Stress and Coping in Families of Autistic Adolescents

Our understanding of the problems and needs of autistic adolescents and adults is still in its infancy, compared with what we know about autism in children. During the past decade some important strides have been made in the study and treatment of autistic children and their families (Paluszny, 1979; Rutter & Schopler, 1978). These have included the recognition that autism is not primarily an emotional illness but a developmental disability (Schopler, Rutter, & Chess, 1979). Autism is not caused by parental pathology; instead parents can be productively involved in their own child’s treatment (Schopler & Reichler, 1971). Moreover the optimum treatment for such children is not psychotherapy, but special education made available in our public schools and implemented with the collaboration of parents (Schopler & Bristol, 1980). However, in most of our public schools special education ends when the student reaches 18 years of age. What happens to the adolescent with autism? What happens to the struggles of his parents?