Employment Outcomes of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Effects of Work Readiness and Executive Functioning Skills

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in the United States. Individuals diagnosed with ASD are not receiving adequate supports in the process of securing and maintaining employment. Research regarding the adult stage of life for those on the autism spectrum is limited compared to the research examining the childhood stage of life. Two in-person factors likely to directly impact employment rates in individuals with ASD are work readiness and executive functioning. The purpose of this study is to examine associations between vocational outcomes among young adults with ASD and work readiness and executive functioning skills. 400 young adults between ages 18-39 with ASD completed a battery of questionnaires utilizing a secure online data collection system. Six different analyses of covariances were run to determine associations between vocational outcomes and work readiness and executive functioning skills. Our results showed that adults with autism who have better vocational outcomes have greater work readiness skills and worse vocational outcomes were associated with poorer executive functioning skills. This data can be used to further hone both work readiness and executive functioning skills earlier in the lives of individuals with ASD. Opening the doors to more vocational opportunities will lead to a greater quality of life and sense of self-empowerment in this population.

Author

• Jayaram, Sanjana

Language

• en

Keyword

• Employment Opportunities
• Autism

Date created

• 2021

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Speech-Language Pathology

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Wallace, Gregory

Committee Member(s)

• Bamdad, Michael J
• Barrett, Laura

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/kh04dq48r