Employment is a key social determinant of health and well-being for the estimated 5.4 million autistic adults in the United States—just as it is for citizens without disabilities. Evaluation and monitoring of publicly funded employment services is paramount given the dramatic increases in adults with autism who need job supports.
Vocational Rehabilitation agencies appeared to be absorbing short-term employment needs of autistic people, but Medicaid was severely lacking—and losing ground—in serving those who need longer-term employment services.
Across both Vocational Rehabilitation and Medicaid, we estimated that only 1.1% of working-age autistic adults who potentially need employment services are actually receiving them—leaving an estimated 1.98 million autistic individuals without the employment services that are associated with achievement of well-being.
