Autism and intellectual disabilities: A survey of people with ASD and autistic traits in adulthood services in the province of Vicenza
Silvia Bagnara, Francesca Concato, Luciana Brunello
In 2014 and 2015 the Fondazione Brunello ONLUS in Vicenza, in collaboration with Unità Operativa Disabilità, carried out research in order to identify the number of people with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder under the care of institutes for adults with disabilities, and to find out if any specific assistance programmes are in place which take into account the peculiarities linked to the complexity of their disorder. Subsequently, a screening programme was carried out with the aim of understanding how many people with intellectual disabilities attending institutes and programmes also have autistic traits, using the STA-DI evaluation scale. This article describes the research carried out in Vicenza (Italy) and the data collected so as to promote specific training and support methodological reorganisation encouraging the typical functioning of people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Keywords
Intellectual disabilities and autism, adult screening, autistic traits screening, adult services.