Transforming Behavioral Roots and Empowering Lives
AUTISM
RESEARCH
Amazing House of Hope Research & Development Center, Inc., is closing a major gap in autism research by focusing on young adults often overlooked after age 18 who struggle with severe behavior challenges. Our residential campus provides an ideal environment for obtaining authentic, evidence-based data in a controlled setting, where progress can be closely observed, and the effectiveness of various strategies can be measured. Our residential campus provides a safe, structured setting to study strategies that truly work for this population.
For years, autism research has heavily focused on prenatal development, childhood and teens under 18. Countless services, programs, and residential options are available for these populations. After transitioning into legal adulthood, society seems to have forgotten that these same children whose behaviors were once considered “cute but concerning,” grow into adults with behaviors that are no longer socially acceptable and can place them in life-threatening situations. The availability of resources, services and research opportunities also dramatically declines.
The underlying cause of these behaviors do not magically disappear. Without the appropriate treatment, the reality is frightening for parents of young adults with emotional dysregulation, who often face repeated hospitalizations, encounters with law enforcement, incarceration, or in tragic cases, dangerous misunderstandings within their communities leading to life-threatening events. There is inconclusive data on the statistics of these outcomes, however, too often these young adults are met with fear instead of compassion and support, making a negative outcome more likely.
A major contributing factor to this crisis is the education system, which frequently fails to meet the needs of students on the spectrum. After graduation, this population quietly falls through the cracks despite being “checked off” on paper as meeting their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals. They receive a certificate for the successful completion of all transition plan requirements, including those with severe behaviors, and families gather to celebrate their accomplishments. The truth is, many graduates lack the essential life skills required for basic everyday life situations, even those on the higher end of the spectrum. These young adults with behavior goals that were documented as met before graduation struggle significantly with emotional dysregulation.
There’s a clear disconnect; something doesn’t add up. This generation of adults faces major disadvantages, with many continuing to struggle with emotional dysregulation that worsens after exiting the education system, as they often find it difficult to manage their emotions even in simple, nonthreatening situations.
On average, an autistic student who begins early intervention at age 3 and continues receiving services through age 21 spends about 19 years in school, and with Extended School Year (ESY) services, that support can extend to 21–23 years. But does the number of years truly matter if the focus remains on meeting academic benchmarks instead of addressing the real supports and needs required to reach those benchmarks?
This brings up even more critical questions:
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How do students with persistent aggressive behaviors accomplish their IEP goals and successfully complete transition programs without receiving adequate behavioral services?
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If all educational goals were reportedly met and a “successful” transition plan was in place, why isn’t the 85% unemployment rate for the autism community improving?
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How can education systems claim success when so many autistic young adults are left behind, unable to function in society immediately after exiting high school?
These questions often go unanswered as no educational system wants to document its own shortcomings, especially when they challenge the status quo. As a result, many capable young adults are left at home, isolated and dependent on limited Social Security benefits, spending their days playing video games or engaging with social media. Few programs exist to meet their unique behavioral and vocational needs.
This should not be their outcome. With the proper behavioral and vocational support, these individuals should be able to maintain part-time employment and, at best, exceed expectations and achieve meaningful, independent success.
Amazing House of Hope Research Goals
While we cannot go back and fix what has been broken, Amazing House of Hope is committed to meeting each young adult where they are, helping them rebuild, grow, and reach their maximum potential. Through partnerships with institutions that share our passion for autism and emotional regulation, we aim to:
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Gather reliable statistical data,
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Uncover insights that will transform outcomes, and
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Create real solutions for others facing similar challenges.
What the Research Says (and Doesn’t Say)
There are a number of studies examining youth aggression in autism, mostly focused on children and adolescents. However, there is far less research on autistic young adults, especially those with severe or aggressive behavior combined with higher support needs.
Currently, there is very limited research directly linking:
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Severe aggressive behaviors,
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Educational outcomes, and
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Long-term unemployment among autistic adults over 18.
Where Are the Gaps
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Longitudinal studies (which follow individuals over many years) are extremely rare. One example is the 10-year trajectory study listed on PubMed.
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Most existing studies are cross-sectional, meaning they capture a snapshot in time and often rely on caregiver reports rather than direct observation or functional assessment.
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Very little research has examined real-world post-school outcomes, such as employment or community living for autistic adults with significant behavioral challenges.
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There are even fewer intervention studies that target aggressive behavior across the entire transition period into adulthood, and even fewer still that use rigorous, randomized controlled trial methods.
It’s Time for Change
It’s time to put our young adults on the map. It’s time to dig deeper, to truly understand, support, and effectively treat this underserved and overlooked population. At Amazing House of Hope Autism Research & Development Center Inc., we welcome both local and global research partnerships to convert our data into meaningful solutions that help young adults reach their highest potential and live fulfilling lives. Please contact us with upcoming research opportunities.