2007 Annual Autism Conference in the Bronx: When Your Little One Becomes an Adult

What do you do when your little one with autism becomes an adult?

When Charlie was younger and just-diagnosed, I used to shy away from this sort of question. I was caught up in thinking that autism was a diagnosis one might lose, that could be prevented; that a child could be “recovered” from autism; that one had to “hurry up” with early intervention or fall behind. Knowingly or ont, I had some sort of expectation for what childhood and specifically my child might or even had to be; it would be many years before I could learn to let go and let be, and learn to start always by following Charlie’s lead.

Flash forward all these years to today, a day that sees Charlie turning “the big one-oh” and standing not with his head nearly touching my shoulder, but with him just an inch or so shorter than me: We can almost look each other eye to eye. At 10, he is still a boy—and I already sense how close puberty, teenage years, and, yes, adulthood, are. And today I am fortunate—-Charlie is fortunate—-that we hear so much more about adults with autism and, too, about all that a lifelong with autism can hold.

Planning for adult life is the topic of the 2007 Annual Autism Conference in the Bronx. The conference will take place this Saturday, May 19th, 9am – 5pm, at Lehman College. Joe and Marilyn Henn, whose daughter Nancy has autism, will present their journey:

Nancy has a full time job at union scale with full benefits, her own car and a family driven residential setting while paying nearly 20% of her annual six figure budget herself. She is the 1999 Association for Persons in Supported Employment national award winner for “Personal Achievement” and the 2003 Autism Society of America national award winner for “Outstanding Individual with Autism”.

The transition from school to adult life in the community can be a daunting undertaking for individuals with disabilities, including those with autism, and their families. This journey may result in less than optimal or satisfactory outcomes due to funding and service issues. The approach that offers the greatest chance for success involves whole life planning for employment, residence and recreation & leisure coupled with financial planning to seek the needed resources to provide the needed supports in areas from direct care staffing, transportation and cost to live items.

This is the 4th annual Autism conference in the Bronx; City Council Person James Vacca of the 13th district will give the opening remarks. The conference is hosted by Parents of A.N.G.E.L.S. and the Bronx Chapter of the Autism Society of America; lunch will be served. Please RSVP by leaving a mesage at 718-931-0515 or via email: info@bxangels.org. Lehman College is at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, New York 10468 (for directions, go here or call 718-960-8000).

Knowing that there are so many other families—so many autistic adults out there—-tells me that, however long the journey and whatever unexpected turns arise on the road, we will not be walking on it alone.