What Happens When Autism Grows Up?

I found an article on Facebook a couple of weeks ago about the hardships faced by adults with autism and wanted to share the gist of it with you.  I didn’t realize at the time that it was published by one of my hometown news agencies, www.AZCentral.com.  It is entitled, “We love autistic children – until they grow up.”

And isn’t that the truth out there in the larger community?  Thanks in no small part to the media, we see CHILDREN with autism portrayed as sweet, shy, and undeniably cute, as they certainly can be.  I think this is also in part due to the sheer numbers of children with autism.  Often when I’m out in the community with Ryan, the subject will come up with a stranger, and they are familiar with at least the term “autism” and generally know or are related to a family affected by it.  It has almost become a norm of 21^st century society.

Thanks also to the hard work of parents starting back in the 1970s, children with autism have the right to an education, and thereby a right to a future where they are living as independently as possible and making as many of their own choices as possible.

But what happens when they grow up?  The article uses the term, “invisible.”  They are certainly not invisible, but because of the lack of support in training programs and housing opportunities, adults with autism don’t get out a lot.  Many of them live at home with parents who are always growing older.  Some live in group homes where outings in the community may exist, but for whom choices may be limited (what to eat, when to eat, etc.)

And adults with autism DO grow up.  They lose that childhood glow, that heart-warming bundle of potential, and instead become “bigger, stronger, hairier, paunchier, and sexually mature.”  They also lose much of the funding that promised fulfillment to some of that potential when they were children.

Between now and 2026 (that’s only 10 years from now!), about 500,000 kids with autism will become adults with autism.  That’s half a million, folks.  That’s a lot! 

As parents, guardians, and caregivers of those with autism, we need to start now in our effort to make sure their futures remain filled with potential.  Ryan is very fortunate – he is enrolled in a wonderful day treatment program for adults with a variety of disabilities, he is known by name to many of the residents in our apartment complex (especially the ones with dogs, but that’s a story for another day!), and he has a loving sister ready and waiting to take over his guardianship when we’re no longer able to provide a good life for him.

Most adults with autism won’t be that blessed.  As a community, we need to see that they are.