Supporting Adults with Autism in the Community
From the July 2001 Disabilities newsletter.


As Virginia Sperry discovered, teaching children with autism to become independent, productive adults is a challenging process, but also a rewarding one. Patricia Juhrs, the executive director of Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC), a private non-profit agency in Rockville, MD dedicated to serving individuals with autism, and Marcia Smith, a psychologist with CSAAC, can offer over 100 success stories of integrating adults with autism into the community.

Ms. Juhrs emphasizes that the challenge in finding successful employment for adults with autism lies in making sure they are placed in jobs that interest them. CSAAC takes clients to a variety of work environments so that they can see firsthand which jobs they would like to do. Once a client has identified his or her interests, CSAAC then works with employers to place him or her in those jobs.

But both Ms. Juhrs and Dr. Smith note that placing an adult with autism in a job is only part of the challenge. Ongoing behavioral support and intervention are needed to ensure that the client is successful in the workplace. Dr. Smith explains that because people with autism can struggle with impulsivity and self-injurious behavior, particularly in new settings, they may run away without warning, or take things that belong to others, as they may not understand the concept of ownership.

Once people with autism make behavioral and social adjustments, Ms. Juhrs reports that they usually learn job skills quickly and become valued employees. She notes that CSAAC has found both co-workers and employers to be very accepting of CSAAC clients. The organization's clients have been most successful in small businesses where employers can observe their clients' productivity in person.

Ongoing behavioral and social support is also needed to place adults with autism in supported living arrangements, since problems with self-control and aggression can cause people with autism to damage property or create disturbances. Ms. Juhrs and Dr. Smith say that many of their clients have not only developed the skills needed to live away from their parents, but also have become involved in community activities such as theater and horseback riding. Ms. Juhrs also adds that CSAAC sends staff to observe clients at work and at home to determine whether they need job skills retraining or extra help with behavior and social skills.

The true reward for Ms. Juhrs and Dr. Smith is seeing the continual success of CSAAC clients in the community. "We have had a lot of individuals with destructive behaviors that are now living in the community," says Ms. Juhrs. Dr. Smith adds: "It's heartwarming to see how employers have been so responsive."

For information on CSAAC and its services, see their web site.