Young Adults with Autism Transitioning to the World of Work

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine information provided by parents of individuals with autism regarding their childrens transition experience. Twelve participants parenting young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in active transition to work, defined as those in grade levels nine through twelve, contributed to a self administered survey. Five major themes emerged from the data related to; (a) accommodation or impediment to supports, (b) skills sets perceived as supportive or detrimental to establishing self determinism, (c) exploring beneficial or harmful attributes to obtaining employment, (d) discerning benefits of the transition process, and (e) determining parent knowledge. A major question that comes out of the results of this study seems to indicate that parents are right to be skeptical about their children's prospects to live as fulfilled individuals in society today. The gap between what could be with proper support and what is in terms of what is being delivered to their children and families by the current system seems broad and in need of further examination.