Author's School

Brown School

Author's Department

Social Work

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2012

Originally Published In

Shattuck, P., Roux, A. M., Hudson, L. E., Lounds, T. J., Maenner M. J., & Trani, J. F.(2012). Services for Adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Canadian journal of psychiatry. La Revue canadienne de psychiatrie,57(5): 284-291.

Abstract

Objective: The need for useful evidence about services is increasing as larger numbers of children identified with an autism spectrum disorder age toward adulthood. The objective of this review was to characterize the topical and methodological aspects of research on services for supporting success in work, education, and social participation among adults with an autism spectrum disorder and to propose recommendations for moving this area of research forward. Method: Review of literature published in English from 2000 to 2010.Results: We found that the evidence base about services for adults with an ASD is underdeveloped and can be considered a field of inquiry that is relatively unformed. Extant research does not reflect the demographic or impairment heterogeneity of the population, the range of services that adults with autism require in order to function with purposeful lives in the community, and the need for coordination across service systems and sectors. Conclusions: Future studies must examine issues related to cost and efficiency given the broader sociopolitical and economic context of service provision. Furthermore, future research needs to consider how demographic and impairment heterogeneity have implications for building an evidence base that will have greater external validity.

Included in

Social Work Commons

Share

COinS