The Problem with "Age-Appropriate"

This post is by Liane Kupferberg Carter, a mother of two adults. Her son Mickey has autism. Liane is a journalist whose articles and essays have appeared in more than 40 publications. As a community activist, she has worked with both national and local organizations. 

This piece originally appeared on autismafter16.com. Autism After 16 is a website dedicated to providing information and analysis of adult autism issues. You can read the original post here.

For years, therapists have urged us to encourage more “age-appropriate” interests. We have. But at 21, Mickey is still drawn to Sesame Street characters. His bed is piled with so many plush toys there’s no room to roll over. He sleeps with a large Sponge Bob pillow.

I’ve come to wonder if wanting him to be more age-appropriate says more about our comfort level than about Mickey’s development. Keep reading...