Employment Outcomes of Transition-Aged Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A State of the States Report

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the employment outcomes of transition-aged adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) served by vocational rehabilitation services (VR) over the last 10 years by state. A secondary purpose was to compare employment outcomes of individuals with ASD to those of the overall transition-aged population served by VR for the same time period. Although there was variability both within and among states, the results of this study indicate that, over time, the number of young adults with ASD seeking VR services has increased; however, employment outcomes including the percent of adults with ASD achieving employment, the number of hours worked, and wages earned have not improved for this group. The cost to provide VR services to transition-aged adults with ASD was relatively stable over time. Transition-aged adults with ASD were more likely to become successfully employed as a result of receiving VR services than the overall population of transition-aged adults served by VR. However, the employed transition-aged adults consistently worked fewer hours and earned lower wages than those in the overall population. Factors that may influence variability within and among states, and between groups, and implications for research and practice are discussed.

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

“…Burgess and Cimera (2014) reported that the hours worked per week by young adults with ASD were fairly stable, ranging from 22 to 26 h, and their mean weekly wage over the past decade ranged from $175 to $216. 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).…”

“…Although the VR system has a long history of serving people with physical disabilities, it has not been prepared for meeting the needs of emerging service seekers with ASD (Burgess and Cimera 2014;Howlin 2013;Taylor and Seltzer 2011;Wehman et al 2014). A rapidly increasing number of transition youth and adults with ASD have started seeking services from the VR system in recent years (Cimera and Cowan 2009;Migliore et al 2014).…”

The Effects of Two Video Modeling Interventions on the Independent Living Skills of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability

“…As young children with ASD and ID age, there will undoubtedly be an increase in young adults in need of support when they no longer qualify for services under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Burgess & Cimera, 2014). Some estimate an increase of 230% in the number students with ASD making the transition to adulthood over the next eight years .…”

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.…”