How can we, as a community, support autism into adulthood?  Occupational therapist Amanda Wu has the answer.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a general term for a group of complex developmental disorders, characterised by impairments in social interaction, language, and communication skills, combined with rigid, repetitive behaviours. According to government figures, there were more than 10,000 autistic students in the 2017/18 school year in Hong Kong. In the next decades, when these students age out of the school system and transition into adulthood, they will need more support and resources to meet their many needs. 

To help parents navigate the special challenges ahead , occupational therapist Amanda Wu shares her advice on how caregivers can ease their child’s transition from childhood to adulthood and help them thrive.

1. How do occupational therapists collaborate with other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment?

The first step on the road to treatment is to determine the goals, which are set through regular interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals, such as physiotherapists and speech therapists, as well as family caregivers.   

Therapy with autistic patients can last for years because individuals who have successfully managed certain symptoms may need additional treatment as they continue to adjust to changes in life. Additional therapy sessions serve as a way to help patients re-establish control as new life challenges emerge and when circumstances change.

2. Any advice for family caregivers? What can they do to enable their high functioning autistic children a smoother transition into adulthood?

Parents tend to take an appeasement approach when their child throws a tantrum in exchange for a moment of peace. It’s far from the solution. What parents should do, instead, is to identify the reasons behind the mood swing. Then, set attainable goals with the therapist to help their child improve upon things they struggle with and give them tools to live an independent life.

Very often, parents micromanage their child’s life — which is understandable, given that children with autism respond to consequences and punishment differently. However, such a parenting style might not necessarily work as the child grows up. It can backfire, undermining the parent-child relationship and the child’s ability to solve problems. Parents should have a clear sense of where their child’s strengths, challenges, skills, and interests lie and learn to let go of the steering wheel when it’s time.

Decision-making is an important aspect of building confidence. By incorporating small choices into the daily routine and conducting regular reviews, parents can help children understand better the cause and effects in life, and thereby develop positive decision-making skills through adolescence and adulthood. 

3. What should family caregivers pay attention to when seeking help from occupational therapists?

There is a misconception among family caregivers that therapy alone is sufficient to cure whatever problems their child is facing. Perhaps due to a lack of understanding and preconceived notions, many parents assume that autistic symptoms will gradually disappear as the child grows up. That is not true. Parents should be in the driver’s seat when it comes to helping children with ASD. Home education and therapy should complement each other. When the child leaves the therapy session, the learning should continue into their home, with parents playing an active role.

Successful treatment demands effective two-way communication between therapist and family caregivers. Therapists and doctors only see one side of the child, so they rely on family caregivers to provide feedback on how the autistic child behaves in other settings. It is, therefore, important for family caregivers to keep in touch with their medical team as often as possible. 

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