It is common to find a wealth of resources for young children and adolescents with autism.  Unfortunately, that is not true for young adults. In the next 15 years, over 500,000 autistic children will graduate out of school systems in the U.S. and launch into the unknown. Free, appropriate public education ends at age 21. Many insurance plans drop young adults from their parents' policies at a certain age.

The transition planning process from school to the world begins during a child's teenage years. However, most parents can't tell what their children are transitioning into. There are about 3,500 programs nationwide for autistic adults compare to 14,400 for autistic children. Some of the programs are little more than day care, while vocational programs may simply consist of participants working for a company in isolation doing piecework.

In the few programs for young adults that do exist, there are long waiting lists. Jobs for autistic adults are almost non-existent. The odds of an autistic person landing a paying job are bleak--only 20% are employed and at least 60% of those with jobs are thought to be underemployed or are being paid below market wages.