Material hardship and sources of support for autistic adolescents and their families

Abstract

This exploratory study used the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) to compare the financial well-being of families of adolescents with and without autism. Recognizing the gap in autism research, which predominantly measures financial well-being through household income, this study employed a multidimensional approach, including indicators of assets, material hardships, and both formal and informal safety net access. We found that families with autistic adolescents experienced greater financial instability, including a higher likelihood of substantial income drops and bankruptcy. Despite similar access to food assistance programs, food insecurity was notably higher among these families, especially in the lowest income brackets where nearly all families utilized food assistance. Furthermore, material hardship prevalence (46.4%) exceeded income poverty (29.8%), among families with autistic adolescents. A substantial proportion of middle- to high-income families also experienced hardships, had no assets, and lacked connection to safety net programs, suggesting that income-based metrics may not fully capture the financial challenges families face. The findings highlight the need for policies that acknowledge the broader financial needs of families with autistic adolescents, underscoring the inadequacies of current support systems.