AUTISM IN THE NEWS

April 2, 2013

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that one in 88 children in the United States has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The startling statistic has sparked a nation-wide discussion that centers on the causes of autism and the search for a cure. The new statistic has also prompted many in the autism community to wonder if care providers for adults with disabilities like ASD will be prepared to handle what is sure to be a growing amount of autistic adults.

Some experts fear that adult programs do not have the funding to properly care for adults with autism. “There is a tsunami coming. The world that handles adults with disabilities is not prepared for what’s coming with autism,” said Jan Randall, mother to an adult autistic son and research specialist for Community Autism Resources. Randall added that many programs lack quality staff training and have high staff turnover rates that are less than ideal for people with autism who rely heavily on routine and structure. 

Parents in the autism community have begun to seek more programs that emphasize speech, language and sensory needs, as well as more extracurricular activities for adults with autism. Properly assessing and coordinating the transition phase for autistic children moving into adulthood is also important for their development, and oft underemphasized, Randall argued.

There are many pressing challenges for parents with autistic children entering adulthood. With resources so scarce, parents have begun to seek help, turning to resources and ideas on making the transition from autistic child to adult.

Return to Autism News