1 week Ago
By Nadine Ali Guest Columnist As we celebrate National Autism Acceptance Month in April, it gives us the opportunity to shine a light on the diagnostic journey and support provided to individuals, more specifically adults, on the autism spectrum. At the Living and Learning Enrichment Center in Northville, we’ve seen a notable and encouraging trend: more adults are seeking autism support and community than ever before. This increase isn’t necessarily because autism is becoming more common, but because more people are recognizing their experiences and looking for answers and, importantly, for a community where they feel understood and accepted.
Late-life diagnoses in adulthood for autism spectrum disorder are on the rise across the country, and our team is witnessing it firsthand. It’s not a surge in cases. It’s a surge in clarity.
Thanks to broader diagnostic criteria, and the increasing visibility of autistic individuals in media and online spaces, more adults are coming to the realization that they may, in fact, be on the spectrum. That realization often brings both relief and grief: relief in finally understanding oneself, and grief for the years spent misdiagnosed, misunderstood or unsupported. Many of these individuals were misdiagnosed in childhood with anxiety, depression, or personality disorders.
For others, particularly those from under-resourced or culturally marginalized backgrounds, diagnostic services were simply out of reach. Only now, as adults with more autonomy and access to information, are they finding answers. According to a new CDC report that published this month, about 1 in every 31 children was diagnosed with autism by age 8 in 2022, up from 1 in 36 in 2020.
The CDC attributed the increase to better awareness and improved screening. With the rise in autism awareness and increased diagnoses, especially in adulthood, comes the vital need for accessible support services and inclusive spaces. At Living and Learning, we are proud to serve individuals who have received an autism diagnosis at later stages in life, offering a sense of community and belonging where resources and understanding are within reach.
Thanks to the power of technology, education, awareness, and acceptance are more possible than ever, helping individuals connect, learn, and thrive together. Social media has played a transformative role in this shift. Individuals on the autism spectrum are sharing their lived experiences, building online communities, and challenging outdated stereotypes.
Public figures have begun to speak openly about being on the spectrum, which has helped normalize adult diagnosis and empower others to seek their own. And importantly, the cultural narrative around autism is changing. We’re moving away from a deficit-based, clinical lens and toward a neurodiversity-informed perspective that respects neurological differences as natural human variations rather than flaws to be corrected.
This shift has reduced stigma, fostered self-advocacy, and encouraged more adults to explore a diagnosis they may have previously avoided out of fear or shame. But with more diagnoses must come more support, including therapy options for adults. This can include various support options for adults, such as therapeutic outlets, like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and psychotherapy or interactive social, community and vocational programs to foster growth and resilience in daily lives.
For adults, therapeutic, vocational and social groups can focus on building independence and enhancing quality of life by helping them manage a household, navigate public transit, develop social skills, prepare for job interviews or learn how to self-advocate. Strategies like video modeling, role-playing, and reinforcement systems can be tailored to help adults thrive at home, at work, and in their communities. We also work closely with families, offering wraparound support and parental education to create environments where learning continues outside of therapy.
As individuals become more informed of their diagnoses, it’s vital to expand access to age-appropriate therapies and support. Everyone deserves to understand themselves. Everyone deserves the chance to live a full, independent, and empowered life whether they’re diagnosed at 3 or at 53.
It’s true that the brain is most flexible in early childhood but that doesn’t mean learning stops in adulthood. The goals may evolve, but the capacity for growth, adaptation, and self-discovery remains strong throughout life. Let’s make sure that when the diagnosis comes, it’s met not only with understanding, but with the resources to make a difference.
Nadine Ali is a Limited Licensed Psychologist and a Licensed Behavior Analyst at Living and Learning Enrichment Center in Northville, specializing in the comprehensive treatment of adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)..
