Employing Adults with Autism by Dr. Laura Klinger

TEACCH Autism Program Services Across the Lifespan

Employing Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Laura Grofer Klinger, Ph.D.

©TEACCH Au)sm Program

Changing Prevalence of ASD

•  When TEACCH was created in 1972, the rate of ASD was 1 in 2500.

•  2002: 1 in 150. •  2006: 1 in 110. •  2008: 1 in 88. •  8 year olds in 2002

are now 20 years old. Center for Disease Control and Preven)on (2012).


Increasing Rates of Adults with ASD

•  Based on these estimates, we will see a 78% increase in demand for adult services for individuals with ASD in the next 6 years.

•  The number of individuals with ASD using Vocational Rehabilitation services rose a dramatic 121% from 2002 to 2006 (Cimera & Cowan, 2009).

What you do for a living

Where and how you live (urban/suburban/rural)

Membership in religious/ community organizations

Friends or acquaintances

Marital status and/ or nuclear family

Whole Person View

Postsecondary Education and Employment (19-23 Year Olds)

9.3

34.7

55.1

34.9

0

20

40

60

80

100

Vocational Training

2 or 4 Year College

Paid Employment

No Activities

Per

cen

t

(NLTS2 Study; Shattuck et al., 2012)

Full-Time Employment (21-25 Year Olds)

20.9

39.7

62.8 73.3

0

20

40

60

80

100

ASD Intellectual Disability

Langugae Disorder

Learning Disability

Per

cen

t

(NLTS2 Study; Roux et al., 2013)


Young adults with ASD without an intellectual disability are three times more likely to have no daytime activities compared to adults with ASD who have an intellectual disability.

Taylor & Seltzer, 2011


ASD Challenges to Successful Employment

•  Learning Styles (Organization/Attention): –  Need specific and detailed job expectations. –  Need organized work environment to improve accuracy and

productivity.

•  Social Skills: –  Difficulties understanding the perspective or “theory of mind” of

colleagues can lead to social “faux pas” in the work or college setting.

•  Emotion Regulation: –  High anxiety can lead to poor emotion regulation. –  Sensory processing difficulties can lead to emotional outbursts.


ASD Strengths for Successful Employment

•  Visual processing. •  Focus on details. •  Ability to complete tasks with clear rules

and structure. •  Often the most committed employees.


Promising Transition Programs

•  Project Search (Riehle, 2006). – High school “internship” model. – 87.5% employed after participation (Wehman

et al., 2013). •  TEACCH School Transition to Employment

(T-STEP) – 14 week school based intervention. – Targets organization, social skills, emotion

regulation.


Updated 1-1-2012

TEACCH Supported Employment

•  Individuals Placed in Employment: 500+ •  Current Individuals Supported: 250 •  Number of Job Placements: 600+ •  Salary (hourly) $7.15-21.00+ •  Hours Worked per Week: 3 – 45 •  12 month Employment Rates: 85%


Characteristics of Successful Employment Programs

•  Match the unique strengths and interests of individuals with ASD with the job.

•  Provide supports for organization, social skills, emotion regulation.


Balancing Business & Service Delivery Needs

•  How can small businesses support the organization, social skills, emotion regulation needs of adults with ASD?

•  What is the definition of success? – Part time or full time employment? – Salary? – Life satisfaction? – Number of individuals employed or

revenue generated?


Balancing Business Practices with Non-Profit Goals

•  The question is not “how much money do we make” but instead how can we develop a sustainable business that delivers superior performance relative to our mission (Collins, 2005).