You will face numerous challenges as a parent but caring for and protecting your child are top priorities.
This becomes an entirely different challenge if your child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One can’t help but wonder how your child will fare in this world as they mature from a teenager to an adult.
Of course, as your autistic child grows older, they will face new challenges. However, this shouldn’t be as hard as before because opportunities for young adults with autism expand. The key is to begin preparing for the transition before it occurs.
Approximately 4,900 Canadian and 48,500 American autistic teenagers turn 18 every year. The transition from high school to post-secondary education, college, or the workforce can be difficult and stressful for them and their parents.
The need for assistance in autism clinical trials is most noticeable. Children with autism have medical and social needs. How can these young adults assimilate into society in general? As more children with ASD reach adulthood, there is a growing demand for research into services for the ever-increasing population of adults with ASD.
But first and foremost, everything must start at home, where parents are the best people to prepare their children for the transition to adulthood. Parents better understand their child’s characteristics and have more intimate knowledge of their child’s true personality.
Here are some tips on preparing your teenager with autism for adulthood:
1) Updated autism evaluation
Before their kid graduates from high school, parents should speak with their child’s school and the doctor to get an updated autism evaluation. New information and updates on his condition and abilities obtained from the evaluation can aid in disability insurance, waivers, benefits, and support service applications. This assessment can come from their school or a private psychologist.
2) Request a 504 plan
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and individualized school plans (IEPs) do not follow teens into post-secondary education or college, something which most parents are unaware of. Instead, you and your child will need to apply for a 504 plan, which will provide support services and allowances such as extra time on tests.
Even if the child most probably had a specialized plan or IEP to help them through the lower years, their IEP in their high school years should include the proper transition plan after they graduate high school. These include input from teachers, school administrators, and specialists and cover the following:
- Work
- College or vocational education
- Independent living
- Adult services
- Socials or community involvement
3) Communicate with your child
Finding the perfect time to communicate their child’s autism diagnosis fully is a struggle that many parents experience. The discussion should occur during your child’s teen years, depending on their degree of functioning. Teenagers with autism should be aware of their diagnosis and how it impacts them to advocate for themselves at school and their place of employment.
This could mean requesting course waivers or other adjustments in school so they can have a positive experience. Teens will almost certainly need to learn how to request adaptations or support at work, something they’ve never had to do before.
If they disclose their autism to a school, program, or employer, there is always the risk of bias or discrimination. However, peers, instructors, and supervisors may misinterpret a teen’s behavior or troubles without knowing the condition.
4) Take stock of your child’s abilities, interests, skills, and talents
Consider your child’s abilities and what they are interested in and enthusiastic about when choosing a program or career so that it is a win-win situation for everyone.
This means ensuring that your child chooses a career that is a good fit for their abilities and skills and that they can thrive and succeed in it. Autism patients are known for being detail-oriented, dependable, and excellent at following rules and expectations set for them.
5) Start early and practice often
While some skills are more difficult for autistic kids to acquire than others, many can learn self-help, life, and soft skills. They’ll probably require a lot of practice and repetition, so start preparing your teen earlier than you would for a typical-developing child and keep practicing and reinforcing those abilities.
A report on the state of services for adults with ASD has claimed the following:
- High unemployment rate
- Families becoming the primary care providers through adulthood
- Inadequate transition planning during the child’s high school years
- High turnover rates in the front lines of service provision
- Widespread gaps between the level of need for services and those currently available
As a result, the parents bear most of the responsibility for ensuring that their autistic child is given a fair chance as they navigate their way through life. While it looks and sounds daunting enough for the parents, remember that your child is struggling too and needs your help the most to prepare for the pathway into adulthood. Get support when you need someone to talk to or if you need help.