Quality of Life Profile and Indicators for Typical Adults as well as Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Quality of Life indicators are the same for adults with autism as for typical adults (to a greater or lesser degree) and include issues relating to health, diet, hygiene, emotional well-being, living environment, family and social relationships, companionship, education, fulfilling work, enjoyable leisure activities, and independent living skills.

In this major study of Quality of Life (QOL) concepts and indicators by the Centre for Health Promotion of the University of Toronto, three categories of QOL were defined, each with three sub-categories, and based on same characteristics that make life good for typical people and people with autism. "Being" refers to aspects of the person, "Belonging" to aspects of how people fit with other people and places, and "Becoming" to aspects of daily activities that promote personal growth, development and adaptation to life. Each of the major categories is then amplified as follows:

Physical Being	My body and health: Looking after physical health Eating a balanced diet Hygiene and body care
Psychological Being	My thoughts and feelings: Self-control Self-concept Freedom from anxiety
Spiritual Being	My beliefs and values: Understanding right and wrong Attaching meaning to life Celebrating life
Physical Belonging	Where I live: Place of residence Space for privacy Living in a neighborhood
Social Belonging	The people around me: Having a spouse or special person Family Friends
Community Belonging	My connectedness to the resources in my community: Access to meaningful work Access to community places Access to education
Practical Becoming	My practical daily activities: Work, school or program Work around the home Looking after people/pets
Leisure Becoming	What I do for fun and enjoyment: Visiting and socializing Casual leisure activities Hobbies
Growth Becoming	What I do to change, grow and adapt: Learning about new things Attaining new independent living skills Adjusting to changes in life