The Brain Charity

Self-advocacy is the ability to understand and communicate your own needs, preferences and boundaries.

Developing these skills is an important step towards independence.

Key elements of self-advocacy include:

• recognising personal strengths and challenges
• understanding sensory or learning needs
• asking for support when needed
• requesting reasonable adjustments
• participating in decisions about education, healthcare or work

Parents can support self-advocacy by:

• involving teens in discussions about their support
• encouraging them to speak during school or college meetings
• practising conversations about asking for help

For example, a teenager might learn to say:

“I understand instructions better when they are written down. Could I have a checklist for this task?”

Role-playing conversations at home can help teens develop confidence communicating their needs in real-world situations.

Supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing

Periods of transition can increase emotional pressure for many young people.

Research shows that neurodivergent teens may experience higher rates of anxiety and depression, particularly during periods of change such as moving to college or entering employment.

Common stressors during this stage may include:

• uncertainty about the future
• changes in routines or environments
• increased expectations for independence
• social challenges in new settings

Parents can support wellbeing by encouraging:

• regular sleep routines
• physical activity
• hobbies and interests that promote relaxation
• opportunities for social connection

It can also help to have regular check-ins with teenagers about how they are feeling and what support they may need.

Seeking professional support such as counselling or therapy can also be helpful when emotional challenges arise.

Social relationships and communication

As teenagers move into adulthood, social environments often change significantly.

They may encounter new social expectations in:

• college environments
• workplaces
• training programmes
• community groups

Some neurodivergent teenagers benefit from explicit guidance about social expectations, including:

• workplace etiquette
• maintaining friendships
• recognising social boundaries
• navigating group interactions

Parents can support social development by:

• practising social scenarios together
• encouraging participation in interest-based groups
• supporting safe opportunities to meet peers

Interest-based communities can be particularly helpful because shared interests provide a natural starting point for connection.

Daily living and self-care skills

Daily living skills form the foundation of independence.

Many teenagers benefit from structured opportunities to practise skills such as:

• personal hygiene routines
• cooking simple meals
• grocery shopping
• doing laundry
• managing sleep routines
• organising daily tasks

These skills often develop gradually and may require explicit teaching and repetition.

Helpful tools include:

• visual routines
• household chore checklists
• digital planners or scheduling apps

For example, a weekly planner might include:

• laundry day
• meal preparation
• study time
• relaxation time

Breaking tasks into manageable steps helps build confidence.

Learning financial skills

Financial independence is an important part of adulthood and often develops gradually.

Important skills include:

• understanding income and expenses
• managing a bank account
• saving money
• budgeting for regular costs such as transport or food

Parents can help teenagers develop financial awareness by:

• discussing everyday expenses
• planning shopping trips together
• helping teens manage pocket money or allowances

For example, a teenager might practise managing a weekly budget for groceries or transport.

Starting with small responsibilities builds confidence before moving to more complex financial tasks.

Managing healthcare and medical independence

As teenagers approach adulthood, they gradually begin taking responsibility for their healthcare.

Important skills may include:

• scheduling appointments
• understanding medications
• communicating health concerns with doctors
• keeping track of medical information

Parents can support this transition by:

• encouraging teenagers to ask questions during appointments
• helping them keep a record of medications and symptoms
• gradually allowing them to speak directly with healthcare professionals

Some teens find it helpful to use:

• a small notebook for health information
• digital health apps
• calendar reminders for appointments

Gradual responsibility helps build confidence in managing health independently.