Financial literacy is more than managing a budget — it’s a cornerstone of independence. Recognizing a significant gap in support for autistic young adults, the Autism Access and Advocacy Lab at the University of Indianapolis has taken a bold step forward. Led by Dr. David Schena II, the lab recently published its first major paper: “Financial Literacy Skills Instruction Among Autistic Individuals: A Systematic Review.”

Why It Matters
Despite capable and motivated individuals, many autistic young adults struggle with essential life skills such as managing college expenses, keeping doctor’s appointments, and navigating daily finances. Dr. Schena witnessed this firsthand through his neurodivergent friends — and saw a lack of research focusing on practical, post-secondary support.news.uindy.edu

What the Review Found

• A thorough screening of over 9,500 research articles, conducted by graduate assistant Jesse Miller and researcher Juliana Sandoval-Gomez, revealed that most financial literacy studies for autistic individuals remain at basic levels — counting money, simple calculations, and handling cash.

• Advanced financial skills — like managing bank accounts, budgeting in inflation and crypto environments, or navigating digital payments — are largely unaddressed despite being vital to independence.

• The lab emphasized a neurodiversity-affirming and community-informed approach, working towards accessible resources and solutions — rather than outdated deficit-based methods.

Team Impact and Next Steps
 Graduate collaborators like Miller and Sandoval-Gomez played critical roles, refining screening methods, analyzing multilingual resources, and gaining invaluable research experience in the process. Their contributions underscore the potential of collaborative, inclusive academic inquiry.

Looking ahead, the lab aims to develop curriculum and tools tailored to autistic young adults, emphasizing real-world financial skills and independence. The goal? Bridging the research gap and building future-ready support systems.