Two-Year Evaluation of a Vocational Support Program for Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Abstract

A utism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impaired social interaction, a restricted repertoire of activities and interests, and impaired communication (except for relatively normal language use by individuals with Asperger syndrome; American Psychiatric Association, 1995). Several studies have demonstrated progression of skills among children with autism following early intervention, including language gains, improved social interaction, and significant IQ gains (Rogers, 1996). Whereas early intervention therapy results in a significant improvement in the functioning of individuals with ASD, relatively few interventions and research programs have focused on adolescents and adults. Few established therapeutic interventions exist for young adults on the autism spectrum, and there is a significant lack of service provision and multidisciplinary support (Moxon & Gates, 2001). This paucity of vocational services is likely to become an increasing problem as more individuals benefit from early intervention therapy and are mainstreamed into inclusive environments. The incidence of ASD is rising, with one recent study showing a 373% increase in the

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

“…Mawhood and Howlin (1999) emphasized a close liaison between VR service providers and employers which would allow for exploring possible job opportunities and matching the skills and abilities of the employee with a suitable job. Hillier et al (2007a) indicated that higher parental involvement and family support could lead to better employment outcomes for individuals with ASD. Self-determination as well as autonomy of individuals on the spectrum are also important in the collaboration (Carter et al 2012;Test et al 2014).…”

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

“…They may include understanding complex job application materials; 'thinking on their feet' in an interview; acclimatising to new procedures and routines; remembering and following instructions; responding flexibly to unexpected situations; planning and juggling multiple tasks; communicating effectively with co-workers; interacting socially; and managing sensory sensitivities in the workplace (Beardon & Edmonds 2007;Hillier et al 2007;Stuart-Hamilton et al 2009;Robertson 2010). Stankova and Trajkovski (2010) note that these generalised deficits mean some types of work are likely to be unsuitable for the majority of adults with ASD.…”

“…In addition to their specific job skills, there is a popular view, borne out to some extent by empirical data, that adults with ASD exhibit many exemplary characteristics as employees, such as honesty, efficiency, precision, consistency, low absenteeism, and a disinterest in 'office politics' (Müller et al 2003;Hagner & Cooney 2005;Hillier et al 2007). …”

Review on Vocational Training and Employment of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…The six active agencies (TEACCH, PCDI, Groden Network, Cove Center, Prospects and Autism Center for Excellence at Virginia Commonwealth) in this field that support adults with ASD so that they can enter the open labor market, have achieved significant progress in the employment sector. Firstly, their programs provide, to a sufficient extent, the services a vocational support program should offer, as reported in the research papers by Hillier et al (2007) and Wehman et al (2016).…”

“…Furthermore, a specialized supported employment program needs to provide the following services and forms of help to interested individuals with ASD: counseling; educational support and guidance; help with overcoming difficulties, such as communication problems with colleagues and employers; helping individuals to comply with social rules and to work independently; ensuring the individual remains in a post for at least six months, giving top priority to the individual's personal job satisfaction, and finally, providing counseling services to the members of services employing adults with ASD (Hillier, Campbell, Mastriani, Izzo, Kool-Tucker, Cherry, & Beversdorf, 2007).…”