Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T21:33:49.787Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Post School Outcomes of Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2016

Michael Burrows ,
Jerry Ford  and
Verity Bottroff
Michael Burrows
Affiliation:
Flinders University of South Australia
Jerry Ford*
Affiliation:
Flinders University of South Australia
Verity Bottroff
Affiliation:
Flinders University of South Australia
*
Correspondence to: Dr. Jerry Ford, Department of Disability Studies, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, S.A. 5001
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study presents a broad picture of the post school outcomes of 28 young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder living in South Australia. Findings from the study suggest that the majority of the participants still have a long way to go to reach the goal of meaningful participation in the economic and social life of their local communities. Most of the young adults had limited social networks and were highly dependent on their families for tangible and emotional support. While many of the participants were regularly Involved in structured recreational and leisure activities, the majority were unemployed and still living with their families. Individuals with higher levels of cognitive functioning generally had better outcomes than those identified as functioning at a lower cognitive level. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for practice and further research.

Type
Research Article
Information
Australasian Journal of Special Education , Volume 25 , Issue 1-2 , 2001 , pp. 34 - 48
Copyright
Copyright © The Australian Association of Special Education 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

AGB Australia (1991). 1991 census of disability services final report. Canberra, ACT: Department of Health, Housing and Community Services.Google Scholar
American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn. Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
Ainley, J., & McKenzie, P. (1999). The influence of school factors. In Dusseldorp Skills Forum, Australia’s young adults: The deepening divide. Sydney, NSW: Author.Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics (June, 2000). Labour force participation in Australia. Canberra, ACT: Author.Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics (February 1999). Education and training in Australia, 1998. Canberra, ACT: Author.Google Scholar
Bellamy, T., Rhodes, L., Bourbeau, P., & Mank, D. (1986). Mental retardation services in sheltered workshops and day activity programs: Consumer benefits and policy alternatives. In Rusch, F. (Ed.), Competitive employment issues and strategies (pp. 257–271,). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Bishop, D. (1989). Autism, Aspergere syndrome and semantic-pragmatic disorder Where are the boundaries? British Journal of Disorders of Communication, 24, 107–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bottroff, V., Tonge, B., Bartak, L., & Langford, P. (1997). ‘The development of friendships and the puzzle of autism.’ Children’s Peer Relationships: Conference Proceedings. (pp. 49–56). Adelaide, SA: University of South Australia.Google Scholar
Bradley, V. (1994). Evolution of a new service paradigm. In Bradley, V. J., Ashbaugh, J.E. & Blaney, B.C. (Eds.), Creating individual supports for people with developmental disabilities: A mandate for change at many levels, (pp. 11–32). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Brown, L., Shiraga, B., York, J., Kessler, K., Strohm, B., Rogan, P., Sweet, M., Zanella, K., Van Deventer, P., & Loomis, R. (1984). Integrated work opportunities for adults with severe handicaps: The extended training option. The Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 9, 262–269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, S., & de Bettencourt, L. (1991). Dropout: Intervening with the reluctant learner. Intervention in School and Clinic, 26, 263–271.Google Scholar
Commonwealth of Australia (1992). Employment for people with disabilities: Report of the standing committee on community affairs. Canberra, ACT: Author.Google Scholar
Disability Services Program, (1993). 1993 Service Consumer Profile Report. Canberra, ACT: Author.Google Scholar
Elders, S., & Gilberg, C. (1993). The epidemiology of Asperger syndrome: A total population study’. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34, 1327–1350.Google Scholar
Farmer, J. (1988). Outcome and prognostic factors in autistic adults and adolescents: An Australian follow-up study. Unpublished document.Google Scholar
Gilberg, C. (1993). Autism and related behaviors. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 37, 343–372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gilberg, C. (1991). Clinical and neurological aspects of Asperger syndrome. In Frith, U. (Ed.), Autism and Asperger syndrome (pp. 122–146). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goble, D. (1995). Asperger’s syndrome and autistic spectrum disorders: Diagnosis, aetiology and intervention strategies. Australiasian Journal of Special Education, 19, 17–28.Google Scholar
Goode, S., Rutter, M., & Howlin, P. (1994). A twenty year follow-up of children with autism. Paper presented at the 13th biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Groden, J., Cautela, J., Prince, S., & Berryman, J. (1994). The impact of stress and anxiety on individuals and developmental disabilities. In Schopler, E. and Mesibov, G. (Eds.), Behavioral Issues and autism, (pp. 178–194). New York, NY: Plenum Press.Google Scholar
Harris, L. (1987). Inside America. New York, NY: Vintage Books.Google Scholar
Hasazi, S., Gordon, L., & Roe, C. (1985). Factors associativity the employment status of handicapped youth exiting high school from 1979 to 1983. Exceptional Children, 51, 455–469.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hasazi, S., Johnson, R., Hasazi, J., Gordon, L.,’ & Hull, M. (1989). Employment of youth with and without handicaps following high school: Outcomes and correlates. Journal of Special Education, 23, 243–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howlin, P., Mawhood, L., & Rutter, M. (2000). Autism and developmental receptive language disorder - a follow-up comparison in early adult life. II: Social, behavioral, and psychiatric outcomes. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41, 562–576.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Intellectual Disability Services Council. (1999). Position Paper On The Future Options Of Moving On. Adelaide, SA: Author.Google Scholar
Keel, J., Mesibov, G., & Woods, A. (1997). TEEACH-Supported Employment Program. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 3–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klin, A., & Volkmar, M. (1996). Asperger syndrome: Treatment and intervention: Some guidelines for parents. http/info.med.yale.edu/childstay/autism/Asperger.txt: Learning Disabilities Association of America.Google Scholar
Kobayashi, R., Murata, T., & Yoshinaga, K. (1992). A follow-up study of 201 children with autism in Kyushu and Yamaguchi areas, Japan. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22, 395–411.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lichtenstein, S., & Blackorby, J. (1995). Who drops out and what happens to them? Journal of Vocational Special Needs, 18, 1–5.Google Scholar
Lincoln, Y., & Guba, E. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lotter, V. (1978). Follow-up studies. In Rutter, M. & Schopler, E. (Eds.), Autism: A reappraisal of concepts and treatment, (pp. 475–495) London, UK: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McElwaine, E., & Ford, J. (1994). Impact of national economic reform agenda on people with severe disabilities. Australian Disability , Review, 4, 13–20.Google Scholar
Mesibov, G., Adams, L., & Klinger, L. (1997). Autism: Understanding the disorder. New York, NY: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nisbet, J. (Ed.) (1992). Natural supports in school, at work, and in the community for people with severe disabilities. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.Google Scholar
Parmenter, T. (1999). Implications of social policy for service delivery: The promise and the reality. ‘Are we getting real?’ Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 24, 321–331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rolands, C. (1990). National employment initiatives for people with disabilities: A discussion paper. Canberra, ACT: Australian Government.Google Scholar
Ruble, L., & Dalrymple, N. (1996). An alternative view of outcome in autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 11, 3–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rusch, F., & Chadsey, J. (Eds.) (1998). Beyond high school: Transition from school to work. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.Google Scholar
Schopler, E., & Mesibov, G. (1998). Intoduction. In Schopler, E., Mesibov, G., & Kunce, L. (Eds.), Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism? New York: Plenum.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, M., Belcher, R., & Juhrs, P. (1995). A guide to successful employment for individuals with autism. Sydney, NSW: Paul H. Brookes.Google Scholar
Spierings, J. (1999). A crucial point in life: Learning, work and young adults. In Dusseldorp Skills Forum, Australia’s young adults: The deepening divide. Sydney, NSW: Author.Google Scholar
Szatmari, P., Bartolucci, G., Bremner, R., Bond, S., & Rich, S. (1989). A follow-up study of high functioning autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19, 83–95.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Venter, A., Lord, C., & Schopler, E. (1992). A follow-up study of high functioning autistic children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 33, 489–507.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wehman, P. (1996). Life beyond thé classroom: Transition strategies for young people with disabilities. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Wing, L. (1996). The autistic spectrum: A guide for parents and professionals. London: Constable.Google Scholar
Wolfensberger, W. (1991). A brief introduction to social role valorisation as a higher-order concept for structuring human services. Syracuse, NY: Training Institute for Human Service Planning, Leadership and Change Agency (Syracuse University).Google Scholar
Wooden, M., & VandenHeuvel, A. (1999). The labour market for young adults. In Dusseldorp Skills Forum. Australia’s young adults: The deepening divide. Sydney, NSW: Author.Google Scholar