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PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER 18

Turn Worry Into a Plan.

Practical guidance for parents and caregivers preparing an autistic teen for adulthood from SSI and Medicaid to decision-making, services, and everyday life.

Start With One Step

Preparing for adulthood touches many parts of life. You do not need to tackle everything today. Start by identifying what needs attention now, what can wait, and your next practical step.

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See What Changes

Understand the areas that may shift as age 18 approaches.

Know What Needs Attention

Identify the priorities that matter for your family.

Take the Next Step

Move forward with one manageable action at a time.

TRANSITION PLANNING RESOURCES

Protect Before 18

Protect Before 18 helps caregivers understand the major areas that may need attention as a child approaches adulthood. Explore practical education and planning resources for benefits, decision-making, healthcare, finances, housing, services, and everyday life.

Know what deserves your attention. Understand your options. Take one next step.

Planning Areas

Preparing for adulthood involves many parts of life. Explore the areas that may deserve your attention next.

Explore the Resource Hub

Find practical guides, planning topics, and resources for benefits, decision-making, healthcare, finances, housing, adult services, and more.

Start with the topic that deserves your attention next.

Start With SSI

If SSI is already on your mind, start with the free SSI at 18: 15-Minute Prep Plan. Learn what changes around age 18, what to prepare, and the next 3 steps to take before the transition.

DIRECTORY • COMING SOON

Guide 18

Guide 18 is Coming Soon

A national directory designed to help families discover transition-related professionals, organizations, and services.

Launching at Guide18.net

Finding the right professionals, organizations, and services for the transition to adulthood can take hours of searching. Guide 18 is being developed to bring transition-related resources together in one place so families can find support more easily.

A clearer way to find support for what comes after 18.

Latest From Autism Home Life

Practical guidance for navigating the transition to adulthood, one topic at a time.

Denise Sherman Autism Home Life Image.png

Meet Denise

Denise Sherman founded Autism Home Life to help caregivers turn the uncertainty of preparing for adulthood into a clear, practical plan. Drawing from her own experience navigating the transition to adulthood with her son, Denise creates education, planning tools, and resources that help families understand what changes around age 18 and what steps may need attention next. Her mission: help 1 million caregivers feel more prepared for what comes next.

Follow along for practical transition planning guidance, reminders, resources, and next steps for preparing for adulthood.

Stay Connected With Autism Home Life

Stay Connected With Autism Home Life

Receive practical transition planning guidance, resources, training updates, and new opportunities to help you decide what deserves your attention next.
Choose Your Updates
Choose Your Updates

You are not behind. Start with one step.

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