Publication Date
5-5-2019
School
School of Behavioral Sciences
Major
Psychology
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, ASD, adulthood, transition
Disciplines
Developmental Psychology
Recommended Citation
Noakes, Matthew, "Exploring the Adulthood Transition through the Eyes of Adults Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Phenomenological Study of Their Expectations, Perceptions, Experiences, and Goals regarding Adulthood" (2019). Senior Honors Theses. 881.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/881
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent developmental disorder that makes daily, independent living difficult for many people around the world. Depending on the severity of ASD symptoms, individuals living with ASD rely on various supports to develop everyday skills. However, many of these supports fade away as these individuals transition out of high school into adulthood where they are introduced to an entirely new set of social systems including postsecondary institutions, workplace environments, independent/codependent living arrangements, and mature social relationships. Four emerging adults with ASD were interviewed to gather their expectations, perceptions, experiences, and goals regarding these different domains of adulthood. The participants responded with a wide range of thoughts and emotions, some of which reflect the findings of past research and some of which demonstrate new ways to understand how people with ASD transition to adulthood.
