Intentional communities for adults with autism

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition typically diagnosed early in life: the median age at diagnosis is 52 months.1 Because research demonstrates the benefits of early intervention,2 when we think about people with ASD, we generally think about children and adolescents.


However, autism spans the entirety of one’s life. This means that children with ASD will grow to be adults with ASD. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 1 in 59 children were diagnosed with ASD during the surveillance year 2014,1 which was nearly double the prevalence from just 8 years earlier,3 and a 15% increase since 2012.4 As these children grow up, this translates to an ever-growing number of adults with autism.
UNMET NEEDS

Healthcare, housing, and intellectual and developmental disability services for adults with ASD currently fall well short of meeting the needs of this exploding population.