The Housing Needs of Adults with Autism

At Autism Speaks, our goal is to provide individuals with autism and their families with all the tools they need throughout the lifespan. Adults living with autism often have difficulty finding information about programs and supports that would allow them to live as independently as possible.

[kat]

For anyone wondering I’m autistic and I am very independent. We are not burdens we are people we can work, we can be in love, we can make friends, and we can keep friends. It’s not a curse.

[-Ray_Moon-]

I have autism. I’m not non-verbal all the time other than when I’m anxious. I don’t hit people unless they try to restrain me. I can make eye contact that looks normal to others. But just because I can do things for myself and don’t need masses of help, doesn’t mean that being autistic doesn’t affect me.

[taylorbee]

It doesn't need to be cured. It needs to be understood.

[troyjacksonjr]

I'm Autistic and I'm very independent. I learn how to drive and cook myself meals.

[jamesbell]

I’ve got Asperges and ADHD and have been living alone since age 17

[d.pharmbot]

I'm high-functioning (formerly called Asperger's), and I've been able to provide for myself--although I don't have much saved up for the future. I live alone, I'm gay, and I live in the south. I'm 50 now, and my Dad died last month. I'm as disoriented as I am depressed, and I'm having trouble planning and making any kind of decisions. My house is a mess, but I'm working on it. I'm not a hoarder, I just can't decide where things go lately.

[Hedwig-gjdi]

It made me sick hearing about the benefits for SOCIETY to help these people. Like they're not people and just burdens. I'm beginning to see why so many people hate Autism Speaks.

[captainpolkadot]

"Just give us a chance, and we could change the world..." Seriously though, I'm autistic and this video makes me feel better to know I'm not alone in the world of Autism...

[marleymae]

People with Autism don’t need to be cured just understood!

[marleymae]

Autism does not need to be cured, just accepted and given the resources they deserve. Neurodivergent isn’t wrong if God made them that way!

[twonkfieldrailways]

I can tell as an autistic person that these people were very uncomfortable making this video and I can only imagine how annoying and overbearing the twonks that made this video were. I'm sure half of what they were saying they were told to say and that it was edited to portray and horrific view of autism. I'm 18 and I have struggled but I have managed to deal with things I never thought possible this is not because I've had some cure it was because I've been surrounded by good people who have helped me but at the same time never spoken down to me or treated me like I'm younger than I am. When ever crappy teachers at school treated me like I'm some sort of vegetable I always just felt angry and reluctant to learn. I see the same pain I felt in school in these children they're being held back babied by they're parents and this organisation and I know how infuriating it is. This needs to be stopped I'm sure alot of autistic people could be much better helped by being treated like anyone else and dealing with struggles and difficulties as they come not to make them less autistic but just to make them the best dam autistic person they can be

[pamiperry]

I'm high end Autistic we can do anything we set are mind to.
I'm a Author and people think people with Autism can't do anything.
So you see we can learn things I was leaving with my dad then I got married but when they both die my cousin took me in.
I volunteer at my church food bank and at my cousin shop.
Just give anybody with a disability a chance.

[mattgaldikas]

My Daughter is on the spectrum. She is almost six and is getting so much better with her speech and communication! I love her so much

[wandah]

I'm 64. There wasnt a term for someone like me. To this day, if you raise your voice for ANYTHING, you've lost me.
I was very motivated to work, money was my ticket to independence. But if I got abuse from a boss, and i decided it wasnt worth it, I was late for the door.
Commercial driving was something I could get along with long term. It lasted 32 years. I'm retired now. My willingness to take crap was directly proportionate to my compensation. Yes, I CAN be bribed into masking as normie for awhile. But not forever. I always have the end game in my sight. And I'm going to reach my goal, ANY goal.

[iamthegame]

I don't have autism but care for those who do and I'd just like to say one thing....can people PLEASE stop praying for a "cure"...I understand that living with autism can be very challenging and living in a strange world very stress, but from my experience autism is NOT an illness or a disease so, therefore, CANNOT be cured!....thank you :)

[kgaccount]

There's a tremendous disconnect in the autism community to face the realities of what type of housing would benefit people who have autism and epilepsy. The homes who take autistic people with challenging behaviors won't take an autistic person who needs nursing services. The homes that have nursing care aren't equipped or trained to deal with behavioral issues. They rely on over medicating autistic adults. Thus, we need to come up with models that are able to provide both behavioral and medical support and services.

[krill]

We aren't broken or damaged, just different.

[edgarallanpoestheblackcat]

They didn't know shit about autism back in those days.

[JustinGarfield]

I have it. Not a fun life. Hope some people help these kids! Accept them and be patient with them!!

[NPGLAMB]

I don’t need to live in a group home I’m going to live on my own