Catch-22: Autism in Adulthood

Catch-22 is a documentary produced by seven University of Miami School of Communication students from August-December of 2014. The piece explores adults with autism and the challenges it presents them and their families.
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[@pianoman2276]

Being a 26-year-old with autism myself, I found this documentary inspiring and mesmerizing in every way! In my opinion, people in the general public are far too focused on what others can't do instead of what they c-a-n do. I hope civilization will continue to progress to where a neurotypical person would further notice the strengths that someone with autism has that maybe a lot of neurotypical people don't have. This doesn't just apply to autism -- it applies to people with every type of disability on the planet. I find it quite devastating an enormous number of people with disabilities virtually fall off a cliff on their 22nd birthday day after day. We deserve better! Hopefully, I will see this change in humanity at some point in my lifetime.

[@Bozewani]

I am a 32 year old with autism I was lucky to get a masters degree in International human rights law in Queens University Belfast I work for the International Criminal Court i can speak every UN language (arabic CHinese English French Russian and Spanish) I can also speak Portuguese Afrikaans Xhosa and Zulu I have a beautiful Malawian model wife Precious CHasowa she is a photographer as well I started my own human rights NGO in South Africa to enforce the African human rights system (African Charter oN peoples and Human Rights, African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child and the Maputo protocol on teh rights of women) state winner of new jersey in geography published writer

[@HybridParentSupport]

Maybe the individuals have autism and something else. Because these adults cannot advocate for themselves like you can. And I wonder if the neurodiversity movement is just a national excuse not to address the root cause of the disability these low functioning individuals developed.

[@jenwall6732]

I hope my friend Abbas Safideens son is not forgotten about once he hits the age of 22 years old. Please help him. Thanks so much.

[@ladyravenlove]

Very good material, you guys! Congratulations! As an auntie of a kid with autism, I totally agree with everything shown here.

[@maricarpatubo7581]

Most of it is chinise mi nieghbour whole entire family are autistic, severe and mild from grandfather to the great great grandchildren all autistic but they are famous family top billionaires of Asia

[@ThePatrick42044]

I wish there were more help in Western Kentucky. I have Autism. I'm 43 years d. And therapists at Four Rivers Behavioural Health can't even teach me what THEORY of MIND is. I didn't get diagnosed until I was 42. So for most of my life, even as a child, I was over-looked because Autism I guess wasn't known much about as it is today. So can someone send information to Four Rivers (Adults section) so they can help Autistic Adults to have better understanding by chance? Four Rivers is located in Paducah, KY. And I get upset to, because they keep turning my case over to other therapists. It's hard for me to get use to people and I don't really want to open up to people because I'm always getting a new therapist. That doesn't help me any at all...

[@bigbluehusky9476]

"Teach me what theory of mind is" Brotha, here's an idea. Stop looking to the oppressor(s) and look inside yourself.

[@trs_4612]

Omg the statistics are scary. What is going on

[@HybridParentSupport]

I wonder the same thing. My family isn’t the only one we’re all my children were diagnosed with autism.

[@naomistarlight6178]

They don't want to hire, train, and accommodate us. And without a government program forcing businesses to, they will not. They see us as liability, they are not able to recognize our strengths.

[@ozzacassiepophart6349]

The campuses idea is the same thing as an institution. I don't want to ever be back in an institution. I did not like it after a while and I wanted to get out of there. Please consider that when you're thinking of these type of ideas. There's other ways of doing it other than making it like a college campus or an institution. Please let's not have any institutions. Let's have more creative Community Resources so that we don't have people wanting to open institutions. Institutions are not good places. Some of the staff were not very good. They are abusive and they do things that would not benefit the people living there. They don't get experiences in the community and very often and they do not get to do things that they're interested in in the community. Please consider that and let's not open any institutions ever again...

[@jeh0089]

People need different housing options including institutions or nursing homes. Living in the community is not for everyone.

[@Candorsmayhem]

It's too much money. We don't always get what we want.

[@DarkSunGameplay]

After being locked in a clinical room for nearly a year because no care could be found for me to assist me, such as a therapist, (despite the fact I have a VERY mild case of Aspergers), I know the feels.

[@franny5295]

Honey, at the rate this is getting out of control they're going to start talking about euthanizing people most severely affected. They've already opened that door with conversations about euthamizing people with dementia. Nobody cares what we want. Neurotypical or not. It doesn't work that way honey.

[@franny5295]

@@DarkSunGameplay What were you doing? People aren't generally detained that long for no reason because it's expensive.

[@corrigana1]

I have pdd nos

[@naomistarlight6178]

It's a spectrum, it's implying we're all non-verbal and we're not. FYI.

[@lassusprophetam8209]

writing a paper just out of curiosity how many of these parents argued a lot when the baby was in their first and second years or at least their first year. how many parents were focused on their relationship and we're arguing and maybe we're not interacting with the child as much where the child withdrew? how many parents think that their child was affected by an immunization? how many of these children had traumatic natal care?

[@Tadesan]

lassus prophetam childhood is rough. Parents and parenting has disintegrated. Boys are circumcised. It's horrible. Thanks and hugs.

[@Candorsmayhem]

Ah yes, the refrigerator mother crap again. Go fuck yourself.

[@calvinrich7221]

I plan on getting my autistic boys in a group to play dungeons and dragons

[@SuzLa1]

Why do they want him to carry on with education after 22? If he hasn't learnt enough by then he never will. He should be on programmes for work.

[@chadsimmons6347]

why do they OVER-FEED them ? almost all these guys are FAT !

[@ladyravenlove]

Chad Simmons Autism comes with a range of issues. Most of these people are on some form of medication - either antipsychotic drugs, anti-seizure treatment or others (antidepressants, anxiety relievers etc). These drugs have a great impact on the metabolism and result in chronic weight gain. Plus, people with disabilities have coordination issues, which result in the imposibility of physical exercise. Before judging, make sure you have the full picture.

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

My dear the autistic mind develops at a different rate than that of you neurologically typical folk. How do I know this you might ask. Well love I know this because I am autistic. I had to struggle in learning how to cope with life in this world. I did not reach 22 years of age and suddenly a crack of lightening and I was job ready or even ready to be put in a jobs program. It took me much longer to learn to overcome basic social challenges of adulthood, living on my own and workplace dynamics and workplace politics. You ask how come I know of what I speak because; I did not master the skill sets needed to survive and thrive at work till I was age 41. I'm considered high functioning autistic. The man needs more time because; he is not job ready till he has the full benefit of the solid foundation only a good education will give him. I tied working to soon with many disastrous outcomes that alone and collectively prove I simply was not ready to work straight after school. Now once I had a full understanding of the complex social and political challenges in the neurotypical workplace I did well. Matter of fact I did so well I now live in a very nice home. I have a high paying job. I live on my own. I am a success by any measure. I am almost as successful as Temple Grandin herself only difference is I am a black dude and she well isn't! Your suggestion that, "If he hasn't learnt enough by then he never will." proves soundly that you are just plain ignorant about the real life challenges of living with autism. If those in my life had acted on your, "If he hasn't learnt enough by then he never will." logic I would have never become the world wide success I am today. It takes time and patience that you lack to bring up an autistic child into a successful working adult. There will be slow going and more than a few mis-steps along the way to success. My road to success as an autistic person was not a stright path. I went up many blind alleys and endured many failures and dead ends before I finally found success. Hell I was all of 38 years old before I was able to master going to community college. I was all of 41 years old before I got my first paying job that lasted more than 6 months. I got my first job some 17 years ago. I started my first job making around 20K a year now I make almost 6 times that much. I am happy you were not helping guide my autistic journey because; I would never had gotten the chance to prove I could be the success I am today. Had I listened to your advice, I would never be able to visit the world sharing the insights to autism success I have these many years. You my dear are wrong. I don't doubt you are well meaning in your suggestion but your suggestion does more to hurt people rather than help we who live on autism's spectrum. My grandmother used to have a saying that went like this. "It is indeed more wise to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt!"

[@dirrtydozen22]

These guys are fat bc they were excluded from sports when they were young. They're just not normal enough. If they don't get kicked out, they would at least be bullied and/or ignored by teammates.

[@Tadesan]

dirrtydozen22 that was my experience. I was bullied at sports, but I found video games boring. I played alone in the woods as a child. Food helps dull the pain of loneliness.

[@favourifezue1593]

ok Erics mum is a 10.. just saying. like WOW!

[@83reggieT]

I wonder if that many more people have autism or is it just bring diagnosed more. Then again the govt wants to cut benefits for education food stamps planned parenthood. Yet should the taxpayer pay for an individual who will bring very little in return to live a comfortable life until they die. There is no good answer I think. Try not to be cold but to do what's right for the highest percentage of individuals.

[@elisabethlasher8737]

83reggieT. do you think that as parent we don't think about it ? every mother will do her darn best to try to heal her child. we know and we fear of people with your kind of thoughts. I tried every thing i could conventional or unconventional, I push my child everyday to do more, to learn more. because of people like you. if you cannot work and lay in bed all day unable to move or talk have no ressouces and parents to back you up. Wouldn't you wish the gouvernement help you? I expect my son to participate to society, no one wish their children to be a burden on any one, not even to his siblings. the reality is sometime it just is.

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

You wrongly assume that you can accurately determine who will be an autistic success and who will not. I'm autistic and my autism was fairly profound growing up. I did not develop skills needed to survive in the typical human workplace till I was 41. Resources were spent on helping me develop the skills I needed to contribute to society. You talk about people on the autism spectrum as if we are disposable. I bet I make more money than you. I bet I am more successful than you. I am certainly more successful than 80% of my neurologically typical peers. Should we condemn typical humans who did not measure up to my success to the nasty, empty souless lives you would condemn my fellow autistic brothers and sisters to? You are suggesting we as a nation take on the perfectly evil US Supreme Court BUCK vs BELL philosophy. The eugenics regime you embrace reached its zenith of expression in the NAZI era murders of the disabled as worthless social parasites. You want to reduce all humans to logical equations and economic Darwinian models. I think your ideals reflect a ignorance about autism and disability that could cause the murder of many great people. I pray we never live in the perfectly horrid world of your dreams!

[@stephanie3848]

@@elisabethlasher8737 I know right? I wonder if "The Jerk" would have the same attitude and say the same comment if they were autistic themselves or had an autistic child. I don't think they would. As an Autistic person myself the Jerk's comment made me see red. It was just a sh*tty eugenic attitude and comment. It was just plain sh*tty.

[@stephanie3848]

Anyone who gave a thumbs up to "The Jerk"s comment should be ashamed of themselves

[@stephanie3848]

To "The Jerk": You said"...an individual who will bring very little in return...do what's right for the highest percentage of individuals." So, in other words, you think that a group of people who are not able to contribute as much as "normal" people are less worthy, and because they are a minority they are less worthy. That is what you are saying. "Try not to be cold"..Well, too late, you ARE cold. The fact that these people are less able to be financially independent is even more of a reason that they need help from the government. They are a minority? Well then it shouldn't be too much money. "There is no good answer I think". Oh yes, there is a good answer: You are cold and ignorant.

[@Noixdecoco445]

L