What can parents do when children with autism become adults?

New Jersey has the highest autism rate in the country: one in 34 children is in the autism spectrum disorder.

Although the Garden State offers many programs designed to meet the needs of autistic children, as adults, things get harder.

Hundreds of parents will attend a special conference on the transition to Woodbridge on Monday, to hear specialists talk about navigating the sometimes confusing and uncertain network of services for adults with autism.

"This conference provides them with practical information. This tells them the next steps and also gives them a more concrete idea of ​​the future and realistic possibilities, "said Suzanne Buchanan, Executive Director of Autism New Jersey, the organization that sponsors the conference. .

The event includes 12 workshops and 50 exhibitions dealing with legal issues, instruction and services, including access to adult health care, attractive insurance disclaimers, planning for disability, community housing, self-regulation and problem solving.

"We give them a little roadmap of the journey to come when that can sometimes seem very uncertain," she said.

"We have speakers from the state's developmental disorders division, we have clinicians, lawyers and educators."

Buchanan said that many adults with autism "are struggling to find employment opportunities tailored to their interests and abilities. Some of them need more supervision and treatment services during the day. "

She pointed out that, as parents age, an adult autistic child may need placement in an institution and it can be extremely difficult to find one that offers appropriate support services.

"We simply do not have enough programs available to address the needs of adults with autism at all levels. We talk to parents every day who have trouble finding the right services.

Buchanan said that more people are diagnosed with conditions on the autistic spectrum, the demand for this type of information is increasing.

She pointed out that if parents were not able to attend this conference, which had been closed several weeks ago due to the registration capacity, they can contact Autism New Jersey with specific questions and sign up for the organization's main conference in October.

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You can contact the reporter David Matthau at [email protected]