Teaching life skills improves future prospects for young adults with autism

Jose Kevo on Flickr

For many teens with autism, the transition to adulthood is difficult and leads to unemployment and isolation. However, the future prospects for these children improve when they learn practical life skills, according to research presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Salt Lake City.

Children and young adults with adaptive behavior skills have higher levels of employment, less social isolation and better quality of life.

 “…We found that among adults with autism who were diagnosed as children, the biggest predictor of gaining employment as an adult is having good independent daily self-care skills. Because while we can't change intellectual functioning -- and it's very difficult to change symptom severity -- these skills are something very practical that we can work on to try and improve the prospects of adults with autism,” said study lead author Laura Klinger of the TEACCH Autism Program.

This research suggests that parents, teachers and clinicians should work together to teach adaptive behavior skills including:

• Personal hygiene and grooming
• Taking care of their health
• Shopping for groceries, clothes, household goods and other items
• Running a household including cooking, cleaning, setting the table, doing laundry

Roanoke College on Flickr

• How to act in different environments including restaurants, cinemas, churches, libraries, public transportation, post offices, banks, shops, etc.
• Social skills - how to interact in groups, during conversations
• Personal safety
• Managing their finances
• Looking for jobs
• Applying and interviewing for jobs

When teaching adaptive behavior skills to young adults with autism, break each task down into individual steps. To figure out each step, do the task while writing down every step.

More information about teaching adaptive behavior skills is available on the websites of the Interactive Autism Network and Connectability.

Preparing Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder for Adulthood has extensive resources on teaching independent living skills.

I originally published this article on Examiner.com.