For an enthusiastic teenager and his long-devoted family, the prospect of autism colliding with adulthood unveils an entirely new set of caregiving concerns.

Families of children with autism face a tough road when the services of high school programs end at age 21, and parents are often compelled to take on even more care than ever.

For Heidi Roger and her 18-year-old son Andrew, the prospect of “aging out,” while still a few years away, is a question mark looming large over their future.