Autism In Adulthood Is Different

[VBNMW_Realist]

I am autistic and I am 22 years old. I want to tell you all about something that people know about in the autism community but is not discussed enough. When autistic people become adults, especially if they show high intelligence, they lose support. This is mainly because of how much is invested in school support without going elsewhere.

My mother who has taken very good care of me passed away unexpectedly last fall. It is just me and my father nowadays. And he can be quite tense sometimes at certain moments. He loves me but he is just not the same in many ways.

What happens is that after 18 or 21, there is no school in the public service system. (Even though most schools technically offer it to 21 they usually offer employment related services.) Even though I am doing college, it is still hard because of having to keep on track with things being due and stuff, and that will be over at some point.

I just do not want to work because of the overstimulation and the neurotypical and other anti-minority dominance that permeates many workplaces. I have many many hobbies. I do them almost as jobs honestly because they are my PASSION. My top hobbies are science, art, brain games, music, and more.

Even though I am doing well and I have some supports to help me get through what happened with my mother and taking care of my sensory needs, it is still lonely a lot of the time. And also even though some will disagree with me, I do not think of myself as disabled, but I do see myself as disabled in the sense that I have a hard time with things that the world expects people to do.

[werdna]

1. As the parent of two adult ADHD/autistic cheldren -

- who, like yourself, are very intelligent I applaud your efforts to undertake a college degree. If you had an IEP in high school, please be advised that many, if not all, colleges and Universities are required to fulfill the support criteria in your last IEP. Check with your HS guidance counselor or Special Needs coordinator to verify and help you determine who to contact at your college to facilitate and implement the support you need.

My children also struggle with the same concerns you have of the workplace environments. It is sad to think that so much passionate energy expressed in your and their hobbies volunteer activities go financially unrewarded. Each of my children have opted to enroll in SNAPS, medicaid, ssdi, and public housing to provide basic needs.

Good luck to you in all your future endeavors.