Date Presented 4/1/2017
Although participation in employment experiences in the community is a rite of passage to adulthood, less than 20% of transition-age youth with autism are employed. This study describes employment perceptions as barriers and supports to inform development of effective employment programs.
Primary Author and Speaker: Lisa Crabtree
Additional Authors and Speakers: Barbara Demchick
PURPOSE: Participation in employment experiences in the community is a rite of passage to adulthood. A majority of transition-age individuals with autism identified goals to obtain gainful employment, although fewer than 20% were able to obtain employment after exiting the educational system (Wehman et al., 2014). Furthermore, those who are employed are typically underemployed, and they face higher rates of poverty, obliging many to be financially dependent on their families (Lindstrom, Kahn, & Lindsey, 2013). Barriers to employment participation have not been fully explored, and it is unclear how perceptions of individuals with autism may contribute to poor employment outcomes. The purpose of this study is to identify these perspectives using the research question, What are the perceptions of young adults with autism regarding employment?
DESIGN AND METHOD: This study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design using a survey of adults with autism to identify patterns of perceptions, followed up with focus groups and interviews to explain identified patterns. The researchers used a recently piloted and revised instrument based on items from the Career Maturity Inventory (Crites & Savikas, 2011) to survey 48 individuals with autism ages 16–28, followed by interviews and focus groups with 18 young adults with autism. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to identify patterns of perceptions regarding employment, comparing those with and without employment experiences. Qualitative coding and thematic development with constant comparative methods were used to analyze transcribed interviews.
RESULTS: Survey results indicated that 27 youths with employment experience (EE) identified positive perceptions of employment, but 56% of those in this group identified difficulties in the workplace. Twenty without employment experience (WE) indicated perceptions of worry about employment and lack of knowledge about employment constructs, although they indicated a desire to pursue employment opportunities. Themes from qualitative analysis of interviews with individuals from both groups (EE and WE) identified motivating factors of money and participation, as well as challenges of sustainability, social interactions, and transportation. Through comparative analysis of both data sets, two consistent patterns that restricted the employment opportunities for transitioning youth with autism were identified: (1) lack of knowledge and (2) limited experiences. Youths in this study had limited knowledge of the constructs of employment, including knowledge of what entailed full-time employment. At the same time, they described very limited employment experiences.
CONCLUSION: With significant increases in both the number of youths with autism entering adulthood and the rising cost of vocational services, it is important to ensure that program supports lead to positive outcomes for both individuals with autism and society at large (Burgess & Cimera, 2014). Preliminary results of this study identify two key aspects of programming to support better employment outcomes. By providing explicit knowledge and practical experiences related to meaningful employment opportunities for youth with autism, occupational therapists can contribute more effectively to employment programs for transition-age youth.
References
Burgess, S., & Cimera, R. E. (2014). Employment outcomes of transition aged adults with autism spectrum disorders: A state of the states report. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 119, 64–83. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-119.1.64
Crites, J. O. & Savickas, M. L. (2011). Career Maturity Inventory–Form C. Retrieved from http://vocopher.com/ms/cmic/CMI_C_Master.pdf
Lindstrom, L., Kahn, L. G., & Lindsey, H. (2013). Navigating the early career years: Barriers and strategies for young adults with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-130637
Wehman, P. H., Schall, C. M., McDonough, J., Kregel, J., Brooke, V., Molinelli, A., . . . & Thiss, W. (2014). Competitive employment for youth with autism spectrum disorders: Early results from a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 487–500. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1892-x
