. >> linda walder director of the jordan daniel fiddle foundation, a nonprofit think-tank dedicated to studying issuing of adults with autism. because autism prevalence rates have doubled, half a million young people with autism will age out in the next ten years. >> it is a tsunami of children aging to adult life. >> do you stop having autism when you turn 21? >> that's one of the general misconceptions about autism. it only affects children. >> you do not outgrow autism. >> you do not outgrow autism. >> the clock is ticking on nicolas' services, too, and has a month left until he turns 21 and loses access to resources his mother says have changed his life and hers. >> i never gave of on nick. i always knew there was more to him. i knew he was in there. i knew he was trying. when we supported him at home. i kept getting glimpses. >> reporter: finding a way to reach nick is a challenge. he used to live in a 24-hour residential treatment center. lenore said they had trouble with his behavior. >> it's horrible to have them rush him and prevent him from doing something. >> what did that l

. >> reporter: autism advocate linda walder says government programs aren't designed for adults with autism. >> the system is really broken. it's not addressing the needs of adults and the growing population of adulting living with autism. >> reporter: it's not addressing >> it's not. >> reporter: without jobs or housing, adults with autism. and 80% under age 30, live at home. which is what eric is doing now that he has turned 21 and aged out of the rebecca school where he had constant support. >> for these kids it is terribly arbitrary. i understand the state has to have some limits. they can't support people forever. but this is no solution. >> reporter: mary wonders if all the money spent educating eric will have been a waste if she can't find something productive for him to do now. this is what eric's day is like since aging out. little structure. hanging around the apartment with nothing to do and nowhere to go. >> it suddenly hit us, we are into the rest of our lives. and -- and it's been, a big change. and -- a frightening one. >> reporter: with no more teachers and friends to