Kimberly Verbyla Works to Overcome Challenges of Aging Child with Autism

PORT ORANGE, FL, February 19, 2014 (Press-News.org) Kimberly Verbyla has the support she needs for her son. Kimberly Verbyla is a fiercely independent woman and a caring, nurturing mother. Kimberly Verbyla's entire universe revolves around her son. While not alone, the difference between Kimberly Verbyla and other mothers is the fact that her son has autism.

The diagnoses of autism can be devastating for parents, but it is also an umbrella term with a range of severity and symptoms within the Autism Spectrum Disorders. As a child, there are a number of educational and health programs to provide children and parents with support. However, these support programs diminish and become difficult to navigate into adulthood.

Kimberly Verbyla is aware of this problem. As a mother, Kimberly Verbyla is eager to provide the best for her son, and helps educate society by writing about the topic as a freelance writer. While she draws attention to the topic, she still feels trepidation about her son as an adult with autism.

According to HealthDay News, "Within the next decade, at least 500,000 U.S. teens with autism will enter adulthood. Many will require access to the adult service system, which is already overburdened." The article points to a recent National Housing and Residential Supports Survey that determined the need for more housing and residential support options. Through the survey, it was determined that 70% of caregivers had no outside support when caring for someone with autism.

There is a very clear problem within our network of support: we care for children with autism, but drop many formal support programs once these children reach adulthood. This puts the burden of care on the parents and caregivers. As Kimberly Verbyla knows too well, the support programs provided for children with autism stop at age 21.

The film "Autistic and Aging Out" points to this problem. According to an October 2013 article of The Huffington Post, "This process is known in the autistic community as 'aging out.'" Additionally, the article points out that options for care in adulthood become less clear. But routine choices include placing the now-adult in a group home, assisted living, or the continued living at home until the caregiver becomes too old to provide adequate care.

The range and scope of difficulties placed on caregivers like Kimberly Verbyla was addressed in a recent article in Fox News Health. The article quotes the vice president of family services at Autism Speaks, saying, "Approximately 80 percent of adults with autism up to 30 years old live at home for one reason - there is not enough affordable housing available, both the physical space and the appropriate supports."

Kimberly Verbyla knows how much supervision is required when caring for children with autism. The need for supervision doesn't diminish in adulthood, and housing an adult can be financially burdensome. "Adults with autism need more residential programs; the goal is to help them live as independently as possible as an adult," says Kimberly Verbyla. The goal of living independently for adults with autism means developing self-care skills. Kimberly Verbyla hopes more will be done soon to train professionals in residential support.

About: Kimberly Verbyla has a son with autism and writes about the subject, including the challenges caregivers have supporting an adult with autism.