Debunking Myths and Misconceptions About People With Intellectual Disability and Autism

Key Takeaways

• Autism and intellectual disability are two separate diagnoses, and the majority of autistic people do not have an intellectual disability.
• Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities hold real jobs, earn real wages, and stay employed when given training and reasonable accommodations.
• Autism is a lifelong condition, so autistic children grow up to be autistic adults who still need support options.
• A person who does not speak is not a person without thoughts, preferences, or opinions.
• Early intervention, vocational training, residential support, and community inclusion improve outcomes across the lifespan.

Few groups have been described more inaccurately than people with intellectual disability and autism. Some of the myths are leftovers from a century of institutionalization. Others come from movies, viral videos, or a well-meaning relative repeating something they heard. Either way, misinformation shapes how neighbors, teachers, and hiring managers treat people, so it’s important to clear up.

Here are the misconceptions that come up most often, and what evidence shows instead.

Myth #1: Autism and Intellectual Disability Are the Same Thing

They are not. Intellectual disability involves significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that begin during the developmental period, before age 22. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, sensory processing, and patterns of behavior.

The two can overlap. Most of the time, they do not. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 31 8-year-olds has been identified with autism, and fewer than half of those children also have an intellectual disability. Conflating the two leads to harmful assumptions in classrooms and doctors’ offices alike.

Myth #2: People With Intellectual Disabilities Cannot Work

This one costs people careers. In 2025, only 22.8% of Americans with a disability were employed, compared with 65.2% of people without a disability, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That gap says more about hiring practices than about ability.

With job coaching, task modification, and an employer willing to be flexible, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities succeed in warehousing, food service, packaging, retail, groundskeeping, office work, and dozens of other fields. Employers who hire inclusively often report:

• Lower turnover and stronger retention
• Better morale across the whole team
• Reliable attendance and quality work

Myth #3: Autism Is a Childhood Condition

Children with autism become adults with autism. Research suggests that 2.21% of US adults live with ASD. Support needs change, but they do not disappear on a birthday. The steep drop in services after high school, often called the services cliff, leaves many families searching for adult day programs, vocational services, and residential options at exactly the moment support disappears.

Myth #4: Nonspeaking Means Not Understanding

Speech and comprehension are different skills. Many people who do not use spoken words communicate through devices, sign, pictures, gestures, or writing, and they understand far more than observers assume. Talk to the person, not over them. Then wait for an answer.

Myth #5: People With Intellectual Disability or Autism Do Not Want Friendships or Independence

They do. What is often missing is opportunity, transportation, and a community that makes room. Given the chance, people with intellectual disability and autism build friendships, date, live in their own homes, vote, and pick their own routines, just like everyone else.

Support That Lasts a Lifetime: BARC Developmental Services

BARC Developmental Services serves individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism across Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding region. Our programs cover the full lifespan, including:

• Early Intervention Services for infants and toddlers
• Residential Services in Quakertown and Warminster
• Vocational Services and job training
• The JOBS Program, connecting businesses with capable employees

Call 215-794-0800 or explore our services to learn how our team supports individuals and families.

Located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, BARC Developmental Services assists and supports individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. We equip them to reach their fullest potential, lead happy lives, and contribute to their community. With early intervention services, residential programs, and vocational initiatives, we serve hundreds of individuals and aim to help many more. Donate today to make an impactful change in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism!