Parents of nonverbal autistic daughters — what was adult life like later on?
My daughter is 7 years old and nonverbal autistic. She is honestly full of character, personality, and love. Even though she doesn’t speak, she understands so much more than people realise. If I ask her to get a nappy, she will. If I ask her to pick something up, she does it. If I ask her to pull her pants up, she understands and follows the instruction.
She does also struggle with severe meltdowns and dysregulation at times, which can be really hard for both of us. Some days feel overwhelming and unpredictable, and I think that adds to a lot of my worries about the future.
As her mum, I love her more than anything, but I carry so much anxiety about her future. I think about adulthood constantly and wonder what life might look like for her later on.
I would really love to hear from parents of older nonverbal autistic daughters, or autistic adults themselves if possible. How did things progress as they got older? Did communication improve in other ways? How independent did they become? What does adult life look like now?
I know every child is different, but I think I just need some hope and reassurance from people who have lived it. Thank you ❤️