Autism and parenting: Support for adults lacking [Video]

Looking after an adult with severe autism can be a full-time job. Ask any parent who has a child severely affected by autism spectrum disorder – it’s a job that can get more difficult as the child becomes an adult.

“It basically requires a commitment of time, energy, financial resources, everything. My career was completely sidelined,” said Andrew Kavchak, whose 23-year-old son Steven has autism, intellectual disabilities and is also non-verbal. Between the stress at home and stress at work, Kavchak felt he was at one point “about to blow a gasket,” so he took early retirement.

The minute Steven turned 18, he was eligible to be placed on a list for a group home. But to actually find an available space, the Kavchak family was told it could take several years. Now, five years later, he’s being told it will take more like 20-30 years, with some parents caring …