Teaching Spending and Saving to Increase Money Management Skills for Young Adults With Autism

Research shows that many individuals with autism struggle with daily living skills, such as money management, which can impact their ability to develop decision-making skills and live independently. Research indicates that adults with autism often have little control over their own money and are less financially independent than their peers with other intellectual disabilities; additionally, there are few intervention studies to teach money management skills to this population. The purpose of this single-case, multiple baseline study was to teach money management skills (budgeting, shopping/saving, counting money, using basic technology to add/subtract money) using behavioral skills training (BST) and a simplified electronic banking system to four adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a postsecondary transition program. . Results showed that the adults learned to use the banking system, understand the concepts of saving and spending, purchase items with the correct amount of money, and generalize skills to a community setting. Limitations and implications for research and practive related to teaching money management skills to adults with autism are discussed.