Adolescence is a big, wobbly bridge for any family. Bodies change fast, social expectations get more complicated, and the future suddenly feels closer than you expected. For autistic teens, that bridge can have extra twists — sensorial, emotional, medical, and social.

That’s why a new book from Oxford University Press, If Your Adolescent Has Autism: An Essential Resource for Parents, is such welcome news. Developed through the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Adolescent Mental Health Initiative, the guide is designed to help caregivers support autistic teens from middle school through early adulthood with the clearest, most current science available. Annenberg Public Policy Center

Scientific insight: what the new guide emphasizes

The Annenberg announcement situates the book in today’s reality: autism identification has increased in recent years. The CDC’s latest surveillance estimate suggests about 1 in 31 eight-year-olds were identified with ASD in 2022 (up from 1 in 36 in 2020).

The book is described as a “concise, authoritative guide” focusing on the intersection of autism and adolescence. That’s important because teen development isn’t just “childhood, but taller.”

The guide covers:

• co-occurring medical and mental health conditions

• friendships and social connection

• puberty, hygiene, and body changes

• sexuality and relationship safety

• transitions into college, employment, and adulthood

• real-life stories from autistic people and their parents

• an extensive resource list for next steps Annenberg Public Policy Center

This framing matches what research and lived experience both show: autistic teens don’t need to be “fixed.” They need environments, expectations, and supports that fit how their brains and bodies work.

Here are a few takeaways implied by the book’s scope — and echoed across best practice in teen autism support.

1. Think “whole adolescent,” not “autism only”

Because the guide addresses co-occurring health and mental health issues, it’s a reminder to watch for stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, GI issues, or burnout as legitimate parts of the teen picture — not side notes.

Practical tip: If something feels “new” or “suddenly harder,” don’t assume it’s behavior. Check sleep, sensory load, hormones, social pressure, and emotional fatigue first.

2. Puberty is physical and sensory

The teen body can be an overwhelming sensory event. Changes in sweat, smell, hair, skin, voice, and body shape can create real distress — especially for teens who already experience sensory intensity.

Practical tip: Teach hygiene and body care as predictable routines with sensory customization (unscented options, soft fabrics, visual schedules, “choice menus”).

3. Social connection matters — but so does self-protective space

The guide includes social connections and sexuality, signaling that autistic teens need support in relationships just like neurotypical peers — without pressuring them into one narrow social style.

Practical tip: Help your teen build a “social map” of their world:

• Who feels safe?

• What kinds of hangouts are easiest?

• What are early signs of overload?

• What scripts help with boundaries?

4. Transition planning should start earlier than you think

Because the book spans middle school through adulthood, it emphasizes that planning for independence is a gradual build, not a senior-year scramble.

Practical tip: Start with micro-independence: choosing clothes, packing a bag, managing one daily task, practicing a bus route with support, or learning how to ask for accommodations.

Sensory-based learning & imagination: where Burble Creativity fits in

At Burble Creativity, we talk a lot about sensory experience and imagination as tools for thriving, not “extras.” The themes in this guide line up beautifully with that philosophy.

A weighted lap pad, a chewable, a textured object, or a movement break isn’t a distraction. It’s a bridge between nervous system needs and daily life.

Role-play, creative storytelling, and playful “future practice” are powerful for autistic adolescents. They allow teens to explore:

• a college dorm scenario

• an interview

• a friendship conflict

• a dating boundary

• a new sensory environment

…without the real-world stakes hitting all at once.

The best sensory and imagination-based approaches aren’t done to teens. They’re done with them.

Give choices, co-create routines, invite feedback. When teens feel ownership over their supports, they’re more likely to use them — and to trust themselves.

There’s no single manual for raising an autistic teen. But resources like If Your Adolescent Has Autism help shrink the guessing game — by grounding families in evidence, real stories, and practical guidance for the road to adulthood.

If you’re parenting, teaching, or caring for an autistic adolescent, know this: the teen years can be complicated, yes — but they can also be full of discovery, self-knowledge, and surprising joy. And the right supports can make that joy easier to reach.