Helping ASD youth become independent adults

At Autistry Studios we help autistic teens and adults and other neurodiverse individuals become successfully independent by leveraging their interests and talents while creating a community.

The increase in the rate of autism has been dramatic over the past 20 years. In 1988, roughly one in 2,000 children was born with autism. By 1993 that rate had nearly doubled. It is now being reported that 1 out of every 88 children is born with autism. In the 20 years between 1987 and 2007 California has seen a twelve-fold increase in the number of people with autism.

Here in Marin County our school districts have seen a huge increase in students diagnosed with autism – from 76 students in 2001 to 191 students in 2009. As of 2012 296. Nearly quadrupling in the space of 11 years.

As alarming as these figures are they do not come close to telling the real story. These numbers do not account for the many teens and young adults with High Functioning Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome who go undiagnosed or who are misdiagnosed. For these young people there are few services and fewer opportunities.

It is the goal of Autistry Studios to create programs that address the needs of HFA/AS youth as they transition into adolescence, out of high school and on to the adult world.