What are the Core Issues Facing Adults on the Autism Spectrum?

In the next 10 years, more than 500,000 children on the autism spectrum will become adults. Though the number of programs benefiting children with autism has continuously increased over the last decade, programs designed to help adults with autism have stayed nearly the same for years. In fact, this was the exact reason why Debra Solomon founded Spectrum Strategies years ago.

Each person on the autism spectrum has their own set of unique needs, however, these are the core issues facing most adults with autism today.

Because there are more people who need public housing than there are housing options, housing programs are incredibly competitive. Today, 80,000 adults with autism are on waiting lists for residential placements. Many of these people will be on waiting lists for as long as 10 years.

Having a job doesn’t just provide someone with a paycheck every week, it makes them feel as though they have a sense of purpose and accomplishment, and are helping others. Hiring someone on the autism spectrum provides a plethora of advantages. People on the autism spectrum are hard working, reliable, and inspiring to others. These are just some of the many reasons why major corporations, like IBM and Comcast NBCUniversal, are committed to hiring adults with autism or other learning disabilities.

Despite their best efforts, many adults with autism, unfortunately, live a relatively isolated life. This is largely due to a lack of job opportunities and publicly funded organizations dedicated to incorporating adults with autism into the community.