What happens to autistic kids?

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They grow up into autistic adults. Seriously, why such a strong focus on autistic kids? I'm looking for information and resources to help myself and nearly every site I find is focused on autistic kids and help for autistic kids. Sorry for the rant, I'm just frustrated.

I think maybe because they're kids and adults would be more likely to accept the way they are. And that they have more info on autistic kids. I don't know.

Autism is a developmental disorder and it's easier and desirable to have it diagnosed in childhood while developmental delays are still evident rather than diagnosing it retrospectively. By the time people are adults they will have developed various coping mechanisms and fail to meet a "one size fits all" solution.

It seems like most people I see online or on this site were diagnosed with autism or asperger's when they were teens or adults. But I was diagnosed with it all the way back when I was 2. Believe it or not I was diagnosed as the Twin Towers were falling down. The only reason how I know that is because my parents told they remember leaving the hospital after I was diagnosed on the car radio they interrupted regular broadcast to bring breaking news about the Towers falling down. But I was 2 then and to young to remember or even care.

DIAGNOSING AND MANAGING AUTISM - American Psychological Association

This site is not representative of autistics for a number of reasons. One the person has to be able and want to post on a forum and then have the executive functioning to do it. Forums as an older technology tend to attract older people. If you are diagnosed really late you went through most of your life not knowing who you really are or that there other people like you. That can make you want to connect and compare experiences. If you were diagnosed as a young child, Autism in general and knowledge that other autistics are out there is a part of life, nothing extraordinary

I agree with OP that the mainstream media tends to say "autistic children" this and "autistic children" that like it's a childhood condition people grow out of.

And even then it's more directed at parents rather than the children themselves (though I have seen some children's books for autistic children recently). I think the idea of writing materials for patients with ASD is relatively new, as the notion of high-functioning/less-impaired individuals is also relatively new.

I've encountered this problem too, but I've managed to find some books that seem promising (I haven't been able to get a hold of many unfortunately...):

- Aspergers From the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome Michael John Carley

- Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder): How Seeking a Diagnosis in Adulthood Can Change Your Life Philip Wylie

- The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome Tony Attwood (widely regarded as essential reading on the subject, I'm sure I'll pick it up some day...)

Anything by Temple Grandin is good; I've read The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed and The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's and I'd recommend them both. These are more aimed at increasing general understanding and less specifically as a guide for patients, but there's a lot of good information there.

I've also read a few biographical accounts by John Elder Robison (Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers, Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's) and David Finch (The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband). I, personally, found these less helpful because they're more about the author's unique life and struggles instead of a generalized guide.

So far the best podcast I've found is "Thrive With Aspergers" (http://www.myaspergers.net/), but it's far from perfect.