Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For families with neurodivergence and different abilities, resources and support are often easier to find for children than adults. On this episode of "Enable: The Disability Podcast," two mothers of adult children with autism spoke about the challenges they've faced, the "gray area" of life after school, the importance of celebrating small victories, and efforts to help them become independent as parents get older.
"It's a huge transition when you leave high school," said Jean Leiker of the Central New York chapter of the Autism Society of America. "It's challenging. I joke around and say 'I feel like a cruise director' sometimes because I try to find enriching, purposeful activities to fill his days. As much we struggle with challenges, often behavioral, when our kids are younger - I think it's even scarier when they get out in the real world."
"The biggest challenge for me right now is feeling secure and knowing that he is going to be able to be 100% independent without my help," added Sandy Cittadino of the CNYASA. "[There are] a lot of great services for children and younger. When they get a little older, it kind of changes... at this age and stage of my life that concerns me as to will he ever be able to be 100% able to be on his own? And if not, what do the services look like for somebody his age?"
For more about the Autism Society of America, visit autismsociety.org or connect with the CNY chapter at cnyasa.org/.
"Enable: The Disability Podcast" will be with @syracusecom at the CNYASA's "One Step at a Time" Autism Acceptance Walk in Syracuse on April 25, 2026. Donate here: runsignup.com/Race/125765/Donate/Fg3WPXd7kepkzZ6C
You can also watch our interview with Sandy's son, Joe Cittadino, on this episode of the podcast: youtube.com/watch?v=CBtE6u9X4Gc
“Enable: The Disability Podcast,” which highlights amazing people with disabilities and different abilities, releases new episodes weekly on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Follow facebook.com/enablepodcast or @enablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok for more.
Note: Views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of Advance Local.
For families with neurodivergence and different abilities, resources and support are often easier to find for children than adults. On this episode of "Enable: The Disability Podcast," two mothers of adult children with autism spoke about the challenges they've faced, the "gray area" of life after school, the importance of celebrating small victories, and efforts to help them become independent as parents get older.
"It's a huge transition when you leave high school," said Jean Leiker of the Central New York chapter of the Autism Society of America. "It's challenging. I joke around and say 'I feel like a cruise director' sometimes because I try to find enriching, purposeful activities to fill his days. As much we struggle with challenges, often behavioral, when our kids are younger - I think it's even scarier when they get out in the real world."
"The biggest challenge for me right now is feeling secure and knowing that he is going to be able to be 100% independent without my help," added Sandy Cittadino of the CNYASA. "[There are] a lot of great services for children and younger. When they get a little older, it kind of changes... at this age and stage of my life that concerns me as to will he ever be able to be 100% able to be on his own? And if not, what do the services look like for somebody his age?"
For more about the Autism Society of America, visit autismsociety.org or connect with the CNY chapter at cnyasa.org/.
"Enable: The Disability Podcast" will be with @syracusecom at the CNYASA's "One Step at a Time" Autism Acceptance Walk in Syracuse on April 25, 2026. Donate here: runsignup.com/Race/125765/Donate/Fg3WPXd7kepkzZ6C
You can also watch our interview with Sandy's son, Joe Cittadino, on this episode of the podcast: youtube.com/watch?v=CBtE6u9X4Gc
“Enable: The Disability Podcast,” which highlights amazing people with disabilities and different abilities, releases new episodes weekly on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Follow facebook.com/enablepodcast or @enablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok for more.
Note: Views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of Advance Local.
