A recent article discusses a new initiative from Harvard Medical School called the Adult Autism Health Resources initiative. This initiative aims to improve healthcare and quality of life for autistic adults and their families. It notes that whilst awareness of autism in children is growing, there are also over 5 million autistic adults in the US who struggle to access competent healthcare once they are over 18 and no longer eligible for paediatric resources. The initiative focuses on educating clinicians, caregivers, and self-advocates through an online course on best practices for treating autistic adults, as well as a patient/family website providing information and links to support ageing with autism. Key aims are promoting patient-centred, equitable adult autism care, and helping clinicians gain confidence working with this population. Autistic adults and parents have provided input to ensure the relevance and accessibility of these new resources.
Unfortunately, the article does not provide a specific timeline for rolling out the initiative. It talks about the initiative in the present tense, mentioning that it "has launched" and is actively developing the online course and website. But it does not give any details about when these platforms became available or will be fully launched.
Stay tuned.
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I hope it doesn't turn out to be "ABA for grownups."