Comparing Perceptions of Young Adults with Autism and Their Caregivers on Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation Needs

Background:  It is estimated that 50-75% of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are unemployed (Hendricks, 2010). ASD symptomology has been found to interfere with the ability to obtain and maintain employment (Seaman & Cannella-Malone, 2016). Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs are intended to assist individuals with ASD with job searches and the acquisition of necessary skills to obtain employment. However, adults with ASD report difficulty accessing effective VR services (Lawer et al., 2009).

Objectives:  Caregivers and young adults (YA) with ASD were recruited to provide insight into accessibility and helpfulness of VR services, as well as perceived importance of specific employment factors.

Methods:  Sixty-one caregivers and their YA children (ages 18-26) with an ASD diagnosis were recruited via the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) Research Database at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and were asked to complete an online survey. Survey items covered skills necessary for employment, future plans, and goals related to employment. Frequency analyses were conducted to determine accessibility and helpfulness of specific VR programs. A paired samples t-test was used to compare YA and caregiver reports.

Results:  Both caregivers and YAs reported having access to a variety of VR services. Caregivers reported diagnostic/medical services to be the most helpful (endorsed by 14.8%), whereas YAs reported vocational evaluation and training to be the most helpful (endorsed by 11.5% each). Over 50% of the sample did not list VR services as being available or helpful.

Caregivers had significantly different perspectives than YAs regarding the perceived helpfulness of several VR services, including practice interviewing, guidance on self-disclosure, support to increase self-determination, trying out different jobs, interviewer education about ASD, practical skills related to the career field, social skills involving coworkers and strangers (p<0.05), and VR representatives having special training in ASD (p<0.01). On average, caregivers rated practicing skills related to career field as the most helpful service (M=3.73,SD=0.55), while YAs rated practice interviewing (M=3.42,SD=0.84) as the most helpful.

Caregivers also had significantly different perspectives than YAs regarding the perceived importance of specific employment factors, including enjoyment of the job, friendly work environments, advancement into long-term careers, and bosses and coworkers who understand the effects of ASD (p<0.01). On average, caregivers rated friendly working environment as the most important employment factor, (M=3.92,SD=0.33), while YAs rated enjoyment of the job (M=3.49,SD=0.92) as the most important.

Conclusions:  Findings regarding the helpfulness of specific VR services indicate that applied practice of skills would be most beneficial to individuals with ASD who are seeking employment. Findings regarding the perceived importance of employment factors indicate that ASD-friendly workspaces are crucial, as is enjoyment of the job itself. Finally, with over one half of the sample neglecting to report access to effective VR services, it is important for future research to focus on improving access to helpful services.