Soft skills for success for job seekers with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Direct Skills Teaching (DST) is a method for distilling a skill into digestible components for ease of teaching and learning of a new skill. Job retention is a complex phenomenon requiring numerous social competencies that include verbal and non-verbal fluency among others. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often struggle with social communication and therefore are at a disadvantage in employment settings; even when otherwise qualified for the position. OBJECTIVE: This preliminary pilot study tested the feasibility of a DST group intervention to assist individuals with ASD with work-related soft skills, with a particular focus on informal conversational skills. METHODS: Eight master’s level Rehabilitation Counseling students facilitated groups of adults with autism spectrum disorder seeking employment. Student facilitators followed the Conversing with Others manualized curriculum, designed to teach workplace based informal conversational soft skills. Participant feedback was sought both pre and post intervention, and student facilitators recorded their observations of each group session. RESULTS: The initial findings support the feasibility of soft-skills training for work-related conversational skills teaching for job seekers with ASD. The results also supported the need for significant adjustments to the intervention as well as any future studies of the small group intervention Conversing with Others. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace conversational skills can be facilitated in a small group setting. Master’s level counselors-in-training, were able to follow a manualized DST soft-skills small group.

Conversational skills at work: Teaching small talk via telehealth to individuals with disabilities

“…Conversing with Others Knowledge Questionnaire This 20-item (revised from a 10-item version utilized in Herrick et al, 2022) self-report scale , used a 5-point Likert scale ("strongly disagree" to "strongly agree") to elicit participants' perceptions of their conversational skills and was administered pre-and post-group. Sample questions included: "My co-workers are usually interested in the same things I am interested in," and, "Part of having a good conversation is being a good listener" (Table 2).…”

Utilizing Neurodiverse Workplace Strategies to Support the Growing Population of Long COVID Cases in a Neuro inclusive Workplace: A Paradigm Shift for Neuro acquired Employees

“…It is also crucial to give highly specific instructions and avoid assuming that something may be obvious, especially during socially oriented tasks, and to limit abstract or ambiguous terms. Providing specific deadlines and accurate time phrases is also necessary to ensure success (Herrick et al, 2022). In addition, attention switching can take time for Neuro diverse individuals, but providing context for the work requested via a supervisor or colleague can facilitate this process.…”

Neurodiversity and Inclusivity in the Workplace: Biopsychosocial Interventions for Promoting Competitive Advantage

“…Interestingly, while there has been speculation on the natural abilities of those with ASD for programming, coding, robotics, and other quantitative, or "hard skills," as noted, studies have found that those with autism often have valuable "soft" or transferable skills. (Herrick et al 2022). Such transferable skills include an innate lack of bias, highly developed pattern recognition and identification, systematic analysis, blunt communication style, attention to detail, and/or the ability to remain focused for prolonged periods.…”

“…As well, avoid vague time sequences and nonconcrete statements, such as "we'll talk about this later" or "no rush, whenever you can get to it." Providing specific deadlines and accurate time phrases is essential (Herrick et al 2022). Often it takes time to switch attention from the task being worked on to a new topic of discussion, but this can be facilitated by providing context for the work being requested via the supervisor or colleague.…”