Barriers to Independent Living for Young Adults with High-Functioning Autism in Europe

High-functioning autism refers to individuals with average or above-average intelligence who may face social, communication, executive functioning and sensory processing challenges. People with high-functioning autism in Europe face significant barriers transitioning to independent living, as identified by the Erasmus+ project "Houses4Autism". Key challenges include mental health issues, poor financial literacy, sensory overload, and difficulties sharing spaces and responsibilities (Baldwin and Costley, 2016) This article presents our study conducted across Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and the Republic of North Macedonia as part of the Houses4Autism project (Nov. 2023-April 2024). We combined a literature review and an analysis of good practices that supported independent living among individuals with high-functioning autism with accessible surveys engaging directly with individuals with high-functioning autism and their families/caregivers. Combining primary and secondary research activities into an academic article comprehensively outlined the barriers these individuals face when attempting to live independently. Through this activity, we identified that the greatest barrier to their independent living was a lack of an accessible support system or opportunities that could empower, support and sustain their independent living. Such a support system, according to this research, should include support/training in: navigating complex public and social services required for independent living (healthcare system, financial services, etc.); managing stress, anxiety and mental health issues; managing finances; managing everyday home activities (cooking healthily, cleaning, household chores, etc.); enhancing and increasing social interactions through the development of social skills; organisational skills training; and understanding sensory issues/overload and how to manage and cope with these.