Serving Autistic Adults with Mental Health Needs
The CooperRiis Farm Campus is proud to offer residential mental health care for Autistic adults, specifically serving those with Level 1 support needs whose mental health diagnosis is primary. Level 1 autism refers to that which was previously called high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger’s syndrome.
Learn more on our Autism/Neurodiversity page or Download our program PDF.
Understanding the Terms
In discussions about autism and mental health, several terms are commonly used and sometimes misunderstood. Here are the key definitions:
- Level 1 autism: Refers to individuals who require support but can often function independently with appropriate accommodations. This diagnostic level replaced outdated terminology in the DSM-5.
- High-functioning autism: An outdated phrase that clinicians have moved away from because it minimizes real support needs and creates misleading assumptions about capability.
- Asperger’s syndrome: No longer a separate diagnosis, Asperger’s was folded into the autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in 2013.
- Cognitive neurodiversity: An umbrella term encompassing neurobiological conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and twice-exceptionality (2E), where the brain processes information differently from typical brains.
- Neurodivergent vs. neurodiverse: An individual is neurodivergent. A group or population containing varied neurological profiles is neurodiverse.
The Mental Health Gap for Autistic Adults
Most mental health systems are designed for cognitively neurotypical populations–that is, those who are not Autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, 2E, etc. As such, appropriate mental health services for autistic adults are lacking.
A robust mental health infrastructure exists–clinics, therapists, treatment programs–but the standard approaches often miss the mark for Autistic adults by:
- Not addressing sensory sensitivities or needs.
- Misreading communication differences as resistance.
- Upholding social expectations that aren’t appropriate for the individual.
- Ignoring or dismissing the unique role of trauma in autism.
The result is predictable: Autistic adults with mental health needs fall through the cracks, cycling through services not built for their way of being.
Why It Can Be Worse for People with Low Support Needs
This gap can become even more pronounced for those with Level 1 support needs. Significant capabilities or intelligence may allow Level 1 adults to present as neurotypical. But meanwhile, their mental health challenges must be taken in context with autism and given specialized attention that leverages their strengths while addressing their specific therapeutic needs.
CooperRiis strives to facilitate pathways to fulfillment that standard mental health services may miss, by integrating:
- A sensory-informed environment.
- Communication-flexible therapy.
- Skill-building for independence.
- Trauma-informed therapies.
CooperRiis naturally doesn’t solve the entire problem of Autistic mental health being underserved, but we hope to make as big a positive impact in this space as we can with our programs and resources.
Meeting Needs for Autism and Mental Health Together
Our programming folds into the mission of CooperRiis and its core person-centered and strength-based treatment within a Healing Community model. Our mission is to improve the lives of individuals struggling with mental illness by helping them work towards achieving their highest level of independence and fulfillment.
We offer a powerful foundation for Autistic individuals seeking to thrive, through:
- Integrative mental health recovery approach.
- Wellness practices.
- Intensive clinical services.
- Independent-living skill-building.
CooperRiis’ CEO & President, Dr. Eric A. Levine believes that the CooperRiis model is optimally designed to serve Autistic people in need of mental health recovery. With his specialized background and 30+ years of experience as a special educator, program developer and consultant, he served a wide range of children and adults with multiple disabilities, including autism. CooperRiis’ clinical team is guided by Dr. Levine’s expertise in enhancing their services to meet the needs of Autistic adults to better prepare them for independence.
“I’m a believer in programs that maintain possibility and hope as core values while also stretching to serve a broader spectrum of people. CooperRiis is a place where people come to heal and learn new skills to help them better manage the challenges they are experiencing to return to their lives. Serving a neurodiverse population within this mission is a natural fit.”
How do I learn more and get started?
Reaching out to the admissions team to discuss if CooperRiis’ Autism/Neurodiversity programming is right for your client or loved one is the first step of the admissions process. CooperRiis welcomes Autistic adults with mental health needs, and our friendly admissions team is ready to assist you.