Can Someone with Autism Live Independently?

Raising a child who is on the autism spectrum may be a challenge at times, but you may feel the greatest challenges can come when they choose to start an independent life. You may wonder if your child is able to live independently, and how they will handle the aspects of everyday life, independent of you. Whether your child will be able to live on their own is a question only your family can answer, since your child’s specific situation is best understood by you.

Supporting Your Child’s Independent Living

Moving out and starting a life on your own is a challenge, even for neurotypical individuals, but it poses a unique set of obstacles for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are things you can do to support your child as they move towards living independently. The support your child will need depends heavily on their functioning, abilities, and comfort. Often, providing them with more responsibility while they are living at home can help both you and your child gauge their ability to live independently.

Think about their “grown up skills,” and if they will be able to learn and implement skills such as:

• Managing money, paying bills, and budgeting
• Managing their time and schedules
• Eating healthily, purchasing food, cooking, ordering food, and meal planning
• Remembering to take medications, maintain hygiene, and seek healthcare when necessary
• Getting to appointments, classes, work, social engagements, and other activities
• Looking after their living space, cleaning, doing laundry, and other chores

Understand the financial considerations of your child. Will you support them? Do they have access to public benefits, and will they cover their cost of living? Do they work, and is their income enough to support them? Look for community resources and agencies that can provide assistance.

Physical supports are important, and you can help you child learn many of the skills they need to succeed at independent living. If they are still learning skills, or require assistance still, consider in home help to provide the necessary support for your child. Social considerations are also important. Your child may not be used to being completely alone, and they may feel isolated living on their own. A roommate or group home can help combat feelings of loneliness, provide support, and reduce the cost of living independently.

At Home Healthcare offers a wide variety of private home services, which can help enable independent living for individuals with ASD. Our Texas in home care professionals can help with the transition to independent living, support independent living, and provide compassionate care. Learn more about our services by contacting our offices.

Speak to a representative by calling (877) 959-9093.