What Happens When Kids with Autism Grow Up?

EPISODE 20:

If you mention autism to most people they will think about children, but it’s a lifelong diagnosis. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism. 

We are all aware of the challenges of raising a child with autism, but what we don’t always think about is what happens when our child reaches adulthood – the added challenges and concerns that come with it. From job opportunities to housing, there are so many aspects to think about.

Today’s guest is autism mom Malinda Dalton-Cook. Her beautiful daughter Paige is 17 years old, non-verbal with additional concerns of epilepsy and severe food allergies. She’s going to share the fears and questions that her family are discussing now.

  

CONCLUSION:

It isn’t clear yet whether people with autism age in the same way as people without autism. This diagnosis as a whole is considered to be relatively new. But one thing is certain – we all deserve to age as well as we can. It’s only by continuing to understand how people with autism change as they get older, that we can really start to put the right services in place to support them. My biggest fear for my son is – how well will he be provided for when I’m gone? He’s only five, it’s my goal to start early. Plan ahead. These kiddos don’t stay young forever.

Thanks for joining me today, and thank you for being a part of My Autism Tribe. See ya next week!