Financial planning conversations for autistic people and families often start in an unexpected place: not a bank or a budgeting app, but a job. Research shows just how much is riding on that starting point.
A study from Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute found that autistic young adults have the lowest rate of employment of any disability group studied, with 42 percent never working for pay in their early 20s.¹ Separate peer-reviewed research finds that autistic adults who achieve financial independence report greater well-being, higher earnings, and more autonomy in every other area of life, while reduced financial dependence also lowers the risk of exploitation.² For families trying to plan for a secure future, employment isn’t just one piece of the puzzle — it’s often the piece everything else depends on.
Direct Support Professional Kuze Davila shares with #MoreThanWork what he loves about his role.
That’s where Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) can come in. Kuze Davila, a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP) and job coach at a provider agency supporting people with developmental disabilities, works directly with autistic people to help them build their careers and the foundation for economic security.
“It’s meaningful work when you have the possibility to take charge in someone else’s life and to help them grow and have a better quality of life,” Kuze says.
For Kuze, the connection between employment and quality of life isn’t abstract. “Being honest, as someone with a disability myself, it strikes home to want to have someone have a better quality of life than I did when I was growing up,” Kuze explains. “So, this is more of a personal level for me.”
Employment as the Foundation for Financial Planning
Financial planning for autistic people often looks different than it does for the general population, and it usually has to start earlier, with the basics of building a work history, an income, and the skills to manage both. That’s the day-to-day work Kuze does: job coaching, assessment services, high school diploma services, and career exploration, all aimed at helping the people they support move toward stable employment.
“Being a DSP is fun — it allows you the opportunity to work directly with a client to bring positive change in their lives,” Kuze says.
That change is measurable well beyond a single paycheck. Research on financial well-being among autistic adults points to low income and low employment as the two biggest barriers to financial security, ahead of factors like digital access or geography.³ Every client Kuze coaches and assists in finding steady employment through career exploration services is a client who gains more than a job. They gain leverage against the economic instability that so many autistic adults and their families face.
Supporting Families, Not Only the Person
Economic security for autistic people is rarely a solo project. Families are often deeply involved in financial planning, benefits navigation, and long-term goal setting. DSPs like Kuze play a role here too, serving as a steady point of contact who understands both the person’s strengths and the practical realities their family is navigating.
“I would also encourage anyone to become a DSP,” Kuze says, “because the work that we do provides a direct approach in fulfilling someone’s life — bringing positivity and reinforcement to allow them to grow and be happy in their entire life.”
As the nation recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month this October, Kuze’s work reminds us that financial planning and economic security for autistic people don’t start with a spreadsheet. They start with the right support to build a career.
“Being a DSP is a calling for me,” Kuze says. “It is the opportunity to give someone a better life than they probably could not have without me, and because of that, I am eternally grateful to have that opportunity to bring positive change specifically in their life.”
Learn more about starting your own career in direct support at DirectSupportCareers.com.
Sources
- Roux, A.M., Shattuck, P.T., Rast, J.E., Rava, J.A., & Anderson, K.A., National Autism Indicators Report: Transition into Young Adulthood, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University
- Galizzi, M. et al., “Financial literacy among autistic adults,” Journal of Consumer Affairs (2023)
- Cai, R.Y., Hall, G., & Pellicano, E., “Predicting the financial wellbeing of autistic adults: Part I,” Autism (2024)
