The Parts, Pieces, And Timeline of Transitioning Into Adulthood

Adulthood is a challenge for anybody. Each of us moves toward a level of independence we didn’t previously have and is expected to be more responsible than at any other time in our lives. This time comes with growth, especially in the development of new, flexible, and functional skills. For anyone with a disability, the transition to adulthood brings a myriad of milestones and challenges. Some of these may include hormonal changes, navigating new social relationships, financial and employment-related growth, or decision-making.

We can see such struggles when we analyze data from employment rates and independent living, where many individuals with disabilities may not meet employment demands or may have unique independent living needs that require services or supports indefinitely. Together, professionals and families can and should collaborate towards meaningful behavior change to ultimately improve the quality of life for individuals.

Two major milestones exist for families as their loved one ages: Employment and Independent Living. For these skills, we need to start preparing long before adulthood. Let’s talk about each of these unique milestones, as they both present distinct but necessary skill development and their own barriers.

Employment

According to the National Autism Society’s “Employment Initiative,” approximately 19% of persons with a disability were employed in 2020. Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that only 17.5% of young adults with autism had ever lived independently since leaving high school.

Employment skills like completing an interview, filling out a resume, following a schedule, arranging transportation, etc., are all skills that might be necessary to succeed in the employment world. Consider, for a moment, the challenges that occurred with your first job. If we followed the steps along the way, we had to find a suitable employer first. This can be markedly more difficult for families of children and adults with disabilities as we begin to explore employers who are open and willing to hire our loved ones. Once we find the ideal workplace, we will be faced with the skills of completing a resume (maybe) and doing an interview. Then comes the paperwork.

But we must also consider the other employment-ready skills necessary to thrive at a job, such as keeping a uniform clean, presenting ourselves professionally, arriving on time, etc. Each of these skills is unique on its own, but they come together to create a tapestry of living skills that allow us to thrive in our roles. The wonderful thing about each of the skills listed above is that they are not isolated to employment readiness. It is easy to see how rapidly employment skills can evolve into skills of daily living.

Independent Living Skills

Teaching independent and social skills that will be carried over to multiple environments is important and can be quite overwhelming. Not only can it be challenging to determine where to begin, but it can also be challenging to find funding or the right space to teach. But consider, for a moment, what independence looks like and how that might apply to a variety of settings. For some, preparing a meal on their own might be an independent living skill. For others, it’s getting dressed.

For others, it might be keeping their homes tidy. All of these are perfectly acceptable living skills, but some we might avoid teaching for a variety of reasons.

The very idea of independent living skills and social skills accounts for a variety of domains. So, if you’re unsure where to begin, it may be worth organizing the skill into specific areas. Skills related to showering? Tooth brushing? Putting on deodorant? Well, those could easily slot into a hygiene domain. What about scheduling a ride to a doctor’s appointment? Or using public transportation? Or identifying members of the community that can be helpful? Well, these could all be established underneath the community participation banner.

You can see that some of these might be useful in other areas. Organizing transportation can get me to school, work, or a social gathering. Brushing my teeth can prevent the need for more dental follow-up AND improve social interactions on a daily basis. The residual effects of teaching independent living skills can greatly improve access to the community and reduce the amount of caregiver effort we may be engaging in.

Great, but What Do I Do?

These challenges of finding employment and living independently can have a profound impact on individuals with disabilities and their families, but they are not insurmountable. Unemployment can lead to financial strain, social isolation, and added stress for everyone involved. Many parents we work with report their adult children experiencing a lack of living independence. Those situations may bring up feelings of inadequacy for individuals with disabilities, while parents may experience heightened anxiety about their child’s future and well-being.

Here are some strategies for success:

1.Strengths-Based Approaches: Instead of focusing on deficits, identify and leverage the strengths and interests of your children. By recognizing their unique abilities, we can help them find meaningful employment opportunities that align with their skills and interests. For example, someone with attention to detail who does well with repetitive tasks may thrive in a job that requires precision and organization, such as putting back things in aisles, checking expiration dates, or sorting mail.

2.Collaboration: Collaboration between families, professionals, and support providers is essential for success. Families and their support providers can work towards a personalized transition plan that addresses their specific needs and goals. It’s best to begin at least a year or two before the transition.

3.Multicomponent Strategies: Effective transition planning requires a multicomponent approach. This may involve vocational training, job coaching, social skills groups, and support with daily living tasks.

4.Proactive and Functional Approaches: Try to adopt proactive strategies and functional approaches that promote long-term success. If we are only reactive, we may not be successful in the long term. As much as you can, teach practical skills such as budgeting, meal planning, laundry, cooking, or transportation (e.g., bus, train).

5. If You’re Doing It…Teach It: If you’re not sure where to start when teaching skills, consider the things you’re currently doing for your loved one. Is what you’re doing a skill that can be taught to your child? Can we begin incorporating independence in daily routines and shape up new skills? Consider what you’re currently doing for your client and evaluate how useful it would be for your child to engage in that same skill independent of your care.

The transition to adulthood can be a challenging journey for individuals with autism and their families, and we can succeed by focusing on some of those strategies to get meaningful employment, achieve independent living, and improve quality of life. We urge you to work hard and keep promoting behavior change. Let’s empower all individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential. This also includes encouraging them to be who they are! We need to continue to work together as a community and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with autism transitioning to adulthood.

About Author:

Holly Downs is the Director of Ethical Compliance at [PBS Corp] (https://www.teampbs.com/) and an instructor at Capella University. She is a certified behavior analyst with over a decade of experience in various populations.