RE: what is the future for our kids?

[Guest guest]

,

Since our kids are all so different, there is no way of predicting any one

outcome. All we can do is provide as much help and training while they are

young and hope for the best. They can be anything from college professors

to retail workers. If you find your child has a specific interest, do as

much as you can for him to develope it (this of course does not mean plan on

him being an astronaut if he likes the moon, but there's nothing that says

he can't be an astronomer). Give him a chance to grow and see what he

likes, then go for it. has been into bugs for 4 years now. He says

he wants to be an entomologist. Who knows?

We also have some adults here who are parents themselves and are on the

spectrum and never had the extra help. Quite an accomplishment if you ask

me!

I have an aspergers son and a very high functioning autistic son. I still

can't predict if they will ever drive, or live independently or in a group

home....no one can. I still have high hopes for them, but no guarantees. I

don't anticipate that they will be independent as soon as they turn 18

though ;-)

All we can do is support them the best we can. Our kids are young and

learning all the time. Don't sweat the future yet.

Sue

[Guest guest]

,

Since our kids are all so different, there is no way of predicting any one

outcome. All we can do is provide as much help and training while they are

young and hope for the best. They can be anything from college professors

to retail workers. If you find your child has a specific interest, do as

much as you can for him to develope it (this of course does not mean plan on

him being an astronaut if he likes the moon, but there's nothing that says

he can't be an astronomer). Give him a chance to grow and see what he

likes, then go for it. has been into bugs for 4 years now. He says

he wants to be an entomologist. Who knows?

We also have some adults here who are parents themselves and are on the

spectrum and never had the extra help. Quite an accomplishment if you ask

me!

I have an aspergers son and a very high functioning autistic son. I still

can't predict if they will ever drive, or live independently or in a group

home....no one can. I still have high hopes for them, but no guarantees. I

don't anticipate that they will be independent as soon as they turn 18

though ;-)

All we can do is support them the best we can. Our kids are young and

learning all the time. Don't sweat the future yet.

Sue

[Guest guest]

,

Since our kids are all so different, there is no way of predicting any one

outcome. All we can do is provide as much help and training while they are

young and hope for the best. They can be anything from college professors

to retail workers. If you find your child has a specific interest, do as

much as you can for him to develope it (this of course does not mean plan on

him being an astronaut if he likes the moon, but there's nothing that says

he can't be an astronomer). Give him a chance to grow and see what he

likes, then go for it. has been into bugs for 4 years now. He says

he wants to be an entomologist. Who knows?

We also have some adults here who are parents themselves and are on the

spectrum and never had the extra help. Quite an accomplishment if you ask

me!

I have an aspergers son and a very high functioning autistic son. I still

can't predict if they will ever drive, or live independently or in a group

home....no one can. I still have high hopes for them, but no guarantees. I

don't anticipate that they will be independent as soon as they turn 18

though ;-)

All we can do is support them the best we can. Our kids are young and

learning all the time. Don't sweat the future yet.

Sue

[Guest guest]

It depends on the child.

Some will be institutionalized. Some will live in group homes. Some will

have assisted living and job coaching. Some will live independantly, in

full or in part with funding from the state. Some will live alone and have

jobs. Some will even get married and have children of their own.

There's no way of knowing where your child will end up until you get there.

He will grow and develop and learn and change every single day of his life.

Never give up on your child.

> of my child? Can even the greatest legacy of wealth and legal provisions

> really ensure any security for my son beyond my own personal supervision?

I don't think there are any gaurantees for anybody, even the incredibly

wealthy. Unless you have someone you trust absolutely to care for him, it's

all up in the air. Even then you never know what may happen...

I don't think about it.

-Sara.

[Guest guest]

On my best days, (and his) I imagine living a life very like mine.

Isolated, but with one good friend, one person who loves him, a mom he can

talk to, and an independant life.

Most days, though, I have no idea what the future holds for him. I know he

won't need to live with us (I believe this strongly) but I don't know what

his needs WILL be -- an institutional-like setting? An independant living

group home with workers on site? His own place with a daily visitor? A

group home with a daily visitor? I just don't know. I can imagine even

less about what he might work at. At this point in his life, he has no

follow-through whatsoever, so it's hard for me to envision him holding a job

without a shadow...but then again, a lot can change in 12-15 years.

It IS scary to think of him after I've died, and Marc has died...but I trust

by then we will have discerned the right things to do to ensure his

well-being after we're gone.

I'm with everyone else, though -- unless I'm answering a post like yours, I

don't think about it. I just think about how to make it to bedtime. :-)

Jacquie

[Guest guest]

On my best days, (and his) I imagine living a life very like mine.

Isolated, but with one good friend, one person who loves him, a mom he can

talk to, and an independant life.

Most days, though, I have no idea what the future holds for him. I know he

won't need to live with us (I believe this strongly) but I don't know what

his needs WILL be -- an institutional-like setting? An independant living

group home with workers on site? His own place with a daily visitor? A

group home with a daily visitor? I just don't know. I can imagine even

less about what he might work at. At this point in his life, he has no

follow-through whatsoever, so it's hard for me to envision him holding a job

without a shadow...but then again, a lot can change in 12-15 years.

It IS scary to think of him after I've died, and Marc has died...but I trust

by then we will have discerned the right things to do to ensure his

well-being after we're gone.

I'm with everyone else, though -- unless I'm answering a post like yours, I

don't think about it. I just think about how to make it to bedtime. :-)

Jacquie