What Happens When Autistic Adults Have Nowhere to Go? A Mother Demands Answers

By Kim Rossi

July 22, 2026

I got a call yesterday. Next week’s respite house reservation has been canceled.

Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has a lovely home here in my town staffed by kind, well-trained men and women, where families can send their loved one for a caretaker break.

In my case, my three loved ones.

Why was it canceled for the second time? Another emergency placement.

A young person with autism and no immediate home because of a family disaster. He’s living at the respite house full-time. So no one else can use it for respite.

It’s heartbreaking.

We must speak out and demand support, no matter how tired. Jaded.

Send an email to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) team. Maybe it’s a Hail Mary. Do it anyway.

Get your email to them by Thursday night. They meet on Friday.

Read the strategic plan and learn more here.

Tell them whatever you want. Need. Dream of. Fear. Scream “vaccines!!!” if you want. It’s time for loud voices. This IACC is trying desperately to change years of stalling.

Speaking of stalling, take a look at the photo here:

Old bedfellows never really say goodbye. Autism Speaks old guardians of the galaxy agreeing on a 90 day delay. Kick that can down the road. We can read & respond in less than 10 days. We’ll do it in 4. Where’s Evelyn Wood on this? pic.twitter.com/2cvDgNJzr3

— Age of Autism (@AgeofAutism) July 21, 2026

May 2026

Last month, my daughters had a reservation for their quarterly visit to the state-run respite house. They go for two nights, two to three times a year. That’s my respite. You can do the math on two hands.

I got a call canceling their date a week before: “We have an emergency placement.”

My disappointment disappeared in a heartbeat. An emergency placement means a DDS client has nowhere to go. Because?

On Tuesday, I was grocery shopping and saw the respite house manager buying bananas. We greeted.

“Our individual loves bananas,” the manager said.

“He’s still there?” I said.

“Yes, three weeks.”

“Did a parent die?”

“Yes.”

I nodded, then kept shopping for my three beautiful women who themselves might become respite house emergency placements.

I’ve broached this topic with DDS and our agency’s top management. There are zero systems in place. Families have to cobble together plans on a wing and a prayer. Can you rely on family to take over? Can you put your faith in the private group home system?

Do you have any faith left?

Originally published by Age of Autism.

Kim Rossi is the executive director of the Age of Autism and mother of three adult daughters with autism.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Children’s Health Defense.

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