A child who is not verbel can communicte by simple methods. Ex: a picture board with needs on it - food, toilet, washing, etc. and most can point to what they want. A picture of people - when grandma or aunt enter sroom, is and wave hi, wave bye-bye. A speech clinic at a college or university can often help (my friend is director of one in CT.), but this is a 16 year old, adolesence can make it difficult, I was one on one with an autistic 12 year old, mandated in his IEP.(iIndividualized Education Plan) as he was a danger to others. He would be 28 now or so, sure parents old or gone, sure he is residential now.

At 16, this child be in a special needs class, Federal law PL 142???) guarantees education birth to 21)but even some special ed. people don't know how to deal with autism. There shoulld of been behavior training years ago, introduced by someone who knows, and used consistently at home - really hard for parents. There are many theories on how to deal with autism and it's causes.