ASD can i claim if i cancel holiday

dannyboy1974

We booked our holiday May last year and since then my son has been 99% diagnosed with ASD. Waiting for doctor to confirm diagnosis. My question is that my wife and are really nervous about going abroad with our son as autistic children have no concept of danger and if we have a high room etc etc he could seriously hurt himself also he has never flown and he could have a major meltdown.

The travel agent has advised us that we may be able to cancel our holiday and claim from our Halifax Ultimate Reward account travel insurance due to his illness. Has anybody had any experience with this as when I phoned they kinda said yes and kinda said maybe. Bit confused.

mum2one

It would depend if there has been any inclination of ASD in your sons medical notes or the autustic traits and this wasn't declared to the ins company then they could well refuse to pay.

A lady I know, she has a son that is Austic and she travels with him, her husband lives abroad so they go to see him and he comes over here

What I would suggest-
Speak to the travel agent - go through medical element - ask for a low floor room,
as for the aircraft - when you check in ask if you can board 1st with the wheelchairs as this way you can your son safely seated before the mad rush begins,

In theory he would face the dangers in the UK, so maybe you have to be a bit more aware of the surroundings but with the two of you, you should be ok, xx

Dunroamin

ASD isn't an illness and presumably only the diagnosis is new.

shegirl

ASD is not an illness.

Also,'new issues' don't suddenly appear due to a diagnosis.

Were you scared about travelling with him before the diagnosis?No? Then that shouldn't change now.

You go on experience and knowledge of your child.Autistics are not clones of each other.

Indie_Kid

Dunroamin wrote: »

ASD isn't an illness and presumably only the diagnosis is new.

It may not be an illness, but it is a medical condition.

Just because he has a diagnosis doesn't mean his behaviour will change. Surely you knew he has no concept of danger?

duchy

Your son is still the same child he was before diagnosis- Nothing has changed except you now have a name for his quirks so if you weren't worried enough to not book the holiday in the first place-why is it a greater worry now ?
My son is on the Autistic spectrum his first big holiday was when he was five - to Disney World -I flew solo with him on that one as Dad was already in the US on business-He spent the entire flight engrossed in audio story books and movies . He was easier to travel with than some adults...since then we've travelled several more times to the US, Spain, Ireland Austria,Greece etc . You need to be vigilant with all children on holiday -just like you do at home but I certainly never considered not taking him on holiday.

I think you might struggle with an insurance claim as insurance is for new situations not forseen at time of booking ....... you could have your claim refused as nothing has changed except you've (nearly) got a diagnosis.

Blackpool_Saver

ASD is a spectrum of conditions, everything from Asperger to full blown Autism, with ADD and ADHD in it also.
I think you are in shock, of course only you know the severity of his condition.
My son has been on the spectrum for many years and does have a lower sense of danger.
I wouldn't cancel because you need to learn how to cope with the extra monitoring he requires, and the sooner you do the better it will be for all of you.
Also your son needs to know that his diagnosis will not mean a life sentence, but instead it will mean a different lifestyle possibly with a mild agitation calming medication (but not always)
You have my empathy, it is a big shock to be told this.

duchy

I do think every parent when told their child is on the autistic spectrum struggles a bit - all those hopes and dreams take a bit of a battering.
I know mine did - but my son is still the lovely, caring lad with a very quirky sense of humour -who is currently studying on an Access course with a view to starting at uni in September. He had a few rough patches in education - and I've had to at times fight to get him the type of education and support he needs. It has taken him a while longer to find his path but he's getting there and I'm very proud of him.

shegirl

duchy wrote: »

I do think every parent when told their child is on the autistic spectrum struggles a bit - all those hopes and dreams take a bit of a battering.
I know mine did - but my son is still the lovely, caring lad with a very quirky sense of humour -who is currently studying on an Access course with a view to starting at uni in September. He had a few rough patches in education - and I've had to at times fight to get him the type of education and support he needs. It has taken him a while longer to find his path but he's getting there and I'm very proud of him.

It seems quite common for parents to panic when their child is diagnosed and decide this and that must be wrong or too much,even if their child was fine with certain things before and the parents knew things before.They seem to panic to a textbook state.

A friend of mine done this and it was quite sad to watch really,as that affected her and her childs life more than anything!

Voyager2002

What does your doctor say?

If s/he is willing to provide a letter stating that it would be unwise on medical grounds to travel, and that the condition was not known at the time of booking, then your insurance should pay out. If not, then it will be time to begin making plans to holiday in safety.

dannyboy1974

Thanks for all your responses. We aren't panicking but he is only 2 and everything is up in the air and as to not noticing him being unaware to danger like I said he is only 2 and we have/had no idea.

I had no idea there was a problem with him but my wife picked up on it AFTER we had booked the holiday and since then he has been having one to one teaching, speech therapy, doctors appointments. Our concern is not for us but for him and also our 4 year old daughter as we don't want to just concentrate on him 100% and have no time for her. We have a BIG network of family/friends here and not abroad so we would worry the whole time.

May I just say that I don't think his condition isnt a life sentence I just think he is special and I wouldn't change him for the world.

He is the most happiest boy you will ever meet and I hope that he will blossom and grow and enjoy his life.

Final point we did contact Doctor yesterday and waiting to hear from him.