Examining Support Networks Among Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

The team asked the adult siblings of people with IDD to list every person who gave their brother or sister regular help.

They counted how many names each list held and who the helpers were.

The adults had autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, or other developmental delays.

Most adults had tiny networks—about four people, mostly mom and dad.

Adults with Down syndrome had the biggest lists.

Adults with autism had the smallest lists.

Siklos et al. (2006) saw the same split years ago, but they asked parents of young kids. The pattern holds into adulthood.

Titlestad et al. (2019) found college students with autism want one-to-one mentors. Megan et al. now show that after college those mentors are missing.

Doughty et al. (2015) scored adults with autism lower on friendships. The new data explain why: their whole support circle is smaller, not just friends.

If you write transition plans, expect family burnout. Start adding non-family supports early—paid staff, peer groups, community employers. Map each client’s circle at intake and set a goal to widen it before parents age out of caregiving.