Barriers and Facilitators to Employment and Careers for Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum
Summary of Listening Sessions with Young Adults and Other Stakeholders
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Associated Project
Research Support Services for Employment of Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum
Prepared for:
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy
Key Findings
- Job searching, and finding a good work environment, can be difficult for young adults on the autism spectrum.
- Lack of access to certain supports might be a barrier for young adults on the autism spectrum becoming employed.
- Paid internships, career mentoring programs, and customized employment are proven ways to increase long-term employment.
- Every stakeholder group highlighted biases that often disadvantage people on the autism spectrum in the typical recruitment and interview process.
To begin our work on the REYAAS project, we held a series of targeted and public listening sessions with various stakeholder groups. These groups included young adults on the autism spectrum, advocates and policymakers, direct service providers, educators, employers, and researchers. We aimed to gain a greater understanding of the factors that influence the employment experience of young adults on the autism spectrum, and the implementation of related policies and programs. This report summarizes content from the listening sessions, and key findings across stakeholder groups.
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