FACT 9: Individuals with ASD are interested in working but continue to have decreased chances at getting a job or living independently
- U.S. Department of Education (2014-2016), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022) report that only 21% of people with disabilities, including autism, are employed.
- Nearly 60% of people with autism in the U.S. are employed after receiving vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, which help autistic individuals explore careers, find jobs, and secure accommodations.
- 70% of eligible autistic individuals in the U.S. receive VR. 50% of autistic youth in the U.S. who receive VR begin those services in high school.
- Only 5% of autistic adults live independently, and 37% require overnight care (Forbes et al. 2023).
VIDEO: Overcoming job barriers for people with disabilities
Duration-5:08 mins
U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics(2023), National Autism Data Center (2024). Vocational Rehabilitation Services Data (2024) Forbes, G., Kent, R., Charman, T., Baird, G., Pickles, A., & Simonoff, E. (2023). How do autistic people fare in adult life and can we predict it from childhood?. Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 16(2), 458–473. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2868