Here are a few ideas to chew on, after the kids are in bed and American Idol is done for the night:
Autism is a lifelong neurobiological condition.
A 2003 study showed that people with mild/moderate intellectual/developmental impairment live as long as the general population.
By 2020, there will be 4 million Americans with autism.
85% of Americans with autism, right now, are under the age of 21.
All of these children will be adults with autism within 15 years.
By 2020, 500,000 children diagnosed with autism will be adults.
79% of adults with autism live with parents, older relatives or a guardian.
25% of these primary caregivers are over the age of 60.
Right now, with only a few exceptions, the most likely housing scenario for an autistic adult is life in the family home until one or both parents die, followed by life in an institution.
We can do better than this.
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