Autism and the adult child: Honoring the needs of every generation

Jo Ashline, OC Moms FOR THE REGISTER

“One month from today, my son Andrew will celebrate his 10th birthday.

He’ll have a bounce house, a giant cake, and plenty of friends on hand to help him blow out the candles and mark his first decade here on planet earth. And while I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the idea that my baby is turning 10 (is it really possible?) there’s an even more frightening reality that keeps gnawing at me as I make party preparations: He’s halfway to 20, and less than halfway to becoming a man; a man with autism.

Some of you may think I’m jumping the gun here. After all, he’s only in fourth grade and his cheeks feel light years away from a 5 o’clock shadow. It’s probably safe to say that you don’t have a child with autism.” (read the rest of the article here).