Today, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) announced that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released the first in a series of reports examining actions that can be taken to address the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as they transition to adulthood. Smith along with leaders from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, commissioned the reports to supplement requirements in Smith’s law, the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act (Public Law 113-157).

     “Every year, 50,000 young people on the autism spectrum transition into adulthood and many lose access to vital educational, therapeutic and other services which enable them to live full, independent and successful lives,” said Smith, co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Autism Research and Education Coalition and author of three major laws to provide funding for autism supports and research. “Individuals with autism in this transitional stage find themselves entering into a system unprepared to meet their needs, and as a result face shrinking opportunities—and in many cases even regression due to loss of resources and supports.”

     “The purpose of this report is to help identify areas that need to be addressed to empower individuals with ASD as they make the transition from a school-based support system to adulthood. We hope to use insights and information from the GAO reports to develop better services and legislation that responds more effectively to these needs of adults with autism and encourages independent living, equal opportunity, full participation and economic self-sufficiency,” Smith added.

     The report, entitled “Youth with Autism: Roundtable Views of Services Needed During the Transition into Adulthood,” is based on roundtable discussions that GAO meticulously facilitated among experts such as educators, self-advocates, medical professionals, representatives from the business community and non-profits, service providers and other members of the advocacy community, to examine the needs of transitioning youth. During the roundtable discussion and in the report, the GAO explored what services transitioning youth need in order to achieve success in five key areas of adulthood: postsecondary education, employment, maximizing independent living, health and safety and maximizing community integration.

     As the report notes, the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2), funded by the U.S. Department of Education, found that in 2009 only “36 percent of young adults with ASD had attended some type of postsecondary education.” Additionally, only 58 percent had ever held a job outside of their home and “19 percent of autistic adults in their early 20’s had lived independently at some point, either with or without supports.”

     “We are in the midst of a huge yet largely invisible crisis that begs for serious focus and remedies. Young adults with autism deserve better and we must work to provide the resources and supports to bridge this gap,” Smith continued. 

     In the report, GAO identified 14 services that support the five goals for successful transition into adulthood. Among those are behavioral services, case management, family education and supports, medical, including mental health care, residential, vocational and transportation supports.

     This first in a series of reports is available here.

     The GAO’s next report will take measure of the services currently provided and their accessibility.  It is expected by April 2017.

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