Next Step: A Residential Model for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

More than 500,000 children with autism are entering adulthood, and are faced with "a disjointed adult service provider network, age-related medical issues, developmental regression and an aging parent population"1. According to longitudinal studies, the absence of continued vocational options post-graduation, proper transitional programs and employment opportunities, result in a disconnect to society. With a lack of residential options available besides home care provided by the families, what happens when the aging parent population is no longer able to care for their child? This thesis proposes a design solution for adults with ASD to live as independently as possible in a safe, secure, and supportive environment, where the individual will have access to community involvement, continued educational programs, employment opportunities as well as the center's on-site supportive staff. The overall goal is provide a solution to the growing adults with ASD population.

Author

• O'Malley, Meghan McGeorge

Language

• en

Keyword

• Vocational Office
• Interior Design
• Transitional Housing
• Adults with ASD
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Residential Model

Date created

• 2014

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Interior Design

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Bishop, Emily M
• Healey, Jonathan

Committee Member(s)

• Arnett Henson, Krystal

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/tt44pm891