Homelessness and Autism

 

There is no doubt that there are a lot of homeless people who have physical disabilities, thus making it harder for them to find work and live a decent life amongst the populace of not just American society, but societies in other countries. On an equal note, there are also those with disabilities or disorders that are neurological in nature, and cannot be seen by the naked eye. I am of course talking about autism.

Being a person on the autism spectrum myself, I can’t help but sympathize with those who have little to no help during tough economic times, especially now due to COVID-19. Much like those who are physically handicapped, homeless people who have neurological or mental disabilities have extremely limited options open to them in terms of help and support, both from a financial and healthcare standpoint. It’s much worse for those who are unable to make decisions for themselves. For them, being homeless is not only further damaging their mental health, but also their lives as a whole.

As an ever-growing society that spans many different backgrounds, it is important to assist those that need help, especially in the homeless and handicapped communities. There are organizations out there that you can donate to help. In my case, one organization I definitely support is the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, which helps educate those who aren’t familiar with certain high and low-functioning disabilities (i.e. Aspergers’ Syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders [PDD]), how they can be identified, and how they are treated.

For more information on autism and homelessness, see this article from 2016 that also brings it to light and why it matters: https://rootedinrights.org/autism-and-homelessness-the-real-crisis/

Autistic Self Advocacy Network: https://autisticadvocacy.org/

Post by Tom Newton
Senior, PSU