The Autism Transition Blues

By a mom who’s been there

I remember thinking, we’re almost there. Senior year. My autistic son had come so far. We had a team—teachers, aides, therapists—people who knew him, really got him. And then one day, it hit me: this whole world and these wonderful people we’d relied on were all about to disappear.

This had been the foundation we were leaning on to help him grow into autism independence. No more IEP meetings. No more structured social groups. No more daily check-ins.The calendar that used to feel so full… was suddenly wide open, and honestly, a little terrifying.

I started asking questions—What’s next? What support will he have?And the answers? Mostly shrugs. A few links. Maybe a waiting list or two.

I wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready.And yet, time doesn’t wait.

The truth is, nobody told us how steep the cliff can feel after high school ends.It’s like the music stops, and you’re supposed to keep dancing.

If you’re a parent reading this and feeling that same ache in your chest—you’re not alone.The transition years are real. The fear is real. But so is the hope.

I still believe in his future.But I wish someone had told me sooner that I’d have to fight for it, all over again.

We’re building Spectrum Shepherd because families like ours deserve better.We see you. We are you.And we’re working on tools to make this next chapter less lonely, less confusing, and a whole lot more empowering.