Employment Activities and Experiences of Adults with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder

Abstract

A note on versions:The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the repository url above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.For more information, please contact eprints@nottingham.ac.uk 1 Employment activities and experiences of adults with high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder Abstract There is limited large-scale empirical research into the working lives of adults who have an autism spectrum disorder with no co-occurring intellectual disability. Drawing on data from a national survey, this report describes the employment activities and experiences of 130 adults with Asperger's Disorder (AD) and high functioning autism (HFA) in Australia. Outcome measures include current occupation; occupational skill level and alignment with educational attainment; type of job contract; hours of work; support received to find work; support received in the workplace; and positive and negative experiences of employment. The findings confirm and expand upon existing evidence that adults with AD and HFA, despite their capacity and willingness to work, face significant disadvantages in the labour market and a lack of understanding and support in employment settings.

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

“…However, these figures were among the lowest in the VR system (average weekly working hours for people in VR system ranged from 29 to 32 h, average weekly earnings ranged from $271 to $322). The results highlighted that individuals with ASD were underemployed (Baldwin et al 2014), and the situation has not been improved across the years (Bennett and Dukes 2013).…”

“…Müller et al (2003) reported that the majority of individuals with Asperger's were described as unable to complete their work, because they failed to understand working instructions. Many people with high-functioning ASD experienced employment terminations because of their deficits in social communication, such as having difficulties in reading between the lines, being unable to understand facial expressions and tones of voice, and asking too many questions (Baldwin et al 2014;Bolman 2008;Hurlbutt and Chalmers 2004;Müller et al 2003). Wing (1989) identified social immaturity and social naivety as inappropriate social behaviors which are not acceptable in adulthood.…”

“…Taylor and Seltzer (2011) reported that 24 % of the transition youth were having an anxiety disorder. Baldwin et al (2014) found that 68 % of adults with Asperger's and high-functioning ASD were having an anxiety disorder. All the participants in Hurlbutt and Chalmers' (2004) study experienced a high level of anxiety during employment, and some of them were also put on medication for anxiety.…”

“…Howlin (2003) and Howlin et al (2005) reported that achieving a college or above level of education did not necessarily lead to improved employment outcomes. Baldwin et al (2014) reported that 45 % of the adults on the spectrum were overeducated for the job they were performing.…”

A Clinic-Based Assessment for Evaluating Job-Related Social Skills in Adolescents and Adults with Autism

“…Studies on the employment difficulties of individuals with intellectual disabilities and surveys of individuals with ASD about their job experiences suggest that interpersonal skills, particularly those involving interactions with coworkers and supervisors, are critical to job success (Baldwin, Costley, & Warren, 2014;Cheney & Foss, 1984;Greenspan & Shoultz, 1981;Herbert & Ishikawa, 1991;Hurlbutt & Chalmers, 2004;Müller, Schuler, Burton, & Yates, 2003). Effective functioning on the job requires a variety of social skills, including how to respond appropriately to corrective feedback and how to ask for help when needed.…”