Competitive Employment for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Early Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

For most youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), employment upon graduation from high school or college is elusive. Employment rates are reported in many studies to be very low despite many years of intensive special education services. This paper presented the preliminary results of a randomized clinical trial of Project SEARCH plus ASD Supports on the employment outcomes for youth with ASD between the ages of 18-21 years of age. This model provides very promising results in that the employment outcomes for youth in the treatment group were much higher in non-traditional jobs with higher than minimum wage incomes than for youth in the control condition. Specifically, 21 out of 24 (87.5 %) treatment group participants acquired employment while 1 of 16 (6.25 %) of control group participants acquired employment.

Trends in Employment for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Review of the Research Literature

“…Other relevant behaviors, such as yelling, tantrums, poor attention to task, hyperactivity, uncooperative behaviors, obsessive behaviors, aggression, and property destruction, as well as self-injured behaviors, are extremely problematic and concerning in the workplace (Burt et al 1991;Capo 2001;Howlin et al 2005;Kobayashi et al 1992;Patterson and Rafferty 2001;Shattuck et al 2007). Studies have demonstrated that people who exhibit more challenging behaviors have less opportunity for employment (Eaves and Ho 2008;Howlin et al 2005;Keel et al 1997;Rumsey et al 1985;Taylor and Seltzer 2011;Wehman et al 2013). When compared to job-task-related problems, behavior problems were more unacceptable by employers and coworkers, which may immediately lead to termination of employment (Hendricks 2010;McClannahan et al 2002).…”

“…The employer provides internship sites for the individuals with ASD. The co-workers attend intensive staff training in ASD (Wehman et al 2013). The authors highlighted multidisciplinary collaboration as one of the key features for overall success (Wehman et al , 2013(Wehman et al , 2014.…”

Entrepreneurship as a means to Employment First: How can it work?

“…Through customized employment, and despite ongoing challenges, an increasing number of people with disabilities have achieved integrated competitive employment including those with autism and behavioral/mental health challenges (Burgess & Cimera, 2014;Hall, Butterworth, Winsor, Gilmore, & Metzel, 2007;Hendricks, 2010;McDonough & Revell, 2010;Rogers, Lavin, Ran, Gantenbein, & Sharpe, 2008;Wehman et al, 2014;Wehman et al, 2016). Nonetheless, some people with disabilities still remain un-or underemployed because of the lack of job openings for which they are well-suited.…”

The Facilitators, Obstacles and Needs of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Conditions Accessing Further and Higher Education: A Systematic Review

“…In addition to this, it appears essential to provide this group of students with social skills training through strategies such as role play with peers and behavioural practice (Wehman et al, 2014). The teaching of social skills could be implemented prior to students' enrolment in further and higher education settings.…”