Over the past two decades of my career, I have witnessed a profound transformation in our understanding of autism. Autism awareness has exploded, and research has led to earlier identification, more effective interventions and clearer guidance for autistic people and their families. These efforts have transformed pediatric clinical practice and improved outcomes for countless autistic children and their families. But even with all this progress, I continue to hear the same question from families today that I first heard 20 years ago: What will happen to our children when we are gone?
Autism is a lifelong condition. Autistic people age. Their healthcare needs change. Their caregivers grow older. Unfortunately, research has not kept pace with these realities, and very little is known about autistic people’s health trajectories as they grow into adolescence and adulthood.
