Identifying School-Based Factors that Predict Employment Outcomes for Transition-Age Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Vocational Outcomes in ASD: An Examination of Work Readiness Skills as well as Barriers and Facilitators to Employment Identified by Autistic Adults

Little is known about work readiness skills among autistic adults. This study sought to address this by examining work readiness skills and their relation to vocational outcomes among 281 autistic young adults. It also examined perceived barriers and facilitators to employment as articulated by a subset of autistic adults. Results revealed a variegated work readiness profile. Stronger work readiness skills (particularly work style/adaptability) were associated with more favorable vocational outcomes. Autistic participants articulated both barriers and facilitators to employment related to the autism phenotype, job search/work readiness, and workplace education. These findings indicate the need for research on phenotype-driven vocational rehabilitation strategies as well as workplace psychoeducation/accommodations to support vocational outcomes for autistic adults.

Employment profiles of autistic people: An 8-year longitudinal study

LAY ABSTRACT

Autistic adults experience difficulties finding and keeping employment. However, research investigating reasons that might explain this difficulty produce mixed results. We gave a survey to 2449 autistic adults and used a statistic method to group them based on their employment status over 8 years. We identified four employment groups that best captured the experiences of autistic adults; this included a group that experienced stable unemployment, a group that experienced stable employment, a group that had high employment that reduced over time, and a group whose employment increased over the 8 years. Further analysis showed that those with fewer autistic traits, younger age, male gender, higher education, later diagnosis age and no co-occurring conditions were more likely to have stable employment. People whose employment changed over time were more likely to have a higher level of education than the stable unemployment group, and those in the increasing employment group were younger age and had no co-occurring conditions. These findings help us better understand that not all autistic adults' experiences of employment are the same, which helps focus where employment programmes and support may be most needed, for example, people who identify as women or have a co-occurring condition.

Mathematics Learning Through Online Video-Based Instruction for an Autistic Child

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a video modeling (VM) intervention package (including virtual manipulatives and error correction) delivered via synchronous, virtual environment to teach the mathematics skills of addition, number comparison, and subtraction to a five-year old autistic child. Using a multiple probe across skills design of a single-case experimental design, we examined whether a causal relation existed between the intervention and the child’s improved accuracy of mathematics problem-solving. Following the intervention, the autistic child showed improved accuracy across all three skills and continued to solve problems with 100% accuracy during the generalization phase, which also served as the immediate maintenance phase.

Implementation of a multi-family autism transition program in the high school setting

LAY ABSTRACT

Transitioning Together is an intervention that supports families of adolescents on the autism spectrum as they prepare for the transition to adulthood. While it has been delivered successfully and shown to result in positive outcomes for families in the university setting, questions remain about whether and how well it can be widely provided to families in real-world settings such as high schools. In this study, we analyzed predictors, facilitators, and barriers to providing Transitioning Together to families at 30 high schools across three US states, all of which received training from a team of researchers to deliver this intervention. Our findings highlight struggles and successes with real-world use of the intervention. Seventeen of the 30 schools were successful in providing Transitioning Together to families. Schools who had higher community socioeconomic status, higher quality family involvement, and higher quality transition planning programming before changing anything for this study were much more likely to provide this new intervention to families. Schools who used the intervention were mostly able to deliver it as designed and received positive feedback from families who participated. Common parts of the intervention that schools struggled with most included following the structure of the sessions, including group problem-solving and dialogue in the sessions, and collecting feedback from families. Future research is needed to learn how to make it even easier for public high schools and other service systems to provide this intervention to families, in a way that also maximizes its effectiveness and accessibility for historically underserved autism spectrum populations.

A Self-Determination Theory Approach to Work Motivation of Autistic Adults: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

The study explores work motivation of autistic adults through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Twelve autistic employees (ages 28–47; 3 females) participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews about their work experience. Analysis combined inductive and deductive approaches, identifying motivational themes emerging from the interviews, and analyzing them according to SDT concepts. Two major themes emerged: (1) work motivation factors positioned on the self-determination continuum: income and self-reliance; a daily routine; social/familial internalized norms; meaning and contribution; and job interest; and (2) satisfaction of psychological needs at work, postulated by SDT: competence, social-relatedness, and autonomy and structure. Findings are discussed in relation to current literature, and practical applications are suggested for meeting the motivational needs of autistic employees and promoting employment stability.