Describing Outcomes in Autistic Young Adults One Year After High School Graduation.

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) research
• Young adult outcomes

Background:

• Previous research indicates poor outcomes for autistic adults in employment, independent living, and social relationships.
• Limitations in prior studies' measurement and samples may have overestimated negative outcomes.
• A need exists for outcome measures reflecting young adulthood and autistic individuals' perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and describe a novel measurement approach for autistic young adult outcomes.
• To pair objective indicators with subjective satisfaction indicators for a comprehensive assessment.
• To capture outcomes within the specific context of young adulthood and from the perspective of autistic individuals.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-six autistic young adults and a parent completed self-report surveys.
• Objective and subjective (satisfaction) outcome indicators were defined across three domains: productivity, social well-being, and living situation.
• Data collection focused on employment/education, friend contact frequency, and daily life autonomy.

Main Results:

• Three-quarters of autistic young adults reported at least 5 out of 6 positive outcomes.
• Over 90% were engaged in education, work, or transition programs and satisfied with this productivity.
• More than 75% had sufficient friend contact and were satisfied with their social lives; most reported moderate autonomy and were satisfied with their living situation.

Conclusions:

• Tailored outcome measurement for autistic young adults yields a more optimistic portrayal than prior literature.
• The developed approach aligns with a neurodiversity framework.
• This methodology may be valuable for assessing transition services and interventions for autistic individuals.