Over 80% of Adults with Autism and/or Intellectual Developmental Disabilities are unemployed. EngageNC’s core mission is to create employment for these adults, and to accomplish this goal, it is important for businesses, employees, and the general public to understand more about Autism/IDD.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most others. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less. Learn more about Autism.

An intellectual disability is a permanent condition originating before the age of 22, characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and difficulties in a variety of everyday social and practical skills. Intellectual functioning is usually measured by an IQ test. The average score is 100. People scoring below 70 to 75 are thought to have an intellectual disability.

A developmental disability is attributed to a cognitive and/or physical impairment that results in limitations in areas such as self-care, language, and mobility. This can include a broad range of disorders and syndromes including Autism, Down Syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy.