Evaluating the Effectiveness of Project Search to Support Employment for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience chronically low rates of post-school employment significantly below those for youth with other developmental disabilities. Roux et al. (2013) reported that 46% of youth with ASD between 21-25 years of age had never been employed and only one-third were currently employed. Thus, it is imperative to identify programs that support transition-aged youth with ASD to obtain competitive employment. 

Project SEARCH is a widely used model of high school transition designed to improve employment outcomes for youth with developmental disabilities (DDs) in their last year of school (Rutkowski et al. 2006). Over the course of the year, youth rotate through three internships that allow them to experience workplace immersion and learn marketable job skills. In an onsite classroom, they learn employability skills such as appropriate workplace conduct. The goal is competitive employment with high rates of success reported. Little research has examined Project SEARCH’s effectiveness for individuals with ASD.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare employment outcomes of young adults with ASD to young adults with other DDs who completed Project SEARCH. This study represented a large, community-based intervention across multiple intervention teams and sites. 

Methods: Data were collected across 175 school system intervention sites located across the US and the UK during 2009-2013. All sites received training and support delivering the intervention from Project SEARCH. A database was created to measure Project SEARCH effectiveness including whether each student was employed, where they were employed, hourly wage, and hours/week worked.  Data were collected from 4275 individuals (3467 did not have ASD but had other DDs; 808 had ASD). 

Results: Gender and presence of multiple disabilities were included as covariates in logistic regression analyses of diagnosis (ASD vs. Non-ASD) because the diagnostic groups significantly differed from one another on these factors and these factors were related to employment outcomes.  The effect of ASD on whether individuals were employed at the end of Project SEARCH was examined.  ASD diagnosis significantly affected employment (p=.001) with those with ASD being less likely to be employed than those without ASD (53% versus 61%).  Additionally, hours worked per week and hourly wages were examined for those employed using ANOVA.  ASD diagnosis significantly affected hours worked [p=.02; marginal means: ASD=22.6 hours/week, non-ASD=24.5 hours/week].  However, ASD diagnosis did not affect hourly wages [ASD=$9.20/hour, non-ASD=$9.15].

Conclusions: Roux et al. (2013) reported that 33% of individuals with ASD 1-4 years post high school were currently employed and those employed earned an average $8.10/hour.  The rates observed here were considerably higher (53% individuals with ASD currently employed at an average of $9.20/hour).  However, those with ASD were less successful at obtaining employment and worked fewer hours than individuals with other DDs.  This study represents one of the largest examinations of adult ASD employment interventions and shows that while Project SEARCH is effective for individuals with ASD, it is less successful than for other DD populations. Possible ASD specific modifications to Project SEARCH to increase its efficacy will be discussed.