My brother Tom has profound autism. I am his guardian. Tom is 60 years old and was doing well in a supported family placement for many years. But my husband died March 19, 2023 and this caused Tom to slide into a tailspin. He doesn't process loss. He became aggressive, self-injurious, and destructive, and the only option was to place him in an institution. There need to be more options for supporting individuals with intensive needs during crises in the community.
-Nancy B., Tom's sister