My Son Turns 21: Autism, Milestones, and Growing Up

• By: Carrie Cariello Author, Speaker, and Blogger
• August 27th, 2025
• 21st birthday, autism, coming-of-age, family support, independence, milestones, parental perspective, transition to adulthood
• 1981    0

The restaurant is busy. Someone at the table behind us laughs loudly. Outside, a spring drizzle falls from the sky. May. A fickle month in New England. Yellow sun one day, metallic clouds the next. My son Jack sits next to his father. He studies the menu, sliding his finger along the drink...