Matching Vocational Aptitude and Employment Choice for Adolescents and Adults with ASD

As individuals age out of the public school system, they encounter what is colloquially referred to as the "services cliff." Although supports and services are readily available during school-age years, the lack of available resources for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is striking. Although schools are charged with preparing students for life after graduation, individuals with ASD are often woefully unprepared for integration into the workforce. Employment rates for adults with autism are lower than those reported for any other population of adults with disabilities (Burke, Andersen, Bowen, Howard, & Allen, 2010; Bush & Tassé, 2017; Newman, Wagner, Cameto, Knokey, & Shaver, 2010). In the present investigation, a skill-based vocational assessment was developed and implemented with 6 individuals diagnosed with ASD. The results of the assessment were used to design matched and unmatched jobs to determine if performance varied as a function of the assessment's results. The assessment resulted in varied job profiles across the participants. All the participants performed better (i.e., more on-task, less disruptive behavior) while completing jobs matched to their assessment results. In addition, when participants were allowed to choose between matched and unmatched jobs, they consistently chose to complete jobs that matched their profile results. Results from the current investigation suggest that a brief, skill-based vocational assessment may be a viable tool for improving employment outcomes for adolescents and adults with ASD.