ABSTRACT
Teenage years for the autistic adolescent are difficult ones and their inability to cope with the physical and psychological changes of the time retards the rate of educational and social progress during the later school years. Time is allowed for a structured educational programme designed to help the older residents to function more adequately in daily living. Residents need to write letters home and to write out their own timetables. At present woodwork is on a simple level, and residents make seed boxes, bird houses and flower pot stands, key racks, etc. Interest in sex is on an immature level and, as the young people are without guile, any unacceptable behaviour is easily observed, e.g. public exploration of other residents’ bodies, masturbation and so on. Some of the less capable residents have settled well and are slowly but surely developing social competence, and independence and acquiring new skills.
