[@austenross3822]

My half term is next week

[@theartsymansambye3829]

Andy is 16teen next year cant believe it

[@robinsaunders5099]

You need find very good place for Andy when does moving it took me 7 years to find right place for my friend who I care in my spare time we be 2 different places but hopefully we found right we place this it a battle lot stress so my advice is fine right frist it help a lot and also what I do wiv my friend we don’t have care or support I do this myself

[@JessicaOwensful]

I live indrrtapandy and I'm autistic I struggle I got thrown in the deep end when my step dad and mum threw me out i lived in supporive house for people who are drug addicts and been in person it wasn't nice 2 years ago I moved into my own flat with 0 skills I struggle with house cleaning and everything

[@kuroso_v]

The vlog made my day as I've been crawled up in my bed all day as im supper ill (rip me)

[@sidmakestudios8393]

Kev what day is the fm20 beta coming out just used your discount code

[@damianhills1533]

He won't know as SI have not announced it. Keep an eye on football manager twitter/facebook etc and you will find out then like everyone else

[@crazycat1166]

As a support worker for adults with autism I think Andy would do well in supported living. It would allow him independence but still be safe and well. I think you will probably also find once Andy no longer has Anna doing stuff for him like brushing his teeth ect you will actually discover Andy can do a lot more for himself than he may be doing with Anna. That's not a criticism to you or Anna in any way it's just something I've seen with many adults with disabilities..... They get so used to parents / carers doing things for them it becomes part of their routine so it's very hard to break that routine to get them to be more independent. But when they move out and are supported by others they should hopefully (in any good supported living) be doing as much as they can for themselves right from the beginning.

[@icarrionmoth]

I wish I could justify the need for assisted living when I'm older but I seem too "normal" even though I really struggle to do the most basic tasks that are necessary for living

[@icarrionmoth]

@@powderandpaint14 I'll looks into it, thank you

[@davef2975]

Please! (with all due respect) Given the nature of your channel, it is expected people on the spectrum would be regular visitors. Opening a vlog with yelling, screaming, or very loud noise makes watching your channel difficult. There are some very good vlogs I no longer watch because they open with very loud brash music or screaming. So please be aware there are followers with sensory issues. I want to hear what you have to say, I cannot do that if I have to crank the volume down.

[@jamiewootton6945]

Did u end up putting in bin?

[@mrsdiana324]

The wife said the pillow is in dave lol gone forever

[@JMThought]

I always wonder is there not a risk Andy watches these and finds them weird, how do you deal with that? I know you give this stuff a lot of thought, is it just a potential risk of having this set up? You’ve discussed in some videos how vlogging enables you to look after Andy better when people give you stick without knowing the context. Genuine question not criticism, I think it’s on my mind as I’ve read stuff about this being the first generation where kids find their baby photos and Facebook etc.

[@kevinchapmanvlog]

He checks the vlog every day at 5. He usually skips most of it, but sometimes there’ll be a bit he’ll rewatch for a while.

[@JMThought]

​@@kevinchapmanvlog thanks for replying. That makes a lot of sense, you've shown him watching lots of KZbin. Your comment in the video about not talking about stuff in front of Andy, echoes similar comments you've made, which I understood as meaning he didn't watch them. What I like about the vlogs is how transparent you are that your family is only in them if they want to be and from what I've seen it's clear that's the case with Andy. I find him watching them is interesting though, if it was me I'd find it a little strange being able to watch back a chunk of my life through my parents eyes - although as I said I don't think it's very different to most kids who have had their parents sharing stuff on social media as they grow up. These are the perils and joys of the internet! I appreciate how open you are as a family because Andy's story has helped me understand autism much better. So I'm thankful to him and you for that. My own experience is that being open online is rewarding but also sometimes unpleasant so I think there's a bit of my own experience behind asking the question. We only ever see a window of your lives and I don't think you owe us anymore than that nor do you deserve the negative judgement you sometimes get from those who can never truly known the full picture.

[@davidreynolds4104]

Hello from david s

[@lukeweston4729]

Hiya Kevin Chapman It's Me Luke Just Wondering If You Got My Messages On Instagram For My Question Being Asked If You Could Do Another Q&A With Either Andy Anna Amy Lucy Or Even Yourself If You Could That Would Be Great Or If Not Could You Do A Live Stream

[@liambarry6143]

last time I saw it was when Amy had it then Dave got it and I have not seen it since

[@theartsymansambye3829]

Andy will be moving out soon 😣😣😣😣😣😥😥😥

[@rubberduck302]

Third

[@SignwithCaoimhe]

Rubber Duck no one cares

[@unknownuser-qs5jz]

I'm autistic and my mum said that I would have to live with my cousin 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@michelleblackie1404]

Have Dave has it and hide it cx

[@C.James1111]

He looks 7

[@christinab.2864]

I’m 26 but looks like I’m 12 I think it’s the autism thing

[@Portal56]

h

[@pufferfish8714]

Started hearing goat simulator at one point

[@ashleygreen9276]

Lol every time you say Anna's name you say Anner lol. Its a bit erking. But i love your vlogs n your family i watch them every day.

[@kevinchapmanvlog]

I have no idea how you could possibly pronounce Anna and Anner differently...

[@ashleygreen9276]

Yaay. Ive never had a you tuber respond to me this is great.. Lol. I hear her name being said that way you may not be saying Anner thats jus the way i keep hearing it. Love you kev tell Anna hayyy hayyy

[@ellietownsend683]

DO NOT LET HIM GO INTO THAT INDEPENDENT LIVING THING. MY BEST FRIEND LIVED IN ONE OF THOSE AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE 3 TIMES. DONT PUT HIM THROUGH THAT