Book Review: Autism Adulthood: Strategies and Insights for a Fulfilling Life

This book is written by the loving, caring mother of Nat, a twenty-five year old young man who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Susan Senator writes not only to help her son and herself, but to help other parents with children with autism who are worried about their lives in adulthood.  Like most parents she has been worried about what Nat's life would be like without her.  Would he have a job, would he have a place to live?   In addition to housing and employment options Ms. Senator includes experiences and information on "choosing caregivers and room-mates", "keeping on top of health and safety", "the role of siblings and family" and much more.  Ms. Senator writes that "helping Nat have a decent adult life is my family's greatest challenge with Nat, not Nat himself".

When Nat was thirteen she chose the vocational school route for her son instead of the academics because she wanted him to become as independent as possible, and more connected to the community. By the time Nat was fifteen he was working within his school doing office tasks like delivering messages, entering data into the computer, and stocking shelves in their "mock" school store.  At sixteen, Nat was ready to work in the community.  By 22 he had worked at Papa Gino's making pizza boxes, served lunch in the school cafeteria, and cleaned the lunchroom. By 24, Nat was working in a local supermarket collecting carts.  Two years later he was named "Employee of the Year".

Ms. Senator strongly believes that schools need to be more committed to vocational training for children with autism and that our communities should be more open to employing them.   She also emphasizes the importance of seriously thinking about what your son/daughter likes to do and what their skills are when considering future employment.

She describes a variety of boys with autism and how their fathers helped them to find employment in the community by carefully examining what their skills were and what they liked to do.  She writes about a father, Jeff, who firmly believed that functioning businesses should be able to train people with disabilities.  In Muncie, Indiana, Jeff built a Teaching Hotel with the help of others inside a Marriott Hotel. Programs included training in housekeeping, food service, maintenance, security and the gift shop. When attendees complete their training, they are prepared to get a job working in this or another hotel in the community.

While a Wall Street Journal article on the employability of adults with autism in high-tech jobs may raise the hopes of parents, Ms. Senator notes that can only happen for those few with high communication skills – that is not the norm.  As a consequence, your son or daughter’s communication skills are often at the heart of the decisions you will have to make over and over again and for and in post-22.

In conclusion, the author makes clear that you cannot wait for a breakthrough, you must get going and work with others to make progress.  Do what works and be pragmatic!  This book is an invitation to take the journey to post-22 with Ms. Senator, her son Nat, her family, and others.  An added benefit for our readers is that much of this takes place in metro Boston.

In my opinion, Autism Adulthood:  Strategies and Insights for a Fulfilling Life is a GREAT  RESOURCE!

Susan Senator not only shares her personal trials, frustrations, challenges, and solutions for her son, Nat, for having a satisfying adulthood, but also those of other families when their children turn twenty two as well.  She emphasizes that when we are trying to solve the challenges of housing, employment, caregivers, etc. we must work with other parents and agencies and not try to solve all of the challenges in all areas by ourselves. By working with other parents and agencies we will all be more successful and less frustrated.

Autism Adulthood: Strategies and Insights for a Fulfilling Life
By Susan Senator
Reviewed by: Linda M. Olsen, M.Ed.