interesting... wondermous, ingenious.
2006-12-19 23:37:44 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
It all depends on their level of function and how well we've been able to help them to integrate themselves with their environment. A lot has to do with early intervention, someone adequately "learning" the child... and then putting enough support in place so that the child is able to reach outside of themselves and tolerate their surroundings... and then interact with them.
There's no one answer here. Some will forever live in a supported environment, whether at home or in a group home... some will never hold a job and some will be able to work with a job coach in an assisted employment facility. Others will integrate into the community with only limited support necessary... perhaps having a roommate and a visiting support person to check in... a job in the community with or without any accommodations.
Still another group will astound us all... like Temple Grandin and many others... and lead not only normal, but incredible lives... having so much to offer the world in the way of creativity, knowledge, participation, education, and they'll cut their own path through the future.
I firmly believe that every level of autism, from classic Kanner through Asperger, includes children and adults who have so much to offer... so much thought and so many ideas... their minds don't have the same limits as a *normal* mind so their expansion of thought is just so incredible... and it's our job to help them find a way to express those thoughts... to get that information sorted, categorized and filed so it's not so overwhelming to them and then they can focus on the use of expressive language (spoken, signed or written) to tell us everything.
I have, admittedly, not been thrilled with everything our current administration has done, but signing the Combating Autism Act of 2006 yesterday made up for a lot of it. We're on our way... and I know a large lot of children who hold the key to many answers about autism. I'm excited to say we're currently working with a team at NIH as well as a researcher at University of Miami School of Medicine to find the answers NOW.
Thank you for your question. Keep asking it. I'm hoping that soon the answer will change... and change... and change... until no one needs to ask it any longer :)
Kim Pillow Williams, Vice President
International WAGR Syndrome Association
http://www.wagr.org
2006-12-19 23:50:55 · answer #1 · answered by thegirlwholovedbrains 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Autism Spectrum Disorder" varies widely from classic autism to Aspergers.
My 10 year old neice has classic autism. She rocks back & forth, has the vocabulary of a 2 year old, doesn't understand that biting hurts people (she will giggle, smile then bite HARD.) She is getting better at eye-contact & non-verbal communication (taking us a picture of somthing she wants)
Many people suspect Bill Gates has Aspergers. And many suspect Albert Einstein did, too.
So there is a very wide range. So there is a wide range in what their adult life will be like. We hope to get my niece to the level she can move into a half-way house & get a job mopping floors as opposed to living in a "home" 24/7.
(Our goal is for her to live with family unless she CHOOSEs to move out - but considering health problems of various family members, that may not be possible.)
Obviously, those higher on the spectrum can move out & lead relativly normal lives.
One man in our family history (foster son) had his own home & was well known as the best watch repairman in the area, just "rather odd." (This was before anyone ever heard of autism, much less Asperger's) He lived in this beaten up shack but when his father died he inherited enough money to build a nice house & furnish it nicely. He continued living in that shack but would go into the nice house to dust it & keep it nice. No one ever lived in it for as lond as Johnny was alive!
2006-12-21 07:17:06 · answer #2 · answered by Smart Kat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually they still struggle to have social skills, and have to be cared for like they are still a child. I knew a girl that was 26 and blind and deaf and autistic, and she had the mental capacity of a 5 year old. She also stayed heavily medicated because she became aggressive. It was very sad
2006-12-19 23:43:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
i feel that most autistic children grow up and are ok to live and do things for themselves. however i also know that some just don't seem to come out of themselves long enough to learn to do most things we need to know as an adult. not sure if that helps you or not but it is what i think =) happy holidays
2006-12-19 23:41:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Many, many, become self sufficient and can work.
There are centers where they work and perform many simple tasks for wages. Those centers have many contacts with businesses who have them do packaging etc.
Many adults live alone and support themselves to a great extent, although they may also receive assistance.
They perform extraordinary well in many cases.
2006-12-19 23:54:07 · answer #5 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This was recently the cover story of Newsweek. Very interesting. Check it out.
2006-12-20 01:25:37 · answer #6 · answered by KL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They tend to become autistic adults. Usually they need care for their whole lives.
2006-12-19 23:45:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
They become autistic adults
2006-12-19 23:47:32 · answer #8 · answered by sewlady 1 · 2⤊ 3⤋
They get sent to a home for care, or the parents get stuck with them untill those parents die, and the kid gets sent to a home.
2006-12-19 23:52:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋