Warning: this material is depressing

Autism Spectrum Australia released a report on the lives of adults with autism spectrum disorder but without intellectual disability, a group of vulnerable citizens who are often/routinely denied appropriate and necessary services and supports.

The Aspect mini-site is at http://www.aspect.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=657&id=694

The study confirms the outcomes that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) described for people with autism in its Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) — see http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4428.0.

While Aspect's report estimates the number of adults with ASD based on childhood prevalence from 2009, fewer adults actually have autism-related diagnoses. Overseas studies show similar absence of diagnoses and abysmal outcomes for adults with autism (for example, http://a4.org.au/a4/node/191). Many adults with autism also experience unemployment, mental illness and sometimes homelessness ... so PIAC's report, Skating on Thin Ice, is likely to be relevant as well (media release http://www.piac.asn.au/news/2013/10/skating-thin-ice-mental-illness-and… and the PDF file http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/default/files/news/attachments/briefing_pa…).