Families of Autistic Adults

Family members of autistic adults continue to play an important role in their lives. In this chapter, we review the concerns and roles of families of autistic adolescents and adults, and the impact of the stress these responsibilities can have on family members. Just as there are different lived experiences of autistic individuals based on factors such as age of diagnoses, level of support needs, and comorbidities, the experiences and needs of families are also quite variable. Families experience many concerns, barriers, and challenges when advocating for services that cater to the unique needs of their autistic adult child, sibling, or spouse. As the field of autism has increasingly focused on the transition to adulthood, more interventions and supports are being developed for autistic teenagers and young adults that involve their parents. Additionally, there are more resources available to address the stress and coping of family members.