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Because parents like me of young autistic adults like Ben have been on the frontier of autism for decades and we will continue to pioneer and blaze trails for the tsunami of kids who will be aging out of the established support systems. I intend to use my program to raise questions like, “How can I know that my adult child will be safe after leaving home? What are the various models for group homes and residential communities? What about vocational options? What about special diets and medical care? Speech therapy? Vocational choices? Exercise? What about romance and sexuality? Will my adult child experience acceptance and understanding? How can I best stay involved in my child’s life? Who will advocate for my child after I am gone?"

Dan E. Burns, Ph.D., is author of the award-winning book Saving Ben: A Father's Story of Autism, available from University of North Texas Press and on Amazon.com.

My book Saving Ben: A Father's Story of Autism reached Amazon Sales Rank #1 Special Needs category in September of 2009. Since Saving Ben was published, Ben has graduated high school – “aged out” of the system. What happens after the school bus stops coming? Ben and I are discovering the answers, surfing the leading edge of a wave that threatens to overwhelm our social services. I am an advocate for young adults with autism, passionate about building hope for their future.