Episode Details

What happens when a profoundly autistic child becomes an adult and the services their family needs aren't readily available?

In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr continues his conversation with Joel Wood, a father navigating the complex process of developing long-term support for his autistic son.

Joel and Mike discuss the realities of finding qualified and committed caregivers, creating residential programs, building relationships with other families, and developing support systems that work in everyday life.

They also explore how communication can look different for nonspeaking autistic adults, including the use of AAC and visual communication, and why parents can learn a great deal by observing behavior and responses to different caregivers.

The conversation also addresses an important lesson from Mike's experience: building adult services may be more effective when families start small, learn what works, and build relationships before attempting to create a full residential program.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Finding caregivers who are genuinely motivated to support autistic adults
• University partnerships and training opportunities for potential caregivers
• Communication and AAC for nonspeaking autistic adults
• Observing behavior to understand whether a caregiver is a good fit
• Creating residential programs with other families
• The challenges of ownership, funding, leadership, and staffing
• Starting with smaller programs before attempting residential services
• Planning for community involvement and meaningful adult activities
• Potential uses of AI and wearable technology in autism caregiving
• Navigating SSI, ABA, schools, and IEPs
• The importance of persistence when advocating for an autistic loved one

Joel also shares an important message for families navigating systems that can be exhausting: keep looking for options and don't give up.

Whether you're the parent of a profoundly autistic child, the parent of an autistic adult, a caregiver, or a professional working in autism services, this conversation offers practical perspectives on planning for adulthood and building sustainable support.

🎙️ About Autism Labs

Autism Labs provides practical conversations and resources for parents, caregivers, and families navigating autism. The podcast explores communication, behavior, caregiving, profound autism, adult services, transition planning, and the everyday realities of supporting autistic children and adults.

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

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