When autistic kids grow up, Chapter 5: The war dial

“You have to reshape the whole system.” Tempest McDonald earns a measure of peace.

By Brady Huggett

2 July 2026 | 1 min read

https://doi.org/10.53053/PZME8630 Cite this article

Illustration by Mark Harris

0:00 /

Apple Spotify Youtube

In the final chapter of “When autistic kids grow up,” a new government grant suggests a slowly raised awareness around the need to study the lives of autistic adults, and Tempest McDonald comes through her dark period.

Read the transcript. Listen to Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Avis McDonald sits at a table of roleplaying game materials; Terry McDonald sits in a wheelchair nearby. — **Three’s company:** With her son Avis (left) and father Terry McDonald living under her roof, Tempest McDonald has the family unit working as one.

All images courtesy of Tempest McDonald

Closeup of a figurine from Warhammer 40K. — **Tiny figure:** Avis loves the wargame Warhammer 40K and is thinking about exploring related business ventures.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Catch up on what you missed from our recent coverage, and get breaking news alerts.

tags:

When autistic kids grow up, Autism, Funding, Policy, Science and society, Spectrum

Explore more from The Transmitter

Spectrum

Unconfounding genetic and environmental factors, and more

By Jill Adams

1 September 2026 | 2 min read

Speech bubbles progress from light- to dark- colored.

Funding

Amid funding uncertainty, neuroscientists report a mix of cynicism, persistence

By Emily Singer

28 August 2026 | 5 min read

Stages of neurodegeneration: Neurofibrillary tangles at different stages of neurodegeneration are labeled with phosphorylated tau antibodies (green and blue).

Brain banks

Reimagining Mexico’s brain bank

By Alejandra Manjarrez

28 August 2026 | 7 min read