Transcript

ILONA ROTH:

By now, you know that autism is usually a lifelong condition. And this week, you'll be focusing on adolescence and adulthood. Of course, this change in development, as for any young person growing up, many young autistic adults overcome huge challenges. Some adapt to independent living. And as you saw in week five, a small proportion may achieve so-called "optimal outcomes" becoming free of their autistic symptoms. However, for many, serious challenges affecting autonomy and well-being persist.

You'll start by looking at the transition to adulthood and the special importance of ongoing education and support for young people who are still developing. You'll also learn about different kinds of living arrangements for adults. One thing, which stands out for me, is the number of autistic adults who remain dependent on parents, experience social isolation, and suffer from mental health problems. Unfortunately, the factors which help to avoid such outcomes are not fully understood. And sadly, less help and support is available for adults than for children.

However, it's important to look at the positives too. You'll learn about the lives of three very different autistic adults. Each in its own way, a success story considered in individual terms. You work also covers how autistic people fare in typical areas of everyday life, such as employment. With recognition of the particular skills that autistic people can bring to work situations, some excellent organisations now specialise in securing employment for adults. Your week's work concludes with a look at some recent UK legislation aimed at ensuring better adult services and support. Legislation is clearly a step in the right direction, but so far, progress in meeting the goals has been disappointingly slow.