Episode Details

What happens when a profoundly autistic young adult reaches the end of high school?

For Joel Wood and his wife Martha, that question has become increasingly urgent as their 20-year-old son William approaches adulthood.

William has autism and apraxia and is largely non-speaking. After years of limited communication, his family's work with spelling revealed abilities and thoughts that challenged some of their previous assumptions about what he could understand and accomplish.

In this episode of Autism Labs, Joel shares more than 17 years of experience navigating autism, communication, behavior, education, and the transition into adulthood.

Mike Carr and Joel discuss why traditional adult and residential programs may not be the right fit for every person with significant support needs. They explore the importance of assuming competence, creating meaningful work, building community, reducing isolation, and supporting graduated independence.

The conversation also addresses the practical challenges families face when planning adult services, including elopement, caregiver turnover, staffing ratios, Medicaid and waiver funding, private residential care, day programs, and the financial sustainability of specialized programs.

In This Episode

• Joel's family's autism journey with William
• Autism and apraxia
• Non-speaking autism and communication
• Discovering abilities through spelling
• Behavior and elopement challenges
• Planning for adulthood after high school
• Residential care and day-program options
• Meaningful employment and vocational activities
• Community, friendship, and reducing isolation
• Graduated independence
• Caregiver recruitment and retention
• Funding and sustainability of adult autism programs

This episode is especially relevant for parents and caregivers of autistic teens and adults, particularly those with profound or severe autism and complex support needs, as well as professionals working in adult disability and autism services.

This is Part 1 of the conversation. Mike and Joel continue the discussion about residential care and planning for adulthood in Part 2.

Website: https://www.autismlabs.com/