Life after high school for individuals with autism

My wife is tired of being called brave, but being the mother of an autistic man of 18, it can’t be avoided. From finding the right doctor to getting the special education system to do right for our son, my wife has always had to be strong-or feign strength.

And still my wife is told that she is special because she is Nicholas’ mother. She is referred to as a saint, somehow chosen, but she is not. She is just a mother trying to raise our son to be the best that he can be. She shares the same views, perspectives, and challenges with others like Elaine, Gemma, Paulina, and Bobbie, to name a few.

The other thing that we hear a lot is that Nicholas is an angel, closer to God than others, here to teach us something. No, he’s not. He’s not some form of puzzle that we’re trying to figure out. The adult-services system, or the lack thereof, is the puzzle.

Helping Nicholas have a decent, adult life is our family’s greatest challenge. We want him to have a life with something to do: a job or volunteer work; a place to live safely and cared for; days with a rewarding rhythm. These are things we’ve been working on since he was a teenager-along with his education.

Currently, Nicholas has caring, qualified teachers that work with him on a daily basis. These teachers are responsible for Nicholas’ growth. But it isn’t the system that has made Nicholas’ school years so great. It’s the teachers that deserve all the credit. We are thankful for those teachers and teacher aides who have worked with Nicholas throughout the years. Their commitment and dedication is truly appreciated.

Now that Nicholas has transitioned to adulthood, he has a year or two to finish with the PSS Special Education Program. From there he will be transitioning to the far more complex adulthood services. We are searching for funding and applying to qualify for programs that might help Nicholas live as independently as possible. We know we can’t afford a staff person, nor will we live forever. If only there was a waiting list for a stable adulthood experience, like those in the U.S., within our own community.

Existing programs such as the CNMI Developmental Disability Council, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities of Northern Marianas College may be available for young adults like Nicholas, but we feel as if that is not enough.

As parents we educate ourselves-we research online and work with other parents, and, of course, with our children’s teachers. But we still need professional development. As parents of children with autism, our ultimate challenge is limited resources and programs. There are more and more children coming into the education system than there are resources for them.

Business leaders should also be ready to employ and service our community members with autism. As the rate of autism increases, so does their natural participation in our community. We need to embrace this diversity.

We are blessed to live on an island where family and friends take care of each other. Such is our culture. And with the prevalence of autism increasing, it will take our whole island-family and friends, young and old, to prepare those with autism for a good life. However, there is still so much to do to support these individuals with autism and their families.

The key ingredient to supporting these children and young adults is people who care-people who are willing to stretch their arms with love, and those who are willing to advocate. I urge everyone to embrace those with autism, and to take time out to support our brothers and sisters with disabilities in becoming active and productive citizens. With your knowledge and help, we may be able to work together to improve the system for every individual with autism.

Francisco D. Cabrera
San Vicente, Saipan