Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism is a difference in how the brain develops that affects communication, social interaction and how a person experiences the world through their senses. It is called a spectrum because it looks very different from one person to the next. Some autistic adults live and work independently. Others need daily support.
Sanare works with autistic adults 18 and older, many of whom also live with anxiety, depression or other conditions. Our focus is on the parts of adult life that tend to get hard: living on one's own, work, and relationships.
Common traits
Social communication. Reading tone and facial expression, knowing unwritten rules, back-and-forth conversation.
Routines and interests. Strong preference for sameness, distress when plans change, deep focus on specific topics.
Sensory differences. Being overwhelmed by noise, light, crowds or textures, or seeking out certain sensations.
Executive functioning. Planning, starting tasks and switching between them. See our page on executive functioning coaching.
The CDC and National Institute of Mental Health have good overviews of autism and diagnosis.
Diagnosed as an adult
A growing number of people are diagnosed with autism in their twenties, thirties or later, often after years of being told they had anxiety or depression alone. A late diagnosis can bring relief and a lot of questions at once. Part of our work with these clients is making sense of their history and adjusting daily life to fit how they actually work, rather than how they've been told they should.
The jump to adulthood
Many families tell us the services that helped in school disappeared after graduation. A young adult who did well with an aide and a set schedule is suddenly expected to manage a job, an apartment, bills and a social life with no structure at all. Some get stuck at home. Some try college or work and burn out.
That stretch is where Sanare often comes in.
How Sanare helps
Our clinicians work with clients in their homes and in the community, one to five times a week. Support is built around the person's own goals and the way they learn best, which is often concrete, visual and repeated.
Independent living. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping and keeping up with appointments. See life skills coaching.
Work. Finding a good fit, applying, interviewing and handling the social side of a job. See vocational coaching.
Social life. Practicing conversation and finding groups built around shared interests. See social skills coaching.
Anxiety and overload. Planning around sensory triggers and building ways to recover from shutdowns.
Family support. Helping parents step back gradually as their adult child takes on more.
Autism support for adults in Denver
We serve adults across Denver, Boulder and nearby communities. Read our FAQ for cost and how intake works, then contact us or call 303.476.1974.