18 with Asperger’s: What Happens Next?

Once a young person with Asperger’s Syndrome or a related autism spectrum disorder turns 18, many parents are left wondering what to do next. Their child is old enough for work or college, yet may not be ready to take those next steps. They may have fallen behind in school because of emotional, social or life skill deficits, and may need additional time to complete their studies.

In these cases, families may fall into one of the following traps:

• Keep their child at home without the support and guidance they need to make progress toward their goals
• Choose a specialty college program that assists academically but doesn’t necessarily help build independence or life skills
• Put their child into a long-term placement unnecessarily, which means their child misses out on opportunities to learn and grow

“Just because a child turns 18 doesn’t mean they no longer need services and support,” explained Jonathan Bassett, the program director at Talisman Transitions, a transitional living program for young men with Asperger’s and related disorders.

“Transitioning into adulthood can be challenging for a neurotypical child, not to mention the additional hurdles facing children with special needs,” he added. “Sometimes young people are about to finish high school but aren’t quite ready to take those next steps.”

That’s where Talisman Transitions can make a real difference.

A Smooth Transition into Adulthood
Talisman Transitions serves young men, ages 18 to 24, who have Asperger’s Syndrome, high-functioning autism and related autism spectrum disorders. Living in a structured residential setting for one to two years, young people have a unique opportunity to transition into adulthood with the guidance and support of caring professionals.

“The goal of Talisman Transitions is to help young people achieve independence,” said Bassett.

Young people may choose to work, attend college or build new skills with instruction from their case supervisor. In everything they do, particular emphasis is placed on the following:

• Independent Living Skills
• Social Skills
• Self-Regulation

Backed by 30-plus years of expertise, Talisman Transitions was created by the same professional team that founded the highly successful Talisman special needs summer camps and the Talisman Academy high school for teens with Asperger’s and related disorders. Through their work at Talisman Camps and Talisman Academy, the experts at Talisman identified a need for young adults to have continued support while preparing for independent living.

The First Steps Toward Independence
Talisman Transitions is completely individualized and tailored to the distinct goals of each student:

• Those who are striving to work or live independently will focus on core competencies such as grocery shopping, healthy living, renting an apartment, finding and maintaining employment, and other skills.
• Students who wish to attend college may attend classes at the local community college while learning life skills at Talisman Transitions.
• Young people who need to earn additional high school credits can attend classes and receive a high school diploma from Talisman Academy.

In order to hone their skills, students set their own schedule, prepare their own meals and get ready each day. On weekends, students have typical young adult responsibilities and experiences, including banking, grocery shopping, socializing, playing sports and perhaps going on a date.

“We give young adults with Asperger’s and related disorders an opportunity to do what other 18- to 24-year-olds are doing, but with the added support of a team of assistants,” said Bassett.

Every student works with a case supervisor, who teaches classes and offers guidance on daily living, as well as a team of direct care assistants, who provide feedback and support as needed.

“Young people at Talisman Transitions have plenty of support and guidance, but they also have the opportunity to make their own decisions, both good and bad,” said Bassett. “This way, they can learn from their mistakes in a supportive environment.”

With the help of a program like Talisman Transitions, young people with Asperger’s not only develop the skills they need to live independently, but actually take their first steps into adulthood.