Interests, Plans, and Hopes for Life After High School From Autistic Young Adults’ Perspectives

Abstract

Obtaining the perspectives of autistic young adults is critical for planning educational and service delivery systems focused on the preparation for a high life quality after high school. The perspective and voice of autistic young adults who participated in the Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism (CSESA) multi-site follow-up study conducted across three states (North Carolina, Wisconsin, and California) are described. Participants who exited high school or were enrolled in a district transition program responded to short-answer items on a Young Adult Questionnaire and Interview ( n = 148) and completed the Adolescent and Young Adult Activity Card Sort (Berg, 2015; n = 150) to address research questions about their current interests, future plans, and perceived barriers to fulfilling future plans using descriptive statistics and coding of interview responses. The young adults report current engagement in leisure activities, and 79% seek a job change and the opportunity to date and engage in a long-term relationship.