Ep-6 Beyond the Bus: Autism & Adulthood

In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, this episode focuses on what happens beyond childhood...because the journey doesn't end at 18.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hey everyone, this is Sharon Williams, host of Autism in Adulthood. This is Autism Awareness Month. I wanted to come on and talk about something we don't hear enough about autism in adulthood. Everyone talks about autism in children, early diagnosis, school support, therapies. But what happens after 21? What happens when those services change or even stop? As a mom of an adult son on the spectrum, this is something I live every day. I remember feeling nervous, trying to figure out what was next, especially when it came to deciding if a day program was the right choice. There's so much pressure to make the right decision and not always a lot of guidance. Sometimes you're just trying to do what's best without a clear roadmap. For example, with the day program for my son Kyle, I wasn't even sure that was the right step. You have some of his friends that have jobs, but I knew deep down Kyle was not a good fit for a job. He's not mentally able to work a job, even a part-time job. So that's something else I had to deal with. His mental ability was just not where some of his friends were, um, his focus and things like that. So after I analyzed everything, a day program was the best choice I felt for Kyle. But that was a big decision to make. Then having to go and look for a day program, finding out that there's not a lot of choices to choose from as far as day programs, making sure the day program was the right fit for him, it was a lot. And um from day to day it still is. Um I just remember being nervous, trying to figure all of that out. There's so much pressure to make the right decision and not always, like I said, a lot of guidance. Sometimes you're just trying to do what's best with a clear without a clear roadmap. Support doesn't stop at 21, but for many families it feels like it does. When they graduate um post-high school, um, it's like it's like everything stops. Like, you know, life just gets supposed to float on, and everything is supposed to just get figured out. But it's just not that easy for caregivers and parents and families. And that's why I started this podcast because we need to talk about adulthood, not just childhood. Our families still need support, guidance, and community. If you're navigating this stage of life, I want you to know you're not alone. This is autism and adulthood, where we go beyond the bus, beyond the labels, and beyond expectations. I mean, it's really, um, it really can be difficult. And I've said that before on previous podcasts, how it's just, it just can be hard, especially if you don't have the support. And also not having um going back to the day programs, you have to have a certain um waiver for financial reasons, unless you just have the cash, which most people don't, to pay for these day programs. Um, it's everything is a cost, and that can be difficult at times, depending on where a family is financially. Um, you know, it's just one of those things where we just really have to support each other, try to um give information if we know of any information to help each other um after the age of uh 21, because it is difficult. And with this being Autism Awareness Month, I just wanted to come on and encourage you all, all the caregivers, all the families, that you have support. That's what we are here for. All of us that are going through any type of my son has autism, but there are so many different special needs. And for all the special needs individuals, we're here. We are a community. And I appreciate you guys joining me. Um, please email me at sdwilliams at autismandadultulthood.com if you have any concerns, questions, or even guidance if I can help you in any way. I really appreciate you joining me and have a good day.