Autism Awareness: Surviving Adulthood with Autism

Entering the journey to adulthood which starts at 23 for people with autism, can be daunting and overwhelming. Adults with autism want the same amount of opportunities as their peers without disabilities like opportunities to find jobs, live independently and go to college, but when when they enter adulthood. Before I graduated from Chaparral High School in May 2014, I was included in my IEP meetings so I had opportunities to advocate for what I wanted or needed to succeed- whether it would be opportunities to pursue career development or opportunities to take part in Chaparral's graduation ceremony which is the same one that my friends without disabilities were part of.

For many people with autism, they are lost when they hit adulthood. There is a sea of acronyms to understand- AHCCCS, DDD, VR and ALTCS. These acronyms can make your feel lost, lonely and confused but when you have a support system by you of those who support you including your friends, family and teachers.

Tip 1: Prepare before high school graduation

Transition planning begins before high school graduation when a young adult with autism is 16 years old. When I was 16, my teachers started the phase of transition planning by having me included in the meetings and allowing me to voice my goals for the next step of life. I voiced that I wanted to explore job exploration and development by working on and off campus through various internships so I could gain the necessary skills to succeed in the workplace after graduation, that I wanted to live independently and that I wanted to graduate in May 2014 graduation ceremony. Now in my 30s, I think back to being part of my transition planning meetings helped me become the adult I am today. Because of having a say in my life beyond high school, I kept inspired to achieve my goals.

If a young adult with autism is able to advocate for themselves, encourage them to be part of their transition planning meetings. These meetings will without a doubt empower them by encouraging them to pursue their passions and set achievable goals.

Tip 2: Get that diagnosis to get services (or prepare for a service cliff)

Unfortunately, there is a service cliff that people with autism face when they prepare to graduate from high school. This service cliff is a real thing unless you get an official diagnosis from a developmental pediatrician earlier than later. Service agencies such as the Division of Developmental Disabilities need official diagnosis paperwork to determine eligibility for services they offer like habilitation, respite and attendant care. The best thing that I ever did was go through the process of getting a formal diagnosis so I could get qualified for DDD so I could qualify for services and receive them through Arizona Department of Economic Security.

I am thriving these days with these services and the support I've received through DDD and various agencies. I have been fortunate to have the same support coordinator for several years now. With the support of the team and my Support Coordinator Levi, I have seen myself grow immensely. I have the skills need to advocate for myself during review meetings and to work with my provider to establish goals that are based on goals I want to work on like budgeting my money, cleaning my house and cooking healthier meals.

Tip 3: Explore and Experience Competitive Integrated Employment (or internships)

Many individuals with autism desire to work in competitive integrated employment, but they face everyday barriers chasing this dream like finding the necessary services through Vocational Rehabilitation.I don't want to spin a negative line on VR but unfortunately sometimes there is a wait list for this service. There are so many success stories as well including mine.

I currently work at Christ Lutheran School as an Office Assistant as part of the Connections Adult Work Program. When I started this job last year, I received VR services through the Job Development and Retention service offered through HOPE Group with my job coach Fiona. Fiona helped me learn my job by providing job coaching. She was with me for the first 90 days and helped me succeed. This year, I am working this job independently (without services) and I turned around some challenges I had midway through last year into some accomplishments this year. Challenges related to schedule rigidity and having a negative attitude. I perform tasks like assisting with shredding, delivering preschool lunches and filing graded work for first, second and third grade classes. I have support of a great group of co-workers including our administration team and the Connections program staff. My favorite part of my day is interacting with the students in both Connections classrooms. Recently, I requested help from my boss with modeling specific tasks within a specific job on my schedule which was helping out at lunch and my boss Caley helped model the different tasks like how to wipe down tables properly between when one group of students leaves and another group comes into our amphitheater. Now I feel more confident with this particular task.

Employment is a journey and it takes a village to find the correct job that fits the skillset of each adult with autism. Most of my jobs or volunteer opportunities we've found through connections. For example, I worked at BridgeWater Assisted Living for almost a year and a half and we found this role through some family friends of ours.

Tip 4: Build on Independent Living Skills and Explore the First Place Transition Academy

A big part of wanting to live independently as an adult with autism is learning the key skills needed called Activities for Daily Living such as cooking, cleaning and maintaining a budget in basic categories like: entertainment, transportation, food (groceries) and subscriptions. I started working with providers who provided habilitation through various agencies (Arion Care and HOPE Group) on the skills directly out of high school which I believe set me up on a path towards independence. There were challenging moments but I persevered and put in the work. My hard work paid off when I moved into the First Place Transition Academy at 29 Palms. I lived with multiple roommates throughout my time at 29 Palms including my friend Joanna and we developed a friendship based on similar interests. We have gone to Disneyland together and celebrated our birthdays together. Through the program, I gained skills like how to safely use Uber or Lyft, how to budget my money and how to advocate for myself at work. The best part of my two years was participating in classes at GateWay Community College through the Learn4Independence Curriculum which are taught by SARRC staff.

The First Place Transition Academy, operated by SARRC, is operated out of First Place-Phoenix. The program teaches daily independent living skills through offering clinical services from SARRC. The students live with 4 roommates in an apartment on the lower floor of First Place. I graduated from the First Place Transition Academy in 2017 and leading up to SARRC staff involved my parents and I to a series of transition meetings where we discussed the following:

• Employment: Where and for how many hours a week as well as additional supports needed like job coaching
• Living: Where will you live (First Place, your own apartment or in some cases 29 Palms

Following my graduation, I lived at First Place-Phoenix for three years as one of the First Residents alongside my friends Lauren and Mickey. I was able to enhance my skills with the support of First Place staff who helped me in skills like budgeting, cooking and grocery shopping but the additional trick to my success was utilizing habilitation services through hOPE Group to help me enhance my skills at First Place. The providers worked me on goals that enhanced my everyday living goals such as maintaining a calendar of weekly events and utilizing my Amazon Alexa Echo Show to set reminders. I met some of my best friends through First Place by attending Community Life events or inviting them to come to my house to watch movies or GCU basketball games. I moved out of First Place a few years ago and I miss it terribly sometimes because of the social component. I currently live in my house in a community in Scottsdale and love it. I live near my family and friends as well as my friend Lauren. I go back to First Place occasionally for events and it is always amazing to see people. I went back a few months ago for the AZ APSE Annual Board Meeting and hung around afterwards to catch up with my friends as well as some of the staff.

Tip 5: Inclusive Post Secondary Education is a possibility

These days many colleges and universities are offering inclusive post secondary education programs that are focused on helping those with disabilities be able to explore and experience college without the degree component. For example, Grand Canyon University has the L.O.P.E.S Academy at the Cardon Center program on campus that is for adults with autism and other special needs- after the program was started by parents of a young woman with a disability saw the dream their daughter had to go to college at Grand Canyon University. The L.O.P.E.S Academy program allows those with disabilities like autism to be able to go to college at GCU by allowing them take part in a two-year non-degree certificate program and participate in classes tailored specifically for our program taught by GCU professors. The second year is spent interning on campus in various departments like GCU Athletics, Sodexo Catering and GCU Spiritual Life following campus observations midway through the first semester of the program. During these observations L.O.P.E.S Academy learners fill out worksheets about the the deparment/site they visited. I interned from GCU Athletics through the Communications Department and the Office of Student Athlete Department as I wanted something similar to administrative like I do in my current job.

Many other colleges offer programs similar to L.O.P.E.S Academy such as Clemson University which has a program called ClemsonLife. This program teaches individuals lithe autism and other special needs daily independent living, employment readiness and social skills on campus in a classroom at Clemson. Recently, Charlie McGee, a student with Down Syndrome wanted to participate in the full college experience including rushing a fraternity. Charlie got a bid from Phi Kappa Alpha at Clemson and ran out of left shoe and into the arms of his fraternity brothers at Phi Kappa Alpha. Charlie's story offers hope for parents of adults with autism and other special needs as Charlie pursued his dream.

Tip 6: Realize that "Autism" doesn't walk away

This tip or insight might sound cheesy to everyone reading this article. Believe it or not autism doesn't go away and it is part of everyday life each and everyday as young adults enter adulthood. I turned 30 years old in February 2024 and was able to celebrate my birthday with family and friends as well as my work families at GCU and Christ Lutheran School. Growing up, I struggled with basic socialization skills which made it hard for me grasp the concept of how to celebrate a birthday with friends. These days I have many friends who love me and value me regardless of my autism diagnosis. I don't let autism define me although I do honestly have "autism" moments in daily life whether it would be coping with schedule changes, dealing with challenges with "black and white" or as I call it no fluff communication in everyday life situations like at work or within social situations. I have learned and grown through the support of my family and friends, organizations like SARRC and HOPE Group which have taught me the skills I need to pay the bills at work and the skills I need to continue to live independently.

For adults with autism, I want you realize you're not alone and that you can do anything you set your mind too. Don't let your diagnosis stop you from achieving your dreams of living independently, going to college and getting your dream jobs. Block out out the outside noise and turn can't into CAN and impossible into "I'm Possible!"