If you're autistic, once you hit 18 you are tossed out with the trash

Re:If you're autistic, once you hit 18 you are tossed out wi... by CM30 on Monday November 04, 2019 @01:53PM (#21445004)

Worse still, the resources in schools are (for perhaps obvious reasons) only aimed at those who autism stops them learning/makes it difficult to learn. If you're on the spectrum and can do decently well at the curriculum but struggle socially/with general anxiety/etc, then you're often on your own.

This is the situation I was in at school/college/university. Meanwhile when you leave education, the same situation applies there too; the organisations and resources seem to mostly be focused on making sure someone on the spectrum is employed/not homeless, with zero real thought towards their general wellbeing.

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Re:If you're autistic, once you hit 18 you are tossed out wi... by madamelic on Monday November 04, 2019 @02:11PM (#21445236)

>If you're on the spectrum and can do decently well at the curriculum but struggle socially/with general anxiety/etc, then you're often on your own.

Or worse yet, go undetected.

I was out of college before I realized I had been pushing upstream for my entire school career. My partner had gotten identified and gotten help, it wasn't easy but much easier.

I had always tested very highly on standardized tests but was a horrible student. My mom would tie me to chairs, my teachers would verbally abuse me, all of it. Not to mention the social issues I had.

It's a relief to know now, but it leaves me wondering how differently my life would've turned out had someone thought to test and accommodate. Even now I am just kind of not really sure what to do with the knowledge, beyond not guilt-tripping myself for being more "normal".

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Re:If you're autistic, once you hit 18 you are tossed out wi... by gnode on Monday November 04, 2019 @03:22PM (#21446046)

I don't think this is a problem specific to autism. Schools, at best, are focused on preparing people for employment, or, more typically, on preparing students for exams. Neurotypical students are set up poorly to manage their mental and physical health, finances, relationships, etc.

Other forms of preparation for life: social skills; financial skills; political engagement; health, are rarely prioritised.

Giving autistic children help with academic learning and disruptive behaviour is conventional, as it is for all students (albeit with special measures and allowances made). Other life skills are neglected, as they are for all students.

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Re:If you're autistic, once you hit 18 you are tossed out wi... by ElFitz on Monday November 04, 2019 @06:30PM (#21447896)

The "general wellbeing" part got me thinking. The underlying questions that surfaced were "What does and doesn't society "owe" us? What do we expect from it?"

What is today's social contract?

I really have no idea.

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