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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of people with autism increased from 6 children per 1,000 in the general population in 2002 to about 11 children in 2008 (Baio, 2012). Whether these data reflect a true increase in the number of people with autism or are a consequence of changes in diagnostic standards (Fombonne, 2003;Miller et al., 2012), they draw attention to the question of whether adults with this diagnosis receive all the services that they need to achieve eco-

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Bleak transition outcomes for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), coupled with the surge in incidence, has led to the need for focused and innovative transition strategies. While structured community service reveals promise, documentation of how community service experiences contribute to building employment skills for youth with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), including those with ASD, is underresearched. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of a community service experience on employment skill-building for youth with ASD. Findings from 23 qualitative interviews with a range of stakeholders showed positive perceptions in the areas of career exploration, self-determination, and social skill building. Implications emphasize the likely benefits of structured community service and the potential to maximize the connection to employment, and thus community inclusion, for transition-age youth with ASD.