Banking support for non-verbal teen

born_again

While I get your reluctance on POA. You do not have to use it. It is simply there for when it is required.
He can have all the independence he wants on his finances, safe in the knowledge, for both of you, should anything happen and he needs assistance with his banking. It is there ready and waiting. If it is not in place, then getting it sorted when desperately needed is going to take time. 
Also banks now have teams dedicated to vulnerable customers, which given your son's conditions he would fall into. So it might be worthwhile having a word with them to see what they advise. There might be something that they can set up in the background to assist him.

Please do not dismiss idea's out of hand on the basis you want him to have his independence. A safety net is a very good thing to have in place. Even though I hope he never needs it.

I say this as I have spoken to many vulnerable people, and their families are so grateful that they took the advice and got something in place sooner rather than later.

Mrs_Ryan

I use Text Relay as I’m hard of hearing and I absolutely love it. It’s been a godsend to me on many occasions. Like you say it’s no different to sending a text