What Happens With Autistic Kids Beyond 22?

With an estimated 70,000 adolescents with autism becoming adults each year, it is more important than ever that there are effective resources and services to help you with the challenges you might face.

Believe it or not, twenty-two is the milestone age where individuals with autism lose their government entitlements through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act also known as IDEA Act. These services/entitlements disappear. You may know these services provided by your local school district under programs called Transition Services. In the state of Texas, Transition is often provided at age 18.

Under the IDEA Act, Transition support services assists the individual with disabilities with job training and supported employment up until age 22. Once autistic kids turn 22, however, those entitlements disappear! This, according to some sources, is a "services cliff" over which families fall.

Here at Beyond 22, we don't want to see you left hanging, we hope to be able to assist in your search for resources. We hope to help educators, parents, and agency partners improve outcomes for post-high school and transition age youth in the following areas:

• Employment Resources and guidelines for educators, parents and agencies that will assist transition age youth identify and move toward their post-secondary goals in the area of employment.

• Education and Training Resources and guidelines for educators, parents and agencies that will assist transition age youth identify and move toward their post-secondary goals in education and/or training.

• Independent Living Resources and guidelines for educators, parents and agencies that will assist transition age youth identify and move toward their post-secondary goals in independent living.

• Compliance Resources and guidelines for educators, parents and agencies that will assist transition age youth develop transition plans that comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

• Guideposts for Success A document developed by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) that identifies key educational and career development interventions.

• Employment First Policy Resources and guidelines for educators, parents, and agencies that will assist transition age youth develop post-secondary goals that lead to competitive, integrated employment (CIE).

The reality, however, is that most autistic young adults and their families can and do find support, and the rest don't. If the individual is not fortunate enough to find gainful employment by that age, they are left to navigate other resources. These resources are scarce and often times the individual is left without employment due to a lack of transportation, available job coaching, and businesses that are willing to cooperate and engage with an individual with a disability.

Thankfully employers are required by law to make reasonable accommodations for adults with autism, and many states offer some sort of funding and services to aid them. However, the support is still limited in instances such as living independently or receiving free, appropriate education for autistic adults beyond the age to 22.

Ways to Give