Some of the most critical aspects for many young adults on the spectrum who are transitioning from secondary school into the big wide world called to “Life”; Are the lack of social and Life support services that are required to help those individuals on the spectrum to adjust and live fully functioning Independent adult lives.
I have personally found that the resources to support families and individuals diagnosed with an ASD in those early years tends to greatly diminish as the individual approaches early adolescents and really seems to be non-existent by the time they are adults.
In my opinion some of the challenges are not and cannot be met under the current governmental disability services, mainly due to the vast numbers requiring support and the intense level of support that is required; especially under the employment sectors.
In my experience by the time many individuals on the spectrum reaching the ages of 14 years upwards can be struggling with the social, practical aspects of secondary school; Now depending on the school, the teachers involved it can and is suggested to many that attend main stream school may not be an appropriate fit for them, or by the time they are 16 years and heading into approximately year 10 of the scholastic system, it has been suggested on occasion that maybe “it would be best to remove the student from school as they are not coping”.
Yet nobody seems to be able to advise where or what they should be doing instead!
What options are out there for the unskilled individuals who are struggling with the work, expectations, social impacts of secondary school, who are already lacking the supports they require? There arn’t many that are free that’s for sure, so these individuals start to slip through the cracks and fall into the cycle of “unemployment” with all those additional extras that comes with it.
Now looking on the other side of the coin....
Those on the spectrum who have survived and thrived in the academic sphere; face many challenges of their own.
For example you may have an Individual who has achieved certification and or higher education in their specific field of interest, who are then put through the “job hunting” employment process without the “ social, life and diagnostic” support services. These services are required for positive corresponding employment opportunities and or positions that reflect, utilise an individual’s true potential, skill, passion and supportive credentials.
Bridging these gaps and supporting those transitional steps are the “best tools” to assist individuals on the spectrum in overcoming these challenges.
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