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Real members of MyAutismTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

He's highly articulate when he's not glitching, my term, during high anxiety or panic. He, like most teenagers, thinks he knows all the answers and is suspicious of " capitalist medical system" so is already resisting what he anticipates will therapy "that won't work". Etc

May 31
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A MyAutismTeam Member

https://unfr.org/resource/community-autism-reso....

State & Government ServicesDepartment of Developmental Services (DDS) Autism Division: The primary state agency coordinating services for both children and adults. They oversee specialized community-based support and the

Rehabilitation Commission (MRC): Assists teens and adults with job training, employment services, and independent community living A Guide to Adult Services & Benefits in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts funds a network of regional centers that act as the hub for local autism communities, offering navigation help, family support, and training.Central & Western MA: Autism Resource Center of Central Massachusetts in Worcester and Autism Connections (with offices in Springfield, Northampton, Berkshire, and Greenfield) Autism support centers list.Early Intervention & InsuranceUnder Massachusetts’s "Autism Insurance Law" (often called "ARICA"), most health insurance plans are required to cover the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

Community Autism Resources – United Neighbors of Fall River
Community Autism Resources – United Neighbors of Fall River
May 31
A MyAutismTeam Member

It’s common that early intervention is considered the best route, but it’s never too late. He is still living under your roof so what you say goes. If you think therapy would be beneficial for him then that’s what needs to happen. He might thank you in a couple of yrs. A 16 year old, autistic or not, cannot predict the consequences of their actions or in this case his desire for inaction.

May 31
A MyAutismTeam Member

Thank you!

May 31
MyAutismTeam

What a journey — and honestly, a teen who's already developed his own vocabulary for his experiences ("glitching" is pretty great) is showing real self-awareness, even if it doesn't feel that way right now!

A later diagnosis at 16 is more common than many people realize. While early intervention is often discussed, a Show Full Answer

What a journey — and honestly, a teen who's already developed his own vocabulary for his experiences ("glitching" is pretty great) is showing real self-awareness, even if it doesn't feel that way right now!

A later diagnosis at 16 is more common than many people realize. While early intervention is often discussed, a diagnosis at any age can still be genuinely life-changing. It gives him a framework to finally understand himself — why social situations feel different, why anxiety hits hard, why certain things are overwhelming. Research actually supports this — many people diagnosed later in life describe years of stress from feeling different without understanding why. Having that "why" can itself be a relief, even for a skeptical teenager.

For the therapy resistance, his feelings are valid and worth acknowledging rather than pushing back on. Some approaches that tend to resonate better with teens include:

- Framing support as skill-building, not "fixing" something broken
- Letting him have input into what kind of support he tries
- Peer connection with other autistic teens who get it firsthand
- Therapists who specialize in autism and won't use a one-size-fits-all approach A MyAutismTeam member shared something similar, noting how advocating persistently for their child — even when the system pushed back — made a real difference over time.

His skepticism of systems might actually be a strength. Channeling that critical thinking into *choosing* what works for him, rather than having it imposed, could be the key to getting him on board.

May 31

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