Collec&ve Impact Leading to New Opportuni&es for Young Adults on the Au&sm Spectrum
q 1 in 54 children in Utah are diagnosed with au&sm spectrum disorder, the second highest rate the country, compared to 1 in 68 na&onally q In the next 10 years, 100,000 adults with au&sm will be ready to enter the workplace q The life&me cost for an individual averages $2.4 million when au&sm involves intellectual disability and $1.4 million when it does not. An es&mated 40 percent of individuals with au&sm also have intellectual disability. q Based on these numbers, the yearly cost to the United States is an es&mated $236 billion a year. q During adulthood, the highest costs relate to residen&al care and lack of employment. q There is an impact on the en&re family, including lost parental income, lack of support, liQle precedent for transi&oning children into adulthood and independence.
q Research indicates unemployment for 85% to 95% for young adults transi&oning from high school q Young adults on the spectrum oUen graduate high school and oUen go on to college (they have skills and educa&on) q Adults with au&sm have greater difficulty finding and maintaining employment than do individuals with any other developmental disability. q The ‘Post ADA Genera&on’ has two new posi&ves: 1 – Folks with disabili&es have high expecta&ons to live and work independently 2 – Folks who don’t have disabili&es expect folks that do to live and work independently q Businesses are star&ng to ‘get it’: Folks on the spectrum add to the boQom line
The Launch Pad is a collabora&ve effort for transi&onal living and support: q Apartment/dormitory secng for young adults on the au&sm spectrum q Accessible transporta&on to work and college q Digital Garage connected to living quarters (12 to 16 adults) q Imbedded in 140 unit apartment complex with live-‐in support staff q NeuroVersity and Specialisterne programs conducted on-‐site q Transi&onal: Leading to independent living and work
Proposed loca&on of Launch Pad One