The Adult Transition Challenge of Autistic Individuals and the Way Ahead

Autism is a life-long neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties in social communication, restricted and repetitive behaviors, and sensory processing issues. In India, there is a huge question mark regarding autistic individuals after they transition into adulthood, more specifically in housing and work options. In this chapter, beginning from the general considerations for upbringing of an autistic individual, attention is given to the need for future planning of autistic adults, more specifically in residential options. Some of the major residential centres are described followed by projections on establishing residential facilities. Following this, examples of life skills training, employment, and inclusion initiatives taking place in India are mentioned. Finally, research directions and other expectations aimed at increasing support for parents and siblings and also improving the lives of individuals on spectrum are discussed.

FUNCTIONAL DELAYED ECHOLALIA: INSIGHTS FROM A MOVIE

This study focuses on the analysis of functional delayed echolalia towards an autistic individual in Life, Animated documentary. The obtained data were derived from Owen Suskind's utterances and words in the aforementioned documentary, which the researchers manipulated and structured to fall into two categories of functional delayed echolalia. The study used qualitative descriptive method in analyzing the functional delayed echolalia of Owen Suskind using interactive and non-interactive functional categories of delayed echolalia theory proposed by Vicker (1999). The findings show that there are 8 (eight) out of 9 (nine) types of interactive delayed echolalia were discovered namely Turn taking, Verbal, Completion, Providing information, Labelling, Protest, Request, Calling and Affirmation. Meanwhile, the non- interactive delayed echolalia consists of three types namely non-focused, situation association, and rehearsal. The findings of this study are expected to give a positive impact on both readers who are dealing with children with autism who have echolalia. It will provide information on their language development in order to later determine the ideal method to handle them with care.

Interview with a mother of autistic individual and her contribution to medical teaching: an experience report

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a syndrome which affects 70 million people worldwide, 2 million of them only in Brazil, according to the World Health Organization. Given this, the bond between children with ASD in their socio-school environment is still complicated due to the lack of understanding of the subject by the individuals around them. Due to the population's lack of awareness on the subject, the perpetuation of stereotypes is remarkable and corroborates the presence of stigmas and prejudgments, jeopardizing even further the individual's socialization. The present report aimed to show the experience of medical students interviewing the mother of an autistic individual, and how this activity helped to understand the syndrome and how to deal with a patient with ASD. Therefore, the experience of interviewing the mother of an autistic person, through an online platform, brought questions to the personal and professional development of the students, as they were faced with a completely different reality. At the end of the interview, the prejudices, the difficulties of inclusion and accessibility that individuals with autism spectrum experience were highlighted, being essential a greater dedication and responsibility to improve their quality of life. In addition, it highlights the importance of this experience for the construction of the doctor-patient relationship among the students, as it promotes a more humanized Medicine, by making them see different points of view.

A Systematic Review of Interventions to Improve Healthcare Experiences and Access in Autism

Autistic individuals report barriers to accessing and receiving healthcare, and experience increased morbidity and mortality. This systematic review synthesizes 31 research studies evaluating interventions implemented to improve the healthcare experiences and/or access of autistic persons. Interventions were most commonly patient-focused (58.1%), focused on supporting the autistic individual to engage with, tolerate, or anticipate medical procedures, care, or settings. Fewer studies were provider-focused (48.4%) or organization-focused (6.5%). Interventions were typically evaluated using measures of reactions (45.2%) or behavior (48.4%), and outcomes were predominantly positive (80.6%). Further research is imperative and should look to how providers and organizations must change. Future research must be inclusive of the autistic community, must measure what matters, and must offer complete detail on interventions implemented.

Creating a Resilient Ecosystem for the Employment of Autistic Individuals: From Understanding to Action

Inspired by a 2020 collective awakening to societal inequalities, we introduce a conceptual framework to address systemic issues around employment for one of society’s vulnerable populations—people with autism. We do so as advocates, researchers, practitioners, a family member for one author, and an autistic individual for one author. We first draw upon ecological systems theory to develop a portrait of the complex ecosystem of employment for autistic individuals that reveals multilevel and interconnected influencing elements. We then apply learning from systems and resilience thinking to deepen understanding about how positive change can occur in such an ecosystem. Overall, we propose new paradigms, questions, and actions toward transformative change for this and other systemic challenges faced by vulnerable populations.

The Adult Transition Challenge of Autistic Individuals and the Way Ahead

Autism is a life-long neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties in social communication, restricted and repetitive behaviors, and sensory processing issues. In India, there is a huge question mark regarding autistic individuals after they transition into adulthood, more specifically in housing and work options. In this chapter, beginning from the general considerations for upbringing of an autistic individual, attention is given to the need for future planning of autistic adults, more specifically in residential options. Some of the major residential centres are described followed by projections on establishing residential facilities. Following this, examples of life skills training, employment, and inclusion initiatives taking place in India are mentioned. Finally, research directions and other expectations aimed at increasing support for parents and siblings and also improving the lives of individuals on spectrum are discussed.

Autisme, j’accuse! Life-writing, autism and politics in the work of Hugo Horiot

Autism has generated a great deal of controversy, culturally, intellectually and politically. The context for this in recent years in France is unusual and has been the site of strong antagonism. These debates are political in terms of policy implications and disagreements along political lines but also entail the politics of knowledge, and the question of who has the right to speak for whom. Competing groups – parents, ‘experts’ and autistic adults have different claims to validity as knowledge-bearers. This epistemological validity is vital in creating wider public understanding and determining policy directions. Autism life-writing is a new phenomenon in French and contributes to this set of debates. In order to illuminate this further, this article will offer an account of the first best-selling memoir by an autistic individual in France. The book, L’Empereur, c’est moi, is by Hugo Horiot, and was published in 2013, at the height of the ‘autism battle’ in the French public sphere.

Aging well on the autism spectrum: the perspectives of autistic adults and carers

ABSTRACTBackground:“Aging well” is an increasingly popular concept in gerontology. Adults with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder represent a demographically substantial population, yet remain excluded from existing conceptualizations of aging well. This qualitative study aimed to explore what it means for autistic adults to “age well” from the perspectives of autistic adults and carers.Methods:Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 autistic adults (mean age 50.3 years) and 9 carers of autistic adults. Interviews were offered in four formats: email, telephone, Skype, and face-to-face and included three questions exploring what it means for autistic adults to age well as well as what might help or hinder them from aging well.Results:Aging well was found to be a multifaceted concept that encompassed the autistic individual, others, the world they live in, and relational issues connecting these domains. Thematic analysis revealed eight themes to be common across participants’ responses: “myself,” “being autistic,” “others,” “lifestyle and living well,” “being supported,” “relating to others,” “life environment,” and “societal attitudes and acceptance.”Conclusions:In line with previous studies, a more diverse range of personal and environmental factors should be included in conceptualizing aging well. In contrast to dominant perspectives, being autistic was not considered a hindrance to aging well. Rather, social and relational issues were central and unique to aging well for autistic adults. Implications include the need to address societal attitudes towards autism and building capacity and understanding in those who are both formally and informally involved in the lives of autistic adults.

Supporting Persons with Autism Disorders Entering Adulthood

The article affirms the desirability of a long-time psychocorrectional support of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families, including in adulthood. The term developing social environment for an adult autistic individual is uncovered. Two important areas of psychological correction of ASD starting from younger adolescence are identified. These are: 1. teaching of skills of appropriate social behavior and 2. increase of understanding himself and the world of people and their relationships by autistic individual. The specifics of each of these areas of work and the methods used in each of them are briefly described. In particular, forming social skills has “good habits” and social roles developing as a base. The author supposes psychological support shouldn’t be equaled exclusively to the development of social skills which individual needs.