Variations in characteristics and service needs of persons with autism.
Daily-living and communication gaps seen in 1983 still drive service plans, now refined by sensory sub-types and client voice.
01Research in Context
What this study did
McLean et al. (1983) mailed surveys to every agency serving autistic people in New York State.
They asked about daily living, talking, and self-care skills.
Nine hundred cases came back, giving the biggest autism snapshot of its time.
What they found
Most people needed moderate help with dressing, eating, and toileting.
Almost all needed heavy help with talking and doing things on their own.
Needs were highest in state-run homes and lowest in family homes.
How this fits with other research
Sarrett (2018) asked autistic college students what they still need. They wanted quiet rooms and peer mentors, showing the 1983 service gap now reaches campus life.
Gonthier et al. (2016) looked at low-functioning adults in care homes. They found four sensory sub-types that predict behavior crises, giving a finer tool than the broad 1983 list.
Bureau et al. (2024) let French adults speak for themselves. They asked for “survival classes” run by autistic peers, proving the 1983 call for tailored help is still unpaid.
Why it matters
Use the 1983 map as your base line. Add the 2016 sensory profiles to spot who may melt down. Add the 2018 and 2024 wish lists to pick goals clients actually want. Your next plan can cover daily skills, sensory needs, and peer support in one package.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Information concerning socio-demographics, disability characteristics, and services received and needed became available on approximately 900 autistic children and adults as a result of a statewide needs assessment and case-finding collection project conducted in New York. Analyses of the results confirmed other findings as to the predominance of males to females and a high concomitant occurrence of mental retardation. Results also showed a population having few problems with mobility, hearing or vision, but moderate deficits in most skills related to activities of daily living, and significant deficits in communication and basic independent functioning skills. Differences were observed between institutionalized and noninstitutionalized autistic persons in terms of level of retardation, functional skills, age, and use of medications. Implications of the findings are drawn for clinicians, administrators, and public policy makers.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 1983 · doi:10.1007/BF01531361