Enabling Residential Stays for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Fabiana Sonnino, Irene Pellizzaro, Carmen Virginia Voicu
In recent years, psychoeducational interventions for adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have increasingly focused on promoting personal autonomy, quality of life, and active social participation, aligning with national and international guidelines such as those from the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS, 2022) and NICE. Enabling residential stays, organized by social cooperatives like Tutti giù per Terra Onlus and Mirjac Onlus—often supported by local health authority (ASL) funding—provide a privileged residential setting for consolidating domestic skills (e.g., household management and shopping) and social, relational, and emotional competencies, through an ecological-naturalistic approach inspired by Bronfenbrenner’s model (1979). This framework integrates microsystems (family and staff), mesosystems (school-family collaborations), and exosystems (community services), facilitating skill generalization in real-life, inclusive environments. The article examines these programmes in depth, highlighting observed outcomes such as functional autonomy development, psychological well-being improvements via tools like augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), visual schedules, and calming rooms, alongside continuity with complementary experiences like residential weekends. Special emphasis is placed on the transition to adulthood, consolidating transversal skills (self-care, planning and affective relationships) and community sensitization, reducing isolation while promoting neurodiversity. Exemplary cases illustrate progress in participants with varying ASD levels, supported by qualified multidisciplinary teams (psychologists and educators) and evidence-based strategies including positive reinforcement, modelling, and task chaining.
Keywords
Autism, Neurodiversity, Independent Living Skills, Psychological Well-being, Residential Experiences, Transition to Adulthood.