Employment and adults with autism spectrum disorders: Challenges and strategies for success

Dawn Hendricks

Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 2010; 32: 125-134.

Question: Do employment supports help adults with ASD maintain suitable employment?

Many adults with ASD are quite capable of holding down a good paying job. In fact, employers note that their hard work, trustworthiness and attention to detail are traits they particularly value in their employees with ASD. Unfortunately, there are obstacles to their employment related to their social and interpersonal communications problems.

Consequently, adults with ASD can suffer from the stress and unhappiness that come from underemployment. Research has shown that both quality of life and cognitive function are improved in people with ASD who are employed. It is possible that job coaching or other supports could help them attain and keep good jobs.

This is a review of employment supports for adults with ASD. The author refers to work that takes place in the community, rather than in sheltered workshops. She conducted a review of the literature to discover what employment supports lead to long-term, well-paid jobs that are in keeping with the intellectual ability, the talents, skills, and interests of adults with ASD.

The author looked at studies that she found through searches of multiple electronic databases and journals that focus on ASD. Rather than “sheltered” employment, she looked at community-based jobs and identified factors that led to better job success, that is, attaining and retaining a job.

Studies showed that

• a good job match is crucial to success. A good match is defined as one that is suitable to a person’s “intellectual and educational background and....his or her social skills and abilities.”
• To that can be added that the individual’s personal interests and talents should also be considered.
• having clearly defined tasks, good training for the job tasks that takes place onsite, an adaptable schedule, and work area that has minimal distractions is essential for sucess.
  palm computers can help teach work skills and social stories can be used to improve conversation and interactions skills.
• employers and fellow employees should be well educated about ASD to ensure understanding of certain behaviours that are common in people with ASD.
• an environmental assessment can identify problematic noise or distractions in the work area that will hinder success.
• clear schedules for task completion are very beneficial and task analysis can help create the schedules
• long-term onsite support for some workers is very important
• ensuring that the worker has adequate social supports (housing, medical/psychological care, social activities) outside of work is also important

Conclusions: Job supports that include these elements can help ensure that adults with ASD can secure and maintain good jobs in the community. Employment for people with ASD has many social and economic benefits that reach beyond the individual level. Communities benefit when there is strong employment that include reduced costs associated with social programs.