Parent and Adult Communities

In recent years, Autism Awareness has created a lot of knowledge in the general public. As more awareness grows, it’s only natural for more people to be diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum.

Autism and Adult Diagnosis

From the 1990’s onward, the diagnostic criteria for autism broadened to include milder forms of autism. Labels such as “high-functioning autism” (HFA), “Asperger’s syndrome” (AS), and “pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified” (PDD-NOS) were recognized. Asperger’s syndrome was only added to the DSM-IV, the handbook for diagnosing psychiatric disorders, in 1994.

Dual Diagnosis: People with Autism and Dealing with Mental Health Challenges

In the early years of the autism diagnosis, autism was thought by some to be a mental illness caused by poor parenting in the form of “refrigerator mothers” rather than a developmental disability caused by a difference in neurological type. Although this inaccurate idea about autism’s roots was disproven after much effort on the part of advocates, one of the results of the process to get rid of the “refrigerator mother” concept was a tendency on the part of many in the autism community to want to shy away from the world of mental health.

Accessing Developmental Disabilities Services for Adults

Many young adults with developmental disabilities want what most young adults want: economic stability, to belong to a community, pursue their interest, get their own place and do meaningful work. Levels of supports, benefits and services can vary from state to state. Families and individuals need to know how to access what is needed.

Family Support Systems Navigation Model

Traditionally, human service agencies hired case managers to support families and individuals with disabilities. However, research and practice have shown the model to be too passive and often ineffective for families. Therefore, a new model of support is emerging called Systems Navigation, in which families are taught and mentored to become advocates and active brokers of their own unique services and supports.