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Autistic Teens with Behavioral Problems

When my son was born in the early 1990’s we thought we had a perfectly normal, healthy boy. A few years later we learned about his autism.  (Over the years, we – parents - worked hard to help him learn to read, write and speak).   In the early 1990’s one in 10,000 children were diagnosed with autism.  Today the occurrence of autism is one in 150 in some states; and one in 99 in NJ.  What will happen to them?

Most books that I’ve read concerning autistic teens seem to have a section regarding aggression and behavioral problems.  Obviously my son isn’t unique in that problem area.   Unfortunately, some families may eventually come to the point where they realize they are no longer able to keep everyone in the home and community safe and may seek professional help for their autistic loved one. That is when a residential facility may be considered.   The problem arises when the residential facilities specializing in autism refuse to accept autistic teenagers with behavioral problems.

There seems to be discrimination against autism when the child’s aggression, which is a manifestation of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), prevents the child from being placed in a residential facility specifically designed for the autistic population.  I recently learned that yet another residential facility (near Pittsburgh) has no alternative but to close its doors because of lack of sufficient funds to continue operations. The trend today is towards community based residences.  When aggression, meltdowns and behavioral problems are not a problem, I am in favor of community based residences since they are best suited for people who can handle the least restrictive environment.    What happens to those autistic teens who are not able to get their behaviors under control?   Where can they go to get help?   

Rather than have residential treatment facilities (RTF’s) cease to exist, (and considering the autism explosion that occurred during the 1990’s) it seems to me that it would make a lot of sense to have RTF facilities that may have to close their doors, re-open and specialize in accepting autistic teenagers to teach them appropriate behaviors when their local schools and parents have not been successful in getting those behaviors under control. Why not prepare for the obvious inundation of autistic teens needing placement now – before that 1990’s explosion erupts.
                                  
 - A concerned parent.