Parental expectations regarding postschool social attainments of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders in Singapore.

Poon (2013) talked with Singaporean parents of teens with autism. The team asked what jobs, living skills, and daily supports parents pictured after high school.

Parents shared stories in interviews. Researchers grouped answers into themes about work, money, friends, and family care.

Most parents saw little chance of paid work. They pictured sheltered workshops or no job at all.

Parents also expected their son or daughter to live at home for life. Independence goals were set very low.

Krafft et al. (2019) asked the same question in the United States. US parents also felt unsure, but they still voiced hopes across eight life areas. Same topic, different country, similar worries.

Han et al. (2021) returned to Singapore eight years later. They spoke to adults with autism, parents, and service staff. The later study says families now want flexible, inclusive supports, not just impairment-focused plans. The 2021 paper extends Poon (2013) by showing how expectations are shifting.

Washington-Nortey et al. (2021) looked at parents in Ghana and Zambia. Those parents rated independence and inclusion as top hopes, but they also doubted these goals would happen. The cross-cultural echo shows low expectations are not unique to Singapore.

If families expect failure, they may not push for transition services. You can flip the script. Start early job sampling, teach daily living skills, and show parents real local examples of autistic adults working and living with support. When parents see success, their expectations—and their teen’s goals—can rise.