10 Success Strategies for Teens and Adults with Autism

I have had many parents and educators requesting resources and tips for teens and young adults. I agree that it is hard to find information and resources about how to guide and support this age group. I am thrilled to find a resource that aims “to increase the odds that your child grows into an adult with a rewarding, meaningful life”.

What I enjoyed about The Loving Push (by Temple Grandin and Debra Moore) is that it mixes personal experience with professional, research-based ideas. It weaves together the stories of several young people on the autism spectrum and their parents. The accounts describe how they work through their challenges and become increasingly confident with independent living. It includes the ups and downs from setbacks, disappointments, and dark moments to successes and advancements.

The best part of this book is the HOPE and ideas it gives by telling inspiring, real stories.

I love the honesty in this book, and I agree with the authors that we all have to remember that “few of us achieve goals via a straight, smooth path. We encounter unexpected and frustrating obstacles along the way.” (Pg 46)

There are hundreds of great tips and ideas in this book; in fact, I have had great difficulty selecting my 10 Top Tips (every page seems to have a new gem).

Must Read : How to approach explicit Sexual behavior among Autistic Teens?

TOP 10 SUCCESS STRATEGIES FOR TEENS & ADULTS WITH AUTISM

1. Find a mentor. The one shared trait in every story is that each person was encouraged and “stretched” just outside of their comfort zone by at least one adult in their life, which helped keep them from falling into “chronic learned helplessness.” This can be a parent, teacher, neighbor, employer or extended family. The mentor needs to be a “positive role model, a source of advice or information, and someone who ‘expects’ effort and accountability.”
2. Be your kid’s coach, or find one for them. A coach is different from a mentor in that they are actually teaching them concepts. (Pg 139 and 140 give some good strategies about how to find a coach and what to look for.)
3. Adults (parents and mentors) must take the lead or it will just not happen (this is everything from learning independent living skills to a career). Chapter 4 gives many examples of why the ASD teen can get “stuck” and you may need to assist them to break out of chronic anxiety and a “don’t care” attitude.
4. Help to set realistic goals and provide support for figuring out how to achieve those goals. This is where the mentor can play an important role, sharing their own experiences and guiding the student to set their own goals. Spell out goals and connect the dots. It may be obvious to you, but it probably won’t even occur to them. For example, they may not be interested in organizing a visit to Vocational Education, but if you get a course catalog, walk the campus, go to the bookshop, organize a meeting with the Disability Office or key staff, they can start to see what is available and how the courses can lead to something of interest to them.
5. Start small: slowly introduce new ideas and experiences, and build on your young person’s interests and strengths.
6. Give them clear start dates and deadlines to complete each step. Help them understand the consequences of not doing something by the deadline. For example, this could be enrolling in singing lessons or cooking dinner. If you don’t enroll in the singing class by the deadline, you will need to wait another six months for the next course. (Pg 73 has some great examples of natural consequences.)
7. Start early and build up skills that will last. This includes everything from social skills, self-regulation and goal setting to friendships and life skills.
8. Just do it. “To get Autistic kids to progress, they must DO things, not just talk about them.” They don’t have to love it, but they do need to try it. This can include exercise, work, independent living skills and study. Go at a pace your young person can manage, and check in about how they are feeling.
9. Magic can happen when you introduce them to new things. Stretch them out of their comfort zones.
10. Stay strong: don’t let your child’s fears and setbacks stop you from continuing to plan and take action. For example, if they lose their job, that is okay; lots of people do. Allow them a few days to process it and then help them take the next step. They recommend this should include contacting the employer to find out why the job ended and what skills they need to work on.

I hope you find these tips and strategies handy!