Employment Outcomes for Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Main Article Content
Keywords
autism, employment supports, adulthood
Abstract
This study investigated employment outcomes among young adults on the autism spectrum. Questionnaire responses indicated high job satisfaction and job retention. However, the majority were in low paid, part-time positions. Most found their job through a personal contact, and received a range of informal supports and accommodations on the job.
References
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American Psychiatric Association (2013). DSM-V Autism Spectrum Disorder Factsheet. Retrieved February 1, 2013, from http://www.psychiatry.org/practice/dsm/dsm5
Baker, D.L., & Drapela, L.A. (2010). Mostly the mother: Concentration of adverse employment effects on mothers of children with autism. The Social Science Journal, 47, 578–592
Baldwin, M. L., & Johnson, W. G. (1994). Labor market discrimination against men with disabilities. Journal of Human Resources, 29, 1-19.
Baldwin, M. L., & Johnson, W. G. (1995). Labor market discrimination against women with disabilities. Industrial Relations, 34(4), 555-577.
Billstedt, E., Gillberg, C., & Gillberg, C. (2005). Autism after adolescence: Population-based 13-to 22-year follow-up study of 120 individuals with autism diagnosed in childhood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35, 351–360.
Carter, E.W., Austin, D., & Trainor, A.A. (2012). Predictors of postschool employment outcomes for young adults with severe disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 23, 50-63.
DeLeire, T. (2000). The wage and employment effects of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Journal of Human Resources, 35(4), 693-715.
Eskow, K., Pineles, L., & Summers, J. (2011). Exploring the effect of autism waiver services on family outcomes. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 8, 28–35.
Flatau, P., Galea, J., & Petridis, R. (2000). Mental health and wellbeing and unemployment. The Australian Economic Review, 33, 161-181.
Ganz, M.L. (2007). The lifetime distribution of the incremental societal costs of autism. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 161, 343-349.
Garcia-Villamisar, D., Wehman, P., & Navarro, M.D. (2002). Changes in the quality of autistic people’s life that work in supported and sheltered employment. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 17, 309-312.
Graetz, J.E. (2010). Autism grows up: Opportunities for adults with autism. Disability & Society, 25, 33–47.
Hetherington, S.A., Durant-Jones, L., Johnson, K., Nolan, K., Smith, E., Taylor-Brown, S., & Smith, E. (2010). The lived experiences of adolescents with disabilities and their parents in transition planning. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 25, 163-172.
Hillier, A., Campbell, H., Mastriani, K., Izzo, M. V., Kool-Tucker, A., Cherry, L., & Beversdorf, D.Q. (2007). Two-year evaluation of a vocational support program for adults on the autism spectrum. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 30, 35-47.
Howlin, P., Goode, S., Hutton, J., & Rutter, M. (2004). Adult outcome for children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 45, 212–229.
Hurlbutt, K., & Chalmers, L. (2004). Employment and adults with Asperger Syndrome. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 19, 215-222.
Jarbrink, K., McCrone, P., Fombonne, E., Zanden, H., & Knapp, M. (2007). Cost-impact of young adults with high-functioning autistic spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 28, 94-104.
Keel, J.H.,Mesibov, G. B., & Woods, A. (1997). TEACCH-supported employment program. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 3–9.
Kidd, M. P., Sloane, P. J., & Ferko, I. (2000). Disability and the labour market: An analysis of British males. Journal of Health Economics, 19(6), 961-981.
Levy, A., & Perry, A. (2011). Outcomes in adolescents and adults with autism: A review of the literature. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 1271-1282.
Migliore, A., Timmons, J., Butterworth, J. & Lugas, J. (2012). Predictors of employment and post-secondary education of youth with autism. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 55, 176-184.
Mottron, L. (2011). Changing perceptions: The power of autism. Nature, 479(7371), 33-35.
Muller, E., Schuler, A., Burton, B., & Yates, G. (2003). Meeting the vocational support needs of individuals with Asperger syndrome and other autism spectrum disabilities. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 18, 163–175.
National Organization on Disability, N.O.D./Harris 2004 Survey of Americans with Disabilities, Louis Harris & Associates, Washington, DC, 2004.
National Organization on Disability, N.O.D./Harris 2010 Survey of Americans with Disabilities, Louis Harris & Associates, Washington, DC, 2010.
Randolph, D., & Andresen, E. M. (2004). Disability, gender & unemployment relationships in the United States from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system. Disability & Society, 19(4), 403-414.
Remington, A.M., Swettenham, J.G., & Lavie, N. (2012). Lightening the load: Perceptual load impairs visual detection in typical adults but not in autism. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/a0027670.
Shriner, K., (2001). A disability studies perspective on employment issues and policies for disabled people: An international view. In G.L. Albrecht, K.D. Seelman, & M. Bury (Eds). Handbook of Disability Studies (pp.642-662). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.
Smith-Randolph, D., & Andresen, E.M. (2004). Disability, gender and unemployment relationships in the United States from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system. Disability & Society, 19, 403-413.
Taylor, J.L., & Seltzer, M.M. (2011). Employment and post-secondary educational activities for young adults with autism spectrum disorders during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 566-574.
VanBergeijk, E., Klin, A., & Volkmar, F. (2008). Supporting more able students on the autism spectrum: College and beyond. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 1359-1370.
American Psychiatric Association (2013). DSM-V Autism Spectrum Disorder Factsheet. Retrieved February 1, 2013, from http://www.psychiatry.org/practice/dsm/dsm5
Baker, D.L., & Drapela, L.A. (2010). Mostly the mother: Concentration of adverse employment effects on mothers of children with autism. The Social Science Journal, 47, 578–592
Baldwin, M. L., & Johnson, W. G. (1994). Labor market discrimination against men with disabilities. Journal of Human Resources, 29, 1-19.
Baldwin, M. L., & Johnson, W. G. (1995). Labor market discrimination against women with disabilities. Industrial Relations, 34(4), 555-577.
Billstedt, E., Gillberg, C., & Gillberg, C. (2005). Autism after adolescence: Population-based 13-to 22-year follow-up study of 120 individuals with autism diagnosed in childhood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35, 351–360.
Carter, E.W., Austin, D., & Trainor, A.A. (2012). Predictors of postschool employment outcomes for young adults with severe disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 23, 50-63.
DeLeire, T. (2000). The wage and employment effects of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Journal of Human Resources, 35(4), 693-715.
Eskow, K., Pineles, L., & Summers, J. (2011). Exploring the effect of autism waiver services on family outcomes. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 8, 28–35.
Flatau, P., Galea, J., & Petridis, R. (2000). Mental health and wellbeing and unemployment. The Australian Economic Review, 33, 161-181.
Ganz, M.L. (2007). The lifetime distribution of the incremental societal costs of autism. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 161, 343-349.
Garcia-Villamisar, D., Wehman, P., & Navarro, M.D. (2002). Changes in the quality of autistic people’s life that work in supported and sheltered employment. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 17, 309-312.
Graetz, J.E. (2010). Autism grows up: Opportunities for adults with autism. Disability & Society, 25, 33–47.
Hetherington, S.A., Durant-Jones, L., Johnson, K., Nolan, K., Smith, E., Taylor-Brown, S., & Smith, E. (2010). The lived experiences of adolescents with disabilities and their parents in transition planning. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 25, 163-172.
Hillier, A., Campbell, H., Mastriani, K., Izzo, M. V., Kool-Tucker, A., Cherry, L., & Beversdorf, D.Q. (2007). Two-year evaluation of a vocational support program for adults on the autism spectrum. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 30, 35-47.
Howlin, P., Goode, S., Hutton, J., & Rutter, M. (2004). Adult outcome for children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 45, 212–229.
Hurlbutt, K., & Chalmers, L. (2004). Employment and adults with Asperger Syndrome. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 19, 215-222.
Jarbrink, K., McCrone, P., Fombonne, E., Zanden, H., & Knapp, M. (2007). Cost-impact of young adults with high-functioning autistic spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 28, 94-104.
Keel, J.H.,Mesibov, G. B., & Woods, A. (1997). TEACCH-supported employment program. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 3–9.
Kidd, M. P., Sloane, P. J., & Ferko, I. (2000). Disability and the labour market: An analysis of British males. Journal of Health Economics, 19(6), 961-981.
Levy, A., & Perry, A. (2011). Outcomes in adolescents and adults with autism: A review of the literature. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 1271-1282.
Migliore, A., Timmons, J., Butterworth, J. & Lugas, J. (2012). Predictors of employment and post-secondary education of youth with autism. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 55, 176-184.
Mottron, L. (2011). Changing perceptions: The power of autism. Nature, 479(7371), 33-35.
Muller, E., Schuler, A., Burton, B., & Yates, G. (2003). Meeting the vocational support needs of individuals with Asperger syndrome and other autism spectrum disabilities. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 18, 163–175.
National Organization on Disability, N.O.D./Harris 2004 Survey of Americans with Disabilities, Louis Harris & Associates, Washington, DC, 2004.
National Organization on Disability, N.O.D./Harris 2010 Survey of Americans with Disabilities, Louis Harris & Associates, Washington, DC, 2010.
Randolph, D., & Andresen, E. M. (2004). Disability, gender & unemployment relationships in the United States from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system. Disability & Society, 19(4), 403-414.
Remington, A.M., Swettenham, J.G., & Lavie, N. (2012). Lightening the load: Perceptual load impairs visual detection in typical adults but not in autism. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/a0027670.
Shriner, K., (2001). A disability studies perspective on employment issues and policies for disabled people: An international view. In G.L. Albrecht, K.D. Seelman, & M. Bury (Eds). Handbook of Disability Studies (pp.642-662). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.
Smith-Randolph, D., & Andresen, E.M. (2004). Disability, gender and unemployment relationships in the United States from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system. Disability & Society, 19, 403-413.
Taylor, J.L., & Seltzer, M.M. (2011). Employment and post-secondary educational activities for young adults with autism spectrum disorders during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 566-574.
VanBergeijk, E., Klin, A., & Volkmar, F. (2008). Supporting more able students on the autism spectrum: College and beyond. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 1359-1370.
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Published
Aug 18, 2014
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Research Articles and Essays
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Author Biographies
Ashleigh Hillier, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Ashleigh Hillier, PhD is an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Her research interests include implementing and evaluating social and vocational skills interventions among adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.
Monica Galizzi, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Monica Galizzi, PhD is a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Her field of specialization is labor economics. She also has interests in the area of health economics, economics of disabilities, and behavioral economics.