Todd meets with Sammi, a friend and mother of a young man with autism, to talk about the mixed feelings that come with her son’s transition to adulthood for s1. E6. N6. of the Otherness Podcast titled Part Boy, Part Man. A Kind of Transition to Autism Adulthood.

Through the lens of a mother, Todd reflects on the fear and growth that come through the development from childhood to adulthood for a young man on the spectrum.

As Todd was developing the Otherness Podcast, he reached out to Sammi, a friend and mother of one of his former patients. Sammi was intrigued by the first episodes and felt that the voice of those who spoke through the podcast resonated with her. Todd was also curious about how her son, Bailey, was feeling and functioning as he is now 21 and about to transition to adult services. This turned into a discussion that peels back some of the initial feelings of anxiety around “growing up” and finds richness in the acknowledgement that Bailey is not fully an adult despite the term “adult transition”.

She describes how this transition is as much about missing what a wonderful community his school has been for him throughout his life, as it is about going into something new. Sammi is touring different day programs, wants Bailey to be involved in the work community, and wants him to have a sense of happiness and self. She shares her pain while seeing Bailey’s non-autistic peers obtain goals that he may want, but may never have. These include driving, graduating high school and college, and forming romantic relationships.

“There are always transitions for the neurotypical population that sometimes make the autism transitions a little painful.”

Despite her heavy involvement in the autism community as an advocate and fundraiser, she feels there is so much to explore for Bailey in this new phase of his life. Some of these plans may work out, and some may not. However, Sammi is open to the new experience and hopes Bailey is too.

The Otherness Podcast is exploring and engaging autism through experienced stories with Dr. Todd Peter Levine and is available on most places and sites where you like to listen to podcasts.

Part Boy, Part Man. A Kind of Transition to Autism Adulthood is s1. E6. N6. of the Otherness Podcast.


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The Otherness Podcast is exploring and engaging autism through experienced stories with Dr. Todd Peter Levine and is available on most places and sites where you like to listen to podcasts.
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Opening Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Intro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing/Nick Burling (ASCAP)
Administered by Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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Closing Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Outro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
Administered by late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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Part Boy, Part Man. A Kind of Transition to Autism Adulthood