Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) may face challenges in employment settings due to difficulties in social functioning. How effective are adult employment interventions is supporting adults with ASD to find and keep jobs?
A new Campbell systematic review did not identify any specific employment programs that support adults with ASD to find and keep jobs. The results of the two included studies assess two different programs and have low methodological quality. Therefore, they cannot be used to make reliable conclusions about the effectiveness of employment services for adults with ASD.
While there is a lack of research on the effect of employment programs for adults with ASD, there exists other types of research on such programs. Based on qualitative research and related studies, the authors discuss possible elements of successful job placement for adults with ASD. These include: identifying the most appropriate work settings, providing effective on-the-job support, long-term support services for the employer and the employee, costs for support, and positive effect of employment on persons with ASD.
Future research
The authors recommend that due to the low incidence and the diversity of the population, future research should use small samples but rigorous study designs in order to determine the effectiveness of employment programs for adults with ASD. Research should focus on critical elements of employment training for adults with ASD, such as program characteristics, social skills training, customization of employment placement, job-skill matching, financial impact of employment training and employment sustainability.
The range of spectrum for autism disorders is wide. Individuals at the higher functioning end often able to lead relatively independent lives and complete school even if demonstrating social awkwardness to those at the lower functioning end demonstrating physical limitations, lacking speech and having the inability to relate socially with others.
The research team was led by John D. Westbrook. Dr. Westbrook was Program Manager of SEDL‘s Disability Research to Practice program, based in Austin, Texas.