There are important life skills that adults with Autism need to learn and use in order to be able to live a more independent life. However, if there is one skill that they need and must learn , it is the skill of financial education.

We have read articles that mention about the living skills that adults with Autism need the most help with (for example: cooking, hygiene, social community , etc). But , there is not a lot of mention in regards to financial education. Financial education is not only about budgeting , but it is much more.

Financial Education is about teaching adults with Autism in terms of how to build a foundation , which will help them to be able to achieve financial security in their lives. This foundation includes all the aspects of financial literacy: budget, investments, income , retirement, pension , etc. In fact, finances are often the main barrier that stops people with Autism of becoming independent in their lives.

For example, according to a study made by the University of Missouri, it was discovered that when teenagers and young adults with autism enter adulthood and age out of many of the services designed to help them, they often are anxious about how to handle new adult responsibilities such as paying bills and filing taxes (Rice, 2017).  Unfortunately , because of the lack of services for people in the spectrum after turning 18 and the lack of awareness in regards to this issue , there has not been a lot of progress so far in really helping adults with Autism with their financial skills.

As a result, it is crucial that we create effective programs and services that will help adults with Autism improve their financial skills and help them build a foundation for a secure future. Finances affect people with non-disabilities all , but , it also affects people with Autism and other disabilities too.

Raising the awareness and creating financial education programs for people with Autism will not only benefit them , but it will benefit society overall.

Tony Hernandez Pumarejo

8/19/2018

Sources:

Rice (2017). Money a Barrier to Independence for Young Adults with Autism . Retrieved from https://nbsubscribe.missouri.edu/news-releases/2017/0417-money-a-barrier-to-independence-for-young-adults-with-autism/