In essence, adult autism is simply the continuation of childhood autism. Characteristics that are typical of childhood autism, such as lack of communication skills, compulsive behavior, and repetitive or ritualistic movements or utterances, may continue with adult autism, and these problems can impede independence in adult life. The main problem with adult autism is a change of context. A child's life can usually be supported by schools and parents, whereas an adult eventually needs to develop some independence, whether through institutions or learning to live on his or her own. An adult with autism often loses the strong, confined support network available to children and must face challenges such as having a job, navigating public spaces, and even living alone.
Autism is usually diagnosed when a person is a child, but may sometimes be discovered later in life. Adults with autism that has been diagnosed in childhood often have more opportunities for traditional success than those who have gone undiagnosed, because building life skills can occur more successfully in childhood. The degree to which a person with adult autism can function largely depends on how severe the autism is and what precise skills the person has developed.
Many adults with autism successfully live independently and hold down jobs. Some autistic people have particular skills that are much stronger than average in areas such as visualization, math, or art. In general, if an adult with autism can successfully attend work in a satisfactory manner, he or she can usually achieve some degree of independent life. Some of the best ways to prepare an adult with autism for employment are mentorship, job training, and a gradual introduction to full-time employment. In many cases, a strong portfolio may be enough to convince employers that an adult’s autistic personality may not be ideal, but his or her quality of work may be too good to pass up.
One problem frequently associated with adult autism is loneliness. Adults with autism often have difficulty building strong friendships even though these are very important for quality of life. For this reason, even people with autism who are capable of living alone may still choose to live in group homes for companionship and support.
Depending on the severity of the adult autism, a person with autism may never successfully live independently. In these cases, it is important for the adult to be cared for in some manner, whether by family members or an institution such as an assisted living facility. For parents of autistic adults, concerns about the care of the adult after the parents have passed away may be a major consideration in financial planning. Legal assistance in planning out documents and funds that ensure the adult child's welfare may be advisable if this situation is known in advance.
