The document discusses three main points about autism services for adults. (1) Most research and services are for those under 18 even though autism is lifelong. Adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) have few support options. (2) Early detection is ineffective for HFA since symptoms can be subtle, especially in females who are often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. (3) The core deficit of HFA is social skills which impacts daily life, but adults with HFA may appear "normal" despite years of hard work developing coping mechanisms. Social supports like speech therapy could help with challenges.

1. Thank youfor makingtime tosee me. There are three mainpointsI wouldlike tobringtoyour attention
today:
(1) 95-97% of autism-relatedresearchandservices/supports are forthose under18, whereas
autismingeneral isa lifelongcondition,regardless of the severity.Itdoesnotgo awayafterone
turns 18 or 19. However,whenone turns18 or 19 in the province (of BC),there ispractically
nothingavailable intermsof relevantservices,atleastforthose withAsperger’sand milder
casesof autism – whichis unofficiallycalled “highfunctioningautism”(abbreviatedhenceforth
as HFA). Hence,the groupor populationIam advocatingforis adultswithHFA.
(2) Early detectionandinterventionisveryineffective forthisgroup,andhere iswhy: HFA by
definitionrequiresnointellectualimpairment(i.e.,IQ> 70) and no significantlanguagedelay.
Individuals withHFA tendtobe diagnosedmuchlaterthanthose withmore severe casesor
those that are closer(inseverity) to whatisso-called“classical autism.”Itisalsoextremely
importantto note an obtrusive genderbias(i.e.,highprobabilityof screeningfemalesout) inthe
diagnosticcriteria–both inthe International Classificationof Diseases(ICD)and the Diagnostic
& Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM). Hence,early detectionand interventiondoes
not workwell forHFA,especiallyamongfemales, due tohow subtle thesemildercasesof
autismare. Femalesare eithermisdiagnosedorundiagnosed. If theydoreceiveadiagnosisof
HFA, thenfemalestendtobe diagnosed muchlaterthanmales!
(3) The core deficitof HFA isnot emotional orphysical –it issocial.That is,it isprimarilyinmaking
connectionswithpeople,inthe waywe interactandcommunicate withotherpeople invarious
settings.Yes,manyadultswithHFA tendtomeetthe criteriafor more emotional issuessuchas
depression,anxiety,orbipolardisorder,butHFA or autismingeneral isnota mental health
issue.Instead,theseemotionalissuesare anoutcome of the social challengesfacedbyadults
withHFA. If adultswithHFA,includingmyself,appeartobe “normal”or “doingjustfine”thenI
urge you – and othergovernmentofficials –toplease rememberthatthese adultsspentand
continue tospendyearsof hard workto developsuccessful “copingmechanisms,”whichdonot
come naturally! Examples of social challengesthisgroupfaces include difficultyinterpreting
idiomsandmetaphors,facial expressions,bodylanguage, readingotherpeople’semotions,and
an amplifiedstruggle inhandlinglast-minute changes,justtoname a few.Inlightof these social
challenges, Speech-LanguagePathologists,orsome kindof social coaching,isdefinitelyamong
the most helpful resourcesforthis groupIam advocatingfor. These social challenges
significantlyinterfere withalmosteveryaspectof one’slife,butsuchinterference is apparently
not enoughtoreceive services,especiallyCommunityLivingBC – supposedly amongthe largest
source of servicesforadultswithdevelopmental disabilities.ForCommunityLivingBC,Iwill
sendyoua lettertodecrytheiroverlyrestrictiveeligibilitycriteria.
References:
Lake,J. K.,Perry,A., & Lunsky,Y. (2014). Mental HealthServicesforIndividualswithHighFunctioning
AutismSpectrumDisorder. AutismResearch and Treatment, 2014, e502420.
http://doi.org/10.1155/2014/502420
Richler,J.(2015). AutismGrowsUp. Scientific American MIND,(January/February2015),37–42.
Szalavitz,M.(2016). The Invisible Girls. ScientificAmerican MIND,(March/April 2016).
Taylor-Parker,L.(2016, January27). Passing:How to PlayNormal | ThinkInclusive.RetrievedMarch20,
2016, fromhttp://www.thinkinclusive.us/passing-how-to-play-normal/
The National AutisticSociety.(n.d.).WhatisAspergersyndrome?RetrievedMarch20, 2016, from
http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asperger.aspx