1. High School is over Now what?

2. My talk 34 slides Will take about 15 minutes Part 1: Break down into main issues facing parents of young adults with autism Part 2: Think of it from perspective of child

3. Me Fellow traveler Mother of 2 young men with autism One is turning 20, possibly leaving high school Have been giving a lot of thought to the future Including discussions with other parents

4. Part 1

5. Childhood Over

6. Whats next?

7. Choices College Employment Day Program Stay at home and dont work Group home or AFL home

8. Who Decides?

9. Past and Future Reality: – School and IEPs are behind you – No agency maps out your childs life going forward County can provide a case manager to help find services – More about that later Lets look at those choices again:

10. College Regular 4 year college at grade level – UNCC and most other colleges have an Office of Disability Services that can help with accommodations but this is NOT an IEP Special Colleges for Learning Disabled Students – http://www.college- scholarships.com/learning_disabilities.htm http://www.college- scholarships.com/learning_disabilities.htm Compensatory Education – CPCC has a special program for students with disabilities. Its free – http://www.cpcc.edu/community_development/programs /compensatory-education http://www.cpcc.edu/community_development/programs /compensatory-education

11. Employment Competitive employment Supported employment with help through the state office of Vocational Rehabilitation

12. Employment - Cont Voc Rehab takes your child out for job sampling but may determine your child cannot hold a job. Job training programs like Goodwill Industrys Employment Skills Training (EST) YOU may have to find your child a job Limit to how much money person can make and still qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) Transportation must be considered

13. Day Programs Therapeutic programs are much like school only for adults Many vendors offer this Catch: some Day Programs require CAP funding Question: Is this the right option for my child? Visit program to see levels of functioning.

14. Stay at Home/Dont work Some individuals are content to be at home and not work or attend a day program No one can do nothing all day every day. Need: Daily structure – Household chores – Personal activities like bathing Leisure services – Mecklenburg County Parks and Rec – ARC of Mecklenburg County (social group) – Visits to library and grocery store with family – Check ASNC-MC newsletter for events

15. Tasks at home

16. Group home or AFL home Your child lives with someone else You still involved in childs life Child may spend weekends and holidays with you. Eliminates need for you to manage your childs life day in and day out

17. I need a helping hand

18. Case Manager County has case managers Call Mecklink at 704-336-6404 Licensed intake personnel ask questions and direct you to appropriate dept Developmental Disabilities Dept More questions

19. Medicaid? IF your child already has Medicaid, – County will get you a case manager – May set up a three-way call on the spot IF your child DOES NOT have Medicaid – County will ask for supporting documentation – Such as TEACCH eval, psychological, adapative level, school records, etc – Once approved, Child given a case manager

20. What does a Case Manager do? Links you to services like: – Respite – Job services – Day Programs Can apply before 18 If child is 18, you must be the legal guardian or child must accompany you to meet with case manager Application for a Case Manager is NOT an application for CAP

21. You are the Ultimate Case Manager County and Agency Case Managers come and go - You are the constant in your childs life Prepare yourself and your child for the future Guardianship Social security (SSI) Set up a structure/system so your child continues to learn How do you start?

22. What life skills does your adult child need? Money management Bathing Cooking Learning to manage an apartment Improving Social Skills Learning to set an alarm clock

23. Learning for Life Full Life Ahead workbook http://www.fulllifeahead.org/ Contains checklist of skills Addresses functioning level When child attains goal, set up new goals

25. What does the path look like?

26. Part 2

27. How do you cope? Predictability/Schedule Social networking – In person/ASNC coffees and meetings – Online groups – Friends/associates to talk to

28. How does your child cope?

29. Transitions are hard Big picture – Child is transitioning out of school – Major change – Needs to know what to expect Smaller picture (day-to-day picture) – Every unplanned thing is an unexpected transition for him – Unexpected transitions lead to anxiety and melt downs

30. Help him know what to expect

31. Schedule Set up a visual schedule – http://www.specialed.us/autism/structure/str11.h tm http://www.specialed.us/autism/structure/str11.h tm – Write it down – Use picture symbols – Pull pictures from the internet Let him know when things are going to change

32. Do you know this man?

33. Kim Peek Could not dress himself or comb his hair Father was main caregiver When Kim died recently at 58 his obituary was in the New York Times He was deeply introverted until he was 37 Kims father said Dustin Hoffman told him to share Kim with the world. Kim thrived on his new-found fame and flowered Pretty soon it got so that nobody was a stranger to him, they were people, and so was he.

34. Future Not just about us--parents as caregivers About them--adults with autism as individuals finding lives with meaning