If you're the parents of an autistic young adult, you've probably asked yourself questions like, "Why are we still stuck?
Why does everything feel so hard? Are we making any progress at all?
I want to offer you something that has helped many of the families we've coached. It's called the Art of Adulting Stages.
This simple guide isn't about judging your family. It's about helping you recognize where you are today, because when we know where we are, we can choose the next right-sized step.
One of the biggest discoveries we've made after more than 3600 conversations with autistic young adults
and their families, plus years of coaching our own family,
is this growth happens in stages.
Most families begin in crisis and confusion. Everything feels urgent. Parents are exhausted.
Young adults are overwhelmed, anxious, shut down,
burnt out, avoiding work or relationships,
and then something important happens.
Instead of asking what's wrong with them,
we ask,
"What if this is a nervous system challenge?
That shift changes everything.
From there, families begin creating safety.
Conflict begins to decrease.
Young adults slowly become more centered.
Parents begin coaching instead of controlling.
Small victories appear.
Hope returns as confidence grows young adults in discovering who they are beyond autism, beyond anxiety, beyond executive functioning challenges.
Over time, they build self-reliance.
Many go on to pursue work connections, meaningful goals, and ultimately discover how their own experiences can help others.
Here's the part I hope you'll remember: this isn't a staircase;
it's a path.
Families move forward; sometimes they move backward.
Progress comes in waves.
Setbacks are part of growth.
So I invite you to download this free guide.
Sit down together with your spouse, your young adult, adult, or simply by yourself, and ask one question:
Where do you think you are today?
Don't worry about getting the right answer.
Just notice what makes sense, because awareness is often the first step toward help, hope, and help.
And once you know where you are, we can help you discover your next right size step.
The link is below.
I'd love to hear what stage best describes your family today.
Remember, growth isn't linear.
Notice where you are.
Celebrate how far you've come.
Then take your next right-sized step together.
Bye for now.
