Using a strengths‐based approach to improve employment opportunities for individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

An increasing number of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are pursing postsecondary degrees; however, the employment rate for this population is unacceptably low because of the range of deficit in behavioral, communication, and social skills that are crucial for effective functioning on the job. Although individuals with ASD have wide and varied talents and giftedness, there continues to be a focus on their impairments rather than their strengths and they are subject to stigma and discrimination. To reduce employers fears and reluctance of employing individuals with ASD, appreciative inquiry is suggested as a strengths–based approach to leverage their skills and improve work outcomes of this underrepresented population.

Strategies for promoting neurodiversity and autism acceptance in higher education.

“…Individuals who have a personal relationship with an autistic person have also been found to have more positive attitudes toward autistic individuals (Gibbons et al, 2015;Nevill & White, 2011), suggesting the importance of personal connection and a well-rounded, firsthand understanding of autism. In addition, a strengths-based approach to autism understanding has been shown to improve relationships (Shochet et al, 2019) and has been indicated to improve employment outcomes for autistic adults (Johnson, 2022). In the study of positive psychology, attention has been paid to the importance of a strengthsbased focus, with more recent literature tying the idea to autism and related conditions (Niemiec et al, 2017).…”