Family Experiences with Supplemental Social Security Income and Legal Guardianship for Autistic Adults: A Mixed-Methods Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Family interactions with the Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) program and the decision to pursue legal guardianship are poorly understood in services research for autistic adults.

Methods

We conducted a mixed-methods study and incorporated quantitative survey data from 122 autistic adults in an existing longitudinal cohort with qualitative interviews with 12 autistic adults and/or legal guardians. We explored associations between sociodemographic, developmental, and behavioral features with the likelihood of having SSI and a legal guardian at 25 years old. Spoken interviews were transcribed verbatim, and interviews were analyzed using a rapid qualitative analytic approach.

Results

There were quantitative differences in whether families were able to

SUBMITTER: Ferguson EF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11634058 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature