Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders pp 105–119Cite as

Employment and Related Services for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

The past decade has seen a general consensus regarding an increase in the prevalence of autism and related disorders (ASD) and, subsequently, steadily growing numbers of adolescent and young adults on the autism spectrum. With this increase has come an increased demand for appropriate services for adults with ASD in the post-school years. Unfortunately the employment, day, community, and residential needs of these individuals continue to far exceed the available resources leaving a generation of individuals with autism and their families in a programmatic, financial, and personal limbo (e.g., Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 50:441–451, 2012; American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 117:478–496, 2012).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bond, G. R. (2004). Supported employment: Evidence for an evidence-based practice. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 27, 345–359.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butler, R. C., & Gillis, J. M. (2011). The impact of labels and behaviors on the stigmatization of adults with Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(6), 741–749.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butterworth, J., Hall, A. C., Smith, F. A., Migliore, A., Winsor, J., Timmons, J. C., et al. (2011). StateData: The national report on employment services and outcomes. Boston: Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Certo, N. J., Mautz, D., Pumpain, I., Sax, K., Smalley, H. A., Wade, D., et al. (2003). A review and discussion of a model for seamless transition to adulthood. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 38, 3–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cimera, R. (2008). The cost-trends of supported employment versus sheltered employment. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 28, 15–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cimera, R., & Cowan, R. J. (2009). The costs of services and employment outcomes achieved by adults with autism in the U.S. Autism, 13, 285–302.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Edwards, A. B., Green, A., Diwan, S. L., & Penn, D. L. (2001). Prejudice, social distance, and familiarity with mental illness. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 27, 219–225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P., & O’Shaughnessy, J. (2007). Changing mental illness stigma as it exists in the real world. Australian Psychologist, 42, 90–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Day habilitation, (n.d.). In Taxonomy of human service. Retrieved from http://www.211taxonomy.org/

  • Department of Health and Human Services. (1994). The supply of direct service professionals serving individuals with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities. Report to Congress (2004). Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from http://www.ancor.org/issues/shortage/aspe_dsp_11-09-04.doc

  • Eikeseth, S. (2009). Outcome of comprehensive psycho-educational interventions for young children with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 158–178.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ganz, M. L. (2007). The lifetime distribution of the incremental societal costs of autism. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 161(4), 343–349.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Villamisar, D., & Hughes, C. (2007). Supported employment improves cognitive performance in adults with autism. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51, 142–150.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Villamisar, D., Wehman, P., & Diaz Navarro, M. (2002). Changes in the quality of autistic people’s life that work in supported and sheltered employment. A 5-year follow-up study. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 17, 309–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerhardt, P. F., & Holmes, D. L. (2005). Employment: Options and issues for adolescents and adults with autism. In F. Volkmar, R. Paul, A. Klin, & D. Cohen (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (3rd ed., pp. 1087–1101). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerhardt, P. F., & Lanier, I. (2011). Addressing the needs of adolescents and adults with autism: A crisis on the horizon. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 41, 37–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, G. (2011). Early intensive behavior analytic intervention for autism spectrum disorders. In E. A. Mayville & J. A. Mulick (Eds.), Behavioral foundations of effective autism treatment (pp. 183–199). Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY: Sloan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagner, D., & Cooney, B. F. (2005). “I do that for everybody”: Supervising employees with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 20, 91–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handleman, J. S., & Harris, S. L. (2006). School-age education programs for children with autism: The in-between years. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendricks, D. R., & Wehman, P. (2009). Transition from school to adulthood for youth with autism spectrum disorders: Review and recommendations. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 24(2), 77–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, A., & Larson, S. A. (2007). The direct support workforce in community supports to individuals with developmental disabilities: Issues, implications, and promising practices. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 13, 178–187.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hillier, A., Campbell, H., Mastriana, K., Izzo, M., Kool-Tucker, A., Cherry, L., et al. (2007). Two-year evaluation of a vocational support program for adults on the autism spectrum. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 30, 35–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howlin, P., Alcock, J., & Burkin, C. (2005). An 8 year follow-up of a specialist supported employment service for high-ability adults with autism or Asperger syndrome. Autism, 9, 533–549.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, S. A., Hewitt, A., & Anderson, L. (1999). Staff recruitment challenges and interventions in agencies supporting people with developmental disabilities. Mental Retardation, 37, 36–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, S. A., Hewitt, A. S., & Knobloch, B. (2005). Recruitment, retention and training challenges in community human services. In S. A. Larson & A. S. Hewitt (Eds.), Staff recruitment, retention and training strategies for community human services organizations (pp. 1–20). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lattimore, L. P., Parsons, M. B., & Reid, D. H. (2008). Simulation training of community job skills for adults with autism: A further analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1, 24–29.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lawler, L., Brusilovskiy, E., Salzer, M. S., & Mandell, D. S. (2009). Use of vocational rehabilitative services among adults with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 487–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luecking, R. (2008). Emerging employer views of people with disabilities and the future of job development. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 29, 3–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luecking, R. G. (2011). Connecting employers with people who have intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 49, 261–273.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mawhood, L., & Howlin, P. (1999). The outcome of a supported employment scheme for high-functioning adults with autism or Asperger syndrome. Autism, 3, 229–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan, L. E., MacDuff, G. S., & Krantz, P. J. (1999). Behavior analysis and intervention for adults with autism. Behavior Modification, 26, 9–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonough, J. T., & Revell, G. (2010). Accessing employment supports in the adult system for transitioning youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 32, 89–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, R., & Alexander, M. (2005). The employer’s perception: Employment of individuals with developmental disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 23, 39–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parish, S. L., Thomas, K. C., Rose, R., Kilany, M., & Shattuck, P. (2012). State Medicaid spending and financial burden on families raising children with autism. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 50, 441–451.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, E. A., & Berkman, K. A. (2012). Into the unknown: Aging with autism spectrum disorders. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 117, 478–496.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, D. H., Parsons, M. B., & Green, C. W. (1989). Staff management in human services: Behavioral research and application. Springfield, IL: Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid, D. H., Parsons, M. B., Lattimore, L. P., Towery, D. L., & Reade, K. K. (2005). Improving staff performance through clinician application of outcome management. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 26, 101–116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ridgeway, P., & Rapp, C. (1998). The active ingredients in achieving competitive employment for people with psychiatric disabilities: A research synthesis. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogan, P., & Rinne, S. (2011). National call for organizational change from sheltered to integrated employment. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 49(4), 248–260.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schaller, J., & Yang, N. K. (2005). Competitive employment for people with autism: Correlates of successful closure in competitive and supported employment. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 49, 4–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheid, T. L. (2005). Stigma as a barrier to employment: Mental disability and the Americans with Disabilities Act. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 28, 670–690.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheltered employment, (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster online. Retrieved from http://meriam-webster.com

  • Unger, D. (2002). Employers’ attitudes towards people with disabilities in the workforce: Myths or realities? Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 17, 2–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unger, D. D., Parent, W., Gibson, K., Kane-Johnston, K., & Kregel, J. (1998). An analysis of the activities of employment specialists in a natural support approach to supported employment. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 13, 27–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehman, P., Inge, K. J., Revell, W. G., & Brooke, V. A. (2007). Real work for real pay: Inclusive employment for people with disabilities. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, S., Corrigan, P., Ditchman, N., & Sokol, K. (2012). Stigma and intellectual disability: A review of related measures and future directions. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 43, 738–765.

    Google Scholar 

  • West, M. D., Kregel, J., Hernandez, A., & Hock, T. (1997). Everybody’s doing it: A national study of the use of natural supports in supported employment. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 12, 175–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The McCarton School, New York, NY, USA

    Peter F. Gerhardt Ed.D.

  2. Eden II Programs, Staten Island, NY, USA

    Frank Cicero Ph.D., B.C.B.A.

  3. Institute for Educational Progress, Milford, CT, USA

    Erik Mayville Ph.D., B.C.B.A.

Authors
  1. Peter F. Gerhardt Ed.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frank Cicero Ph.D., B.C.B.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Erik Mayville Ph.D., B.C.B.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter F. Gerhardt Ed.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

  2. AJ Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA

    Brian Reichow

  3. Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    James C. McPartland

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gerhardt, P.F., Cicero, F., Mayville, E. (2014). Employment and Related Services for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In: Volkmar, F., Reichow, B., McPartland, J. (eds) Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0506-5_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation