Living alone can be challenging for anyone, but for autistic individuals there are extra considerations. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts, behaves, and learns. There is a wide spectrum of support needs among autistic people. Some are able to live fully independently, while others require more support. The ability to live alone depends on factors like:
Functional skills
Key skills for independent living include:
- Managing personal care – bathing, dressing, grooming
- Meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking
- Cleaning and household chores
- Paying bills and managing money
- Using transportation
- Safety skills
- Social skills
- Managing health care needs
- Handling emergencies
Autistic individuals have varying abilities in these areas. Those with more profound support needs may require help with daily living skills, while more independent autistic adults can handle these tasks on their own.
Sensory issues
Many autistic people have sensory processing differences that make them over or undersensitive to light, sound, touch, smell or taste. Sensory stimuli that go unnoticed by others can be painful, distracting or overwhelming. Living alone allows control over the home environment to minimize sensory overload.
Strategies include:
- Using soft lighting
- Having quiet spaces to retreat to
- Eliminating strong scents
- Using comfortable fabrics and textures
- Having flexibility around mealtime rules and food textures
Coping with sensory challenges takes stress off and makes independent living more feasible.
Social needs
Autistic individuals have varying social needs. Some are very social while others prefer solitude. Those who enjoy socializing may benefit from living with roommates or family. Autistic people who need a lot of alone time often prefer living independently.
Regardless of living situation, developing relationships and a social support network is important. This provides people to reach out to for help when needed. Social skills training can teach how to initiate conversations, make eye contact, read body language, and develop friendships.
Regular schedule
Many autistic people thrive on routine and predictability. Living alone allows control over the daily schedule. This caters to individual needs like:
- Specific wake-up and bedtimes
- Breaks for exercise or hobbies
- Blocks of alone time
- Favorite foods for meals
- Quiet evenings
Having a personalized regular routine reduces stress and overwhelm from dealing with unexpected changes.
Comfort items
Living alone means freedom to decorate the personal space with items that are calming or hold special meaning, like:
- Favorite books, movies, games
- Collections or special interests
- Soft furnishings and textures
- Pictures of pets, family, friends
- Fidget toys
- Weighted blankets
Having access to these comforting items provides stability and self-soothing ability.
Coping strategies
Managing autism-related challenges takes coping strategies like:
- Lists and reminders – for staying on top of tasks
- Noise-cancelling headphones – for blocking sounds
- Calming exercises – deep breathing, meditation
- Breaks – resting when overwhelmed
- Comforting stims – rocking, pacing, flapping
Having effective coping skills makes independent living less stressful.
External support
Even the most independent autistic adults benefit from some support. This can include:
- Family and friends – for emotional support and occasional help with tasks
- Therapists – for mental health support
- Job coach – for help succeeding at work
- Tutor – for learning independent living skills
- Online autistic community – for connecting with those who understand
Accessing support improves quality of life and makes living alone more feasible.
Financial considerations
Living alone has financial implications. Expenses include:
- Rent and utilities
- Groceries and household supplies
- Furniture, kitchenware, electronics
- Basic repairs and home maintenance
- Transportation
- Clothing
- Health care and insurance
A stable income is vital. Government benefits, family assistance, or job coaching can provide the means to cover costs.
Legal matters
Adulthood brings legal responsibilities like:
- Health care decisions
- Managing money
- Renting/buying property
- Entering contracts
- Voting
If needing help in these areas, supported decision making, shared living arrangements, or legal guardianship are options to consider.
Safety skills
Living alone requires safety skills like:
- Locking doors and windows
- Using kitchen appliances safely
- Detecting fires and leaks
- Administering medication properly
- Knowing what to do in emergencies
Learning about home safety reduces risks when living independently.
Daily living skills
Mastering daily tasks allows autistic adults to care for themselves at home:
- Cooking – following recipes, using kitchen tools
- Cleaning – washing dishes, doing laundry, tidying up
- Hygiene – bathing, grooming, oral care
- Time management – using schedules and alarms
- Organization – keeping track of personal items and paperwork
Gaining these fundamental living skills builds self-confidence.
Transportation access
Getting around the community independently is vital for accessing:
- Work
- School
- Medical appointments
- Shopping
- Social and leisure activities
Public transit training, getting a driver’s license, arranging disability transport, or moving within walking distance of destinations makes independent travel possible.
Benefits of living alone
Potential advantages include:
- Privacy
- Freedom to control the living environment
- Following preferred routines without negotiation
- More independence and personal growth
- Peace and quiet for those needing a lot of alone time
- Not having to mask autistic traits at home
- Easier to avoid sensory overload
With proper preparations and support, living alone can be a rewarding experience for autistic adults. It builds self-sufficiency and life skills.
Challenges of living alone
Possible difficulties include:
- Loneliness and isolation
- Boredom and lack of structure
- Difficulty reaching out for help when needed
- Self-care lapses during periods of depression
- Struggling with household duties like cleaning
- Paying bills or managing money
- Lacking motivation for grocery shopping and cooking
- Poor health maintenance
Support to overcome these challenges must be factored in. Starting with part-time or shared living arrangements can ease the transition to fully independent living.
Assess support needs
Evaluating individual support requirements involves:
- Considering functional independence in tasks like self-care, household duties, transportation, medication management
- Assessing safety risks like wandering, self-injury, ability to respond to emergencies
- Determining how well sensory needs can be self-managed
- Evaluating social skills and if companionship needs are met
- Reviewing ability to follow schedules and routines when alone
- Considering vulnerability to anxiety, depression, meltdowns
This helps identify potential challenges and necessary support services. Seeking input from loved ones provides a fuller picture.
Gradual transition
For young adults moving from their family home, adjusting slowly allows time to develop independent living skills. Interim steps can include:
- Spending weekends or school breaks alone
- Having a roommate
- Living in a group home
- Trying supported living with drop-in staff assistance
- Moving to an apartment very near family
Trial periods identify the right level of support needed for safe, successful independent living.
In-home help
Adult autistic individuals who need some assistance but want to live on their own have options like:
- Visiting nurses or aides for medication, hygiene, dressing help
- Meal prep services supplying healthy frozen meals
- Cleaning services for heavy household chores
- Lawn and maintenance help
- Grocery delivery services
- In-home therapy for daily living or social skills
- Job coaches
- Pet or service animal
In-home help provides just the right amount of support. Government funding like Medicaid often covers these services.
Assisted living facilities
These provide self-contained apartments along with services like:
- Meals in a communal dining room
- Medication management
- Assistance with personal care
- Housekeeping
- Transportation
- Social activities
- 24-hour staff access
Residents get independence with their own private apartment as well as support services. Costs may be covered by long-term care insurance or Medicaid.
Shared living
This involves sharing a house or apartment with others. Options include:
- Living with a roommate or aide
- Residing with a family as a boarder
- Group homes with a live-in support staff member
Shared living provides built-in social contact and assistance while maintaining some privacy and independence. Government funding programs often cover costs.
Supported decision making
Some autistic individuals capable of living independently need help making major life decisions. Supported decision making allows them to receive guidance while retaining self-determination. This option involves:
- Choosing trusted advisors like friends or family members
- Advisors explaining issues and options regarding decisions
- The individual considering advice and communicating their preferences
- Final decisions remain under the person’s control
Supported decision making preserves autonomy while providing input from others.
Conclusion
Independent living is possible for many on the autism spectrum with the right supports in place. Key factors include functional abilities, financial resources, coping strategies, and external help. A gradual transition plan assessing support needs moves young adults toward self-sufficient living. Adults with higher support requirements can live in their own apartments with assistance. Prioritizing quality of life, individual choice, and self-determination allows those on the spectrum to gain confidence and realize their potential while remaining connected to community.