77. The Disability Cliff and Adult Services in the US, with Cammie McGovern

Discover what’s possible when success is measured in belonging.  Cammie McGovern is the mother of a 25-year-old autistic adult and has recently published a book titled Hard Landings: Looking into the Future of a Child with Autism. She has also authored three novels for adults, including Eye Contact; two books for young adults, Say What You Will and A Step Toward Falling; and two books for middle-grade readers, Just My Luck and Chester and Gus. All feature young people with a variety of disabilities at the center.  Cammie is also one of the founders of Whole Children and Milestones, a resource center for children and young adults with disabilities and their families in Hadley, Massachusetts.  In today’s conversation, we discuss: The “Disability Cliff” for autistic adults who turn 22 Varying types of adult services available across the US The movement away from institutional settings and sheltered workshops The overlooked value of congregate settings Skills parents should prioritize when preparing their kids for adulthood Tips for parents whose children are approaching this stage in life Sex education To learn more about Cammie, please visit cammiemcgovern.com. ----more---- Are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Are you a self-advocate willing to share your experiences and educate others? Are you a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Whatever your role related to autism is, you can join our Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.  Sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.  ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.  Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast  Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project  We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey