Autistic adults on disability services unable to work

Autistic adults were recently examined to get a better idea of what the real issues surrounding them are. The lack of participation in structured activities is one factor.

According to Drexel University, a recent report finds that a quarter of adults who are on the Autism Spectrum who use developmental disability services are not participating in structured programs. Specifically, by the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, the National Autism Indicators report finds that just 14% of autistic adults have paying jobs.

The director of the Autism Institute’s Life Course Outcomes Program and associate professor in Drexel’s Dornsife School of Public Health Pat Shatuck says that billions of dollars are spent each year on services for people on the Autism Spectrum, and that relatively little is spent on trying to understand the types and amounts of services people need, including the services they end up getting or the outcomes of them.

A total of 3,500 autistic adults were analyzed in this report, and it showed that 25% of participants didn’t feel they were getting adequate enough services, and certainly not full services. This report also digs into the fact that families of these autistic adults have to bear the responsibility of providing care for them. Less than 50% of participants live with their parents or relatives and 81% lived with the family for at least 5 years. 38% of participants did not receive paid or in-home services.

It is also important to note that over 50% of participants did report that they have at least one mental condition relating to that of anxiety or mood disorders.

Research scientist at Drexel University Anne Roux says that some states don’t provide developmental disability services for autistic adults unless they have an intellectual disability to go along with autism. Many with autism are cognitively able but there are still great challenges in navigating social, organisational, and communication demands of these autistic adults. According to Roux some state policies simply ignore the strengths of autistic adults.

Autism is a hard topic for many people to understand. Autism is a condition that cannot be cured but can be helped through reassurance of the person and respecting the needs of that person. One reason why it becomes difficult for an autistic person to find a job is that his or her performances will be measured differently compared to that of a worker who doesn’t have autism. In many cases, the autistic worker is “singled out” especially if the bosses at work know that the worker is autistic. Having developmental disability services for autistic people is something that is needed because they need the assistance in establishing the structure of their everyday routines.