So I'm doing research on employment among autistic adults, and I found that this report is used as the source for a claim that employment among autistic adults is very low: https://drexel.edu/autismoutcomes/publications-and-reports/publications/National-Autism-Indicators-Report-Developmental-Disability-Services-and-Outcomes-in-Adulthood/
However, when I looked at their methodologically, I discovered they only considered autistic adults who are on DD. From page 9:
"Who is represented in this report?
The people with ASD in this report do not represent all adults
with ASD. This report’s findings only represent people who were
able to access DD services because they had a significant level
of functional impairment, were eligible for DD services in their
state, and they (or their caregivers) were able to navigate the steps
to get services. This report includes people with ASD who used
DD services in 31 states, Washington DC, and the Mid-East
Ohio Regional Council (MEORC). "
The one thing they are leaving out but is still implied is that because enrollment is voluntary, it also only includes people who want or need these services. Considering the nature of these services, there is obviously going to be much higher rates of unemployment among those who need the service than those who do not. As a result, who knows how accurate any of these cited statistics actually are when generalized, it's very frustrating.