This morning I was having a discussion with my children about what my daughter's interests are after high school. Her brother, who is already married and out of school, recommended that she have a backup plan in case the direction she wants to take just doesn't work out.
That led me to wonder...what do the autistic children do after high school? Are the parents having to use so much of their attention for the here-and-now that they can't afford the time to wonder about that before it comes?
Is learning for an autistic child a lifelong challenge, a never-ending education for both parents and child? Are the autistic children ever able to live and function on their own, or must they live with their parents for life? I'm sure there are those who must "graduate" into being able to care for themselves, right?
Actually, being a parent can be a fulltime job even for parents who have children without autism. But I'm sure it's even more of a challenge for those who struggle to conquer it, or even to learn to endure on a daily basis.
I'd love to hear your comments. Please, educate and enlighten me. Help me to understand.
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Comments (5)
I had to join the Army in order to give my life some Tough Love and direction. College was easier after that, and while employment has been touch and go, over 34 years, I am living comfortably and have done a fair amount of good with lots of children.
The school system should create a transition plan for your daughter when she enters highschool. It is a several year progress to taker hr where she wants to go. There are also different state organizations that can help you, unfotunately that also depends on where you live In NY there is a good support network, but alas it too is being damaged by budget issues.
If she wants to go to higheducation there are all configurations of post-secondary education that she cant ake advantage of. Unfortunatley past high school, it is no longer the obligation of the state to provide support i education beyond their own state sponsired programs. So if she goes to college of any kind you will have to provide the support.
I have been dealing with the post-highschool autism world for a few years now. When you are ready I can give you some ideas. Contact me through my blog http://asd2mom.spaces.live.com
I went to college straight from high school. I was more than ready academically, but socially and emotionally I completely fell apart and bounced from one melt down to another for 4 years. Most kids are able to fairly easily transition from full-time parental support in high school to almost none in college. I do NOT recommend that for a child with autism.
Now, after college, I've moved back home. I'm getting ready to move into a group home so I can work on developing some independence. I'm working on finding a part time job, and my goal will be really good, if not perfect attendance. All through school I struggled with attendance because I got overwhelmed and shut down. Hence the part time, instead of full time, job.
Whatever your daugther decides to do after high school, try to keep her days busy and don't pull off too much supervision all at once. Being gradual in one big key to success. That's my advice.
I collapsed and burned in University without any external discipline. However I am now 56 married with granddaughters. I am in employment. Some may argue I never lived up to my potential but I love my life - how many people can say that.
Plans? I have never been good at planning. For planning you need a sense of the passage of time and to link actions causally with consequences neither of which occur strongly among my abilities.
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