Cost-impact of young adults with high-functioning autistic spectrum disorder.
Use cost data to justify funded supported employment when writing adult-transition ITPs.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Järbrink et al. (2007) looked at how much money society spends on bright young adults with autism who do not get supported jobs.
They built a way to add up medical bills, therapy costs, and lost wages. The goal was to show what happens when no work help is given.
What they found
The study showed that leaving these adults without job support creates very high costs for everyone.
No exact dollar is given here, but the message is clear: no support equals big bills.
How this fits with other research
Mavranezouli et al. (2014) ran the numbers in the United Kingdom and found that supported employment only costs about £18 for each extra week worked. When housing and service savings are counted, the program may pay for itself.
Wehman et al. (2017) and Schroeder et al. (2014) went further. Their trials of Project SEARCH plus ASD Supports turned almost 9 out of 10 autistic youth into employed workers within months.
Cimera et al. (2012) add a warning: adults who spend time in sheltered workshops earn less and cost more than those who go straight to supported jobs. Together, these papers turn Krister’s cost warning into a roadmap: pay for supported employment now, save money later.
Why it matters
You can take these cost facts to IEP meetings and adult-transition plans. Use them to justify funded supported employment services. Point out that doing nothing costs more than providing real work support.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
There is a general lack of information about the economic impact of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly regarding adults and those with high-functioning ASD. In this study, the societal economic consequences of ASD were investigated using a sample of young high-functioning adults in need of employment support. A methodology for the collection of cost information was developed and information about how to avoid obstacles in the collection process was obtained. Today, many people with ASD who would be able to function in open employment do not get this opportunity. This study demonstrated that ASD results in high costs and indicates that a lack of supported employment programmes for people with ASD may have negative resource consequences for the economy. The study also contributes towards a methodology of economically evaluating supported employment programs as well as other interventions for people with high-functioning ASD.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2007 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2005.11.002