Todd Harris, PhD, Executive Director of Autism Services at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, discussed aging with ASD. After a brief look at the possible biologic causes of ASD and its diagnosis, we discussed how many families worry about the early years following a diagnosis and efforts to obtain a traditional education, while forgetting the future adulthood. Dr. Harris discussed the need for services from birth to geriatric years, programs that help with job skills, life skills including laundry and cooking, social skills towards inclusion in the community, and long term health and wellness. He points out that eventually we all age and want to retire, what does ‘retirement’ hold for someone with ASD? He discussed Devereux programs, including STAIRS and CARES, and its transitional services for older youth and adults seeking independence, CAAPP.
Todd Harris, PhD, Executive Director of Autism Services for Devereux Pennsylvania