Future Planning for Autistic Adults
I never dreamed of starting a business. I was just trying to survive.
For 20 years, I’ve been in survival mode—raising three kids, including twin boys with autism and their older sibling. I’ve been on my own for the past decade. Like so many other parents of disabled children, I had no time to build a traditional career. I was stay at home for the first 10 as a Mom Concierge Service. When my marriage fell apart, I was forced to start a new career but had to start at the bottom and take a low paying job in exchange for the flexibility I needed to take care of these kiddos. The result? No savings. No retirement plan. Just tunnel vision and determination to keep my boys safe and loved.
When they were little, we fell through the cracks of Ontario’s system, and we made a drastic move to Calgary just to access early supports. It was the best decision we ever made. But we had to come home eventually—to our support network, our people, our roots. And when we did? The supports vanished. No real services. No path forward.
And now? My sons are adults. We’ve hit the cliff.
Future planning for autistic adults feels like trying to build a bridge while you’re dangling midair. There’s no roadmap. There’s no housing. Day programming is nearly nonexistent unless you’ve won the lottery and made it off a decade-long waitlist. And respite? If you know, you know.
So here I am: a Durham Region mom trying to build something that doesn’t exist.
🔍 Why I Created Willowjak: Building a Future for Autistic Adults
The truth? I didn’t start Willowjak from inspiration—I started it out of desperation.
I created Willowjak because I need connection. I need community. I need hope. I figured if I started sharing what I’ve learned the hard way, maybe I could help families who haven’t hit the cliff yet. And maybe, just maybe, some of those connections would lead me to the right people, partnerships, or places that could help me plan a future for my own family too.
Willowjak isn’t just a business. It’s a lifeline. A gathering place. A vision with roots and reach.
🧭 What Happens When Autistic Kids Grow Up in Ontario?
The honest answer? Most families are left on their own.
When your child becomes an adult, the system disappears. Government supports evaporate. Funding dries up, if you even had any in the first place. And most families aren’t ready. Some don’t even realize what’s coming. And without a plan, our kids are left isolated, under-stimulated, and far too often, impoverished.
If you’re also trying to figure out future planning for autistic adults, especially with no family to step in, you’re not alone. You don’t need to do this in the dark.
💡 You’re Not Alone in Future Planning for Autistic Adults
I know what it feels like to lie awake at night wondering:
“What happens when I’m gone?”
I still don’t have a will—because I don’t have anyone to name as my kids’ guardian. It’s the fear that unites so many of us: single parents, exhausted caregivers, and even grandparents who’ve stepped in.
Willowjak was built to be a soft landing place. A connector. A resource hub. A starting point.
It began with sharing stories. It will grow into day programming and respite, and—if I can pull this off—eventually supported housing for adults like my sons.
We deserve better. Our kids deserve better. And if the system won’t give it to us?
We’ll build it ourselves.
My dream is that Willowjak becomes a spark of hope for others navigating the overwhelming process of future planning for autistic adults. Whether you’re just starting out or already feeling the weight of it, you’ve got people here who get it.
xo,
Stacey
Durham Region, Ontario
Founder, Willowjak Services🌿
Read more about why I started Willowjak.
Join our private Facebook Group for parents, siblings, and supporters: Willowjak Treehouse Facebook group (right now, it’s called The Founding Roots as we build our community).
Or head to the About page to get to know my story better.
Sign up for our newsletter, for stories, tips, and real talk. This is just the beginning — we’ll be sharing more stories, practical resources, and support as we grow.
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
I’m Stacey—writer, family caregiver/autism consultant, solo parent of three, and founder of Willowjak Services (aka your favourite chaos coordinator). This work? It’s my lifeline, born from lived experience and middle-of-the-night “there has to be a better way” moments. I cut through red tape, decode jargon, and help fellow caregivers find their footing in the mess.I show up real, raw, and a little unfiltered—sharing my own hurdles and heartaches so you know you’re not the only one yelling “WTF?” into your coffee at 2 a.m.
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