Transition to adulthood in individuals with ASD: What does the employment look like?

Abstract

Employment is a crucial step in achieving independence and independent living for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during the transition to adulthood. However, there is limited information about perspective of stakeholders including youth on the spectrum with respect to employment. Thus, we aimed to explore stakeholders’ experiences about employment of youth with ASD. We interviewed 23 stakeholders, including 4 youths with ASD, 16 parents of individuals with ASD, and 3 service providers who worked with individuals with ASD. Using thematic analysis, three themes emerged including: (a) functional skills and apprenticeships, (b) accommodations to maintain the job, and (c) advocating for opportunities and taking initiatives. Our findings suggest that in addition to functional challenges that youth with ASD may face within the workplace, a lack of community understanding towards their needs resulted in an exacerbation of the challenges. However, advocating for opportunities and taking initiatives have been considered to help obtain employment. This study consolidates employment experiences among youth with ASD and suggests that the difficulty achieving positive employment outcomes is multi-dimensional due to the effects of disability, workplace, and institutional regulations. This study can inform the development of programs to support employment of individuals with ASD.

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