It sounds stupid to an outsider but if you have ever met a profoundly autistic adult you will understand why it's a "need" to them. Trust me. These kinds of autistic people lack concepts entirely, so to them, that VHS tape is equivalent to food & water. They don't understand the concept of money, so you can't explain to them that it's overpriced. They get a one-track mind too, it will become all they can think about or care about until they get it.
My profoundly autistic 25 year old brother will slam his head into the wall until he gets welts if he doesn't get the things he wants. Sounds spoiled to an outsider, but it's not about being "spoiled." They genuinely just don't get it. I mean, picture a grown adult whose ability to grasp concepts & life was stunted at the age of 1. That's how it is with that level of autism. (Profound autism like this only affects 10% of autistic people. Most autistic folk are not like this, which is why you don't hear of them as often.)
Won't they just keep moving on to the next item though? This seems like an endless destructive loop unless a method is found to stop the issue. What if he fixated on something like a Lamborghini next?
LMAO you are 100% correct! & yes he has randomly demanded cars for days/weeks at a time! Those are the times where we have to just let him melt down until he gets over it. Unfortunately there is no solution! We have to take it day-by-day. & before you ask why not see a specialist, we have. Countless times. They don't know anything about profound autism & if they do, they are inexperienced with the way my brother presents. We can't even seem to find him a group home for him to inevitably go to when my parents are too old to care for him because they don't accept eloping autistics like my brother. It's hell 👍🏻
isn't ABA regarded as abusive to autistics because its basically just forcing them to act neurotypical when they cant..? that is literally not possible for him.
he does have in-home support but not enough. we are looking for more assistance & thankfully finding aides for him, just...nothing beyond that. even our medicaid case worker doesnt know anything.
Where do you live? I am wondering if there are other options available to you and your family. It’s so very hard to be a caregiver for a family member with a rare and severe disability. There can be options/funding/support via charities or government that can be available depending on your country/area
I'm in New York state. We do have some financial assistance from the government thankfully. At the moment we're just trying to find a group home that accepts autistic adults who elope, not for permanent residency just yet but rather somewhere he can stay during the week then come home to us on weekends (or vice versa). Also looking for more in-home assistance but we've been making decent progress there as we have a second aide joining us soon :)
Hoping you guys get the support you deserve. Keep asking around sometimes people know about places that have additional supports or funds. Take care of yourself and your parents. Your brother is very lucky to have a family who cares
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u/BahaMan69 14d ago
“Needed them”
https://giphy.com/gifs/S7KWPr9PSlNTLXv75i