My adult autistic son Jack is funny, lonely, happy, sad, loved & awesome! From the very beginning, Jack did not meet his developmental milestones and we started ECI intervention when he was just 3 years old. Jack didn’t begin speaking until the age of 5. He would drool more than most babies and often bang his head just because. Since he was not talking he could almost tell you what he wanted just by looking at you. But wait! Eye contact? Since Jack was little, support for autism has grown tremendously but it still needs more work! Through our personal journey, I’ve learned that autism looks very DIFFERENT for everyone. Judge not! Support always! Jack’s autism is accompanied by extreme anxiety, manic episodes, OCD, verbal apraxia, IDD and a load of other things! Much has changed as he has become an adult. Where most people can find a romantic partner or be involved in social gatherings, Jack is deflated by this sort of thing. Every day brings new challenges, but also new opportunities for growth. It’s important to remember that autistic kids grow up to be autistic adults who still need understanding and support throughout their lives.
I hope that you have all the support you need! I have a supportive, wonderful, caring husband that has been here for Jack over ten years. I have a teenage step son, and two other adult children. Oh, and my first grandbaby! :) - C