Question: How can I support an adult with autism during social distancing?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults
section_headers: Supporting the person through change
Communication
section_content: Changes in routines and care can be particularly stressful for people with
learning disabilities and autistic people, and it is important that accessible
information is provided to support them to understand the outbreak and the
measures introduced. You may also need to consider how to manage behaviour
that challenges, particularly if usual techniques are not appropriate or
possible during the outbreak.
There are some steps you can take and guidance you can follow to support the
person you care for through change:

Try to explain in simple and familiar terms why things are changing, emphasising what will remain normal and how long change will likely last for.
Consider where you can support them to continue doing what they enjoy and that can support their wellbeing. The guidance on mental health and wellbeing offers examples of activities that can be done at home.
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation has helpful resources, including a visual summary of what to do if the behaviour of the person you support changes and begins to challenge.

It is important to use resources which are accessible and can best explain the
outbreak and latest guidance to the person, such as:

easy read overview of COVID-19
easy read explanation of social distancing
easy read overview of shielding the clinically ‘extremely vulnerable’
MENCAP resources
World Health Organization guide to effective hand-washing
Music video made by people with learning disabilities to support effective handwashing


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Has detailed information about supporting people with learning disabilities during the pandemic.
This is helpful since it does have some information about helping people with autism. The answer gives some useful information, and it includes some helpful links, but the answer given seems to cut back some on information since it assumes people will find it by going to the links.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Acceptable

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
section_headers: Children and young people with learning disabilities
section_content: Children and young people with learning disabilities can feel a loss of
control in times of uncertainty such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
They may need more support or adapted explanations about the outbreak. See the
easy-read coronavirus (COVID-19) guide to looking after your feelings and
your
body
for ideas.
A good way to help them could be by supporting their decisions, representing
choices visually through written words, pictures, symbol systems or objects if
helpful, supporting them to express their emotions and letting them know they
are not alone. While listening, take their feelings seriously and don’t judge
their emotions. They may feel anxious about big changes, such as the
possibility of having to stay at home for a long period. Where possible, it
can be helpful to explain any upcoming changes to routine and circumstances
before they happen and help them to plan and come up with solutions, such as
finding a hobby or doing exercises to relax and cope with anxiety.
For useful tips for talking about feelings, see Skills for Care
advice. For further guidance on
coronavirus (COVID19) for those with learning disabilities please see the
Mencap website (includes easy read materials). BILD (the Learning
Disability Professional Senate) have also published a collection of
resources that may be useful to
support families or carers of people with learning disabilities during the
coronavirus restrictions.
If your child or young person has a specific health condition that requires
them to leave the house to maintain their
health - including if that involves travel beyond your local area
- then you can if safe to do so. For example, if your child or young person
requires specific exercise in an open space 2 or 3 times each day. This should
ideally be in line with a care plan agreed with a medical professional. Even
in such cases, in order to reduce the spread of infection and protect those
exercising, travel outside of the home should be limited, as close to your
local area as possible, and you should remain at least 2 metres apart from
anyone who is not a member of your household or a carer at all times.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Has detailed information about supporting people with learning disabilities during the pandemic.
This answer is about taking care of children and children with learning disabilities, but the question is specifically looking for information about taking care of adults.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Bad

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults
section_headers: Supporting the person through change
Social distancing
section_content: The guidance on social
distancing sets out
the restrictions in place during the COVID-19 outbreak and the reasons for
which you can leave your home.
It is important that the person you care for understands why it is important
to maintain a social distance, and what may happen if they do not. An easy
read
explanation
of the current guidance is available.
However, if the person in your care has a specific health condition which
requires them to leave their home to maintain good health – including if that
involves reasonable specific travel beyond your local area – then they can do
so. This could, for example, include where people with learning disabilities
or autistic people require specific exercise in an open space 2 or 3 times
each day – ideally in line with a care plan agreed with a medical
professional.
Wherever possible, you should support the person to continue their usual
activities outside, in line with the guidance on social
distancing. If it
is not possible to continue their usual activities outside, alternative
arrangements should be considered. These may include accessing online services
such as food delivery or online prescription orders.
You may be able to access help from COVID-19 Mutual Aid
UK which provides voluntary support to those who
are in need. You may want to approach your local authority, who are
strategically supporting these groups, so you can access safe, appropriate
support.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Gives general information on supporting people during the pandemic, and briefly mentions people with autism specifically.
This gives some general information about taking care of people with health conditions, but it does not have any specific tips for caring for someone with autism, so it could be better.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Could be Improved