A recent study by Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute has uncovered that from 2008 to 2016, an estimated 99% of autistic adults in need of employment services were left unsupported by Medicaid or the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration.
This translates to a staggering 1.98 million individuals who did not receive necessary aid.
The study, appearing in The Milbank Quarterly, sought to understand the distribution of employment services for autistic individuals compared to those with intellectual disabilities.
The Disparity Between Services
Anne Roux, a lead author of the study, highlighted that while employment is crucial for the well-being of all citizens, only 1.1% of the autistic adults who likely needed employment support actually got it.
In 2016, Medicaid assisted roughly 4,200 autistic individuals, while the Vocational Rehabilitation helped around 18,000.
But the services offered by these two entities differ significantly. Medicaid offers long-term employment services, while Vocational Rehabilitation offers short-term ones.
Shockingly, between 2008 and 2016, Vocational Rehabilitation extended its services to eight times more autistic individuals than Medicaid did.
When looking at people with intellectual disabilities, they were three times more likely to access Vocational Rehabilitation over Medicaid.
Notably, even though Medicaid assisted fewer autistic individuals, it spent more than double on their employment services than Vocational Rehabilitation.
But from 2008 to 2016, Medicaid’s total spending on these services plunged by nearly 30%, whereas Vocational Rehabilitation’s spending surged by an impressive 400%.
Roux emphasized that the majority of public spending was on short-term employment services. However, many autistic individuals would greatly benefit from more flexible, long-term supports throughout their working lives.
The Service Cliff and Need for Change
One of the significant challenges that autistic individuals face is the “services cliff”.
After completing high school and no longer being eligible for special education services, many autistic adults find themselves in a void, devoid of federal laws that ensure they continue to receive necessary support.
This lack of access to services is further exacerbated by the daunting complexity of the current system, making it hard for many to find and access available services.
The end result? Many are trapped in a cycle of poverty and increased health care expenses.
A key obstacle the research team faced was the lack of comprehensive public data on employment services for autistic individuals across both Medicaid and Vocational Rehabilitation systems.
Lindsay Shea, the primary investigator, emphasized that the gaps in service provision become evident through personal narratives of those struggling to access help.
The research emphasizes a glaring need for policy revamps to better the employment services infrastructure for autistic adults in the U.S.
As the demand for support continues to grow, it is paramount that policymakers and stakeholders address these pressing issues to ensure a more inclusive and supportive society for all.
If you care about autism, please read studies that cats may help decrease anxiety for kids with autism and new study may develop better treatment for autism
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how to eat your way to a healthy brain, and results showing this type of food may contribute to autism.
The study was published in The Milbank Quarterly.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
