Parents of Teens and Transition Age Young Adults (through age 22)

A Journey Towards Independence and Interdependence

02/07/2023

As a parent of three autistic adults, my understanding of each of my children has grown as I try to help them develop personal independence that is right for them and a willingness to accept help when needed. They have given me permission to share what this process looks like in our family. My... more

Listening to Autistic Voices

10/04/2022

Many parents and family members of newly diagnosed autistic individuals find themselves overwhelmed in a sea of information. A neuropsychologist might hand over a packet bulging with materials, or Googling “autism” will turn up thousands of sites. Finding accurate, helpful information isn’t... more

Autism Disclosure and College

07/07/2022

In my work helping autistic students apply to college, the question of disclosure comes up frequently. I think it’s important for people to become comfortable with their authentic selves, and I usually disclose my own autism to families early on to set an example. Disclosing on college... more

Honoring Identity

06/09/2022

Lee el Mensaje de Brenda En Español This month we are discussing autism and gender identity. I remember over a decade ago receiving calls from autistic adults and parents sharing stories of how their gender assigned at birth didn’t match how they felt. Recognizing the growing need for support... more

If I Knew Then

06/09/2022

Hello, My name is Shari and I am a single mother of two adult kids. My oldest child, who I will refer to as J, is now 24 years old. He came out as transgender at age 15 and socially transitioned to identifying as male immediately. The autism diagnosis came later: first with a self-diagnosis as a... more

Anxiety Compassion

05/05/2022

Lee el Mensaje de Brenda En Español This month we are discussing autism and anxiety. I’m the mom of an autistic daughter who has lived with anxiety her entire life. In relaying the following story, which she has given me permission to tell, I’d like to share what I’ve learned from her and... more

Anxiety and Autism: A Parent Perspective

05/05/2022

At least 40% of autistic individuals are also diagnosed with anxiety, making it the number one co-occurring mental health concern. As parents and family members gain a greater understanding of autism, they often realize the importance of understanding anxiety as well to find effective ways to... more

Autistic Parenting Pathways

04/05/2022

Lee el Mensaje de Brenda En Español This month we are talking about being autistic and a parent. All parents have to adjust to responding to their child’s needs as they grow and the new feelings and emotions they experience on their parenting journey. If you are an autistic parent,... more

Five Tips for Autistic Parents from This Autistic Parent

04/05/2022

What an interesting journey parenting has been, some 14 years now, and yet it has only just begun. Interesting, in part, because I became a father not yet knowing that I was autistic, and once I found out, my perspective on fatherhood changed rather dramatically. The diagnosis raised several... more

Shifting the Paradigm: Recognizing the Needs of Disabled Parents as Advocates

04/05/2022

I am a formally diagnosed autistic woman and the parent of an autistic adult who I parented through early intervention, public school, post-secondary experiences and now, into adulthood as I support him navigating through rehabilitation services. I am a social worker and researcher, but when it... more

So That’s What Autistic Burnout Is

02/03/2022

I just learned the term “Autistic Burnout” and that was an “Aha” moment. I really wish I had known about it when my son was younger, because it would have helped frame those periods when suddenly he couldn’t have a conversation, couldn’t participate in school, couldn’t tolerate the... more

Dating & Relationships on the Spectrum: A Parent Perspective

10/05/2021

Parents of autistic children often wonder how best to be supportive if their teen or young adult decides to enter the arena of dating and relationships. While every individual on the spectrum has a unique profile and each family situation is different, we wanted to share the reflections of two... more

Parenting Anxiety

08/05/2021

Lee el mensaje de Dania en Español Running a non-profit can be stressful at times, so I have learned over the years to take care of myself in several ways. I enjoy hiking and quilting, but my hidden pleasure is binging streamed shows. I actually found two shows in the past couple of weeks I... more

A Journey Toward Self-Advocacy: Perspectives from an Adult Son & His Mom

08/05/2021

Joe, who is now 30 years old, started receiving special education services in preschool, was largely mainstreamed in K-12, and graduated high school in 2009. He attended a community college and obtained an Associates Degree in Engineering, and is currently working towards completing a BS in... more

Understanding the Employment Journey

03/04/2021

When a parent finds out their child is on the autism spectrum, whether that child is 4 or 34, the parent embarks on a new journey to understand how autism might affect their child’s future. Just as no two individuals on the spectrum are the same, no two parent journeys are the same either.... more