The Outcome of a supported Employment Scheme for High-Functioning Adults with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome

by Lynn Mawhood and Patricia Howlin (1999) autism, 3, 229-254.

“The article describes the outcome of a 2 year supported employment project for high-functioning adults with autism. Thirty individuals with a diagnosis of autism or Asperger syndrome living within the London area took part in the scheme. The control group comprised 20 individuals of similar intellectual and linguistic ability, and previous employment history, living in metropolitan areas outside London. Over the course of the project significantly more of the supported group than the controls found work; job levels were higher; they were in work for a greater percentage of the time; and they received significantly higher wages. Thirteen different employers (mostly multinational companies) were involved during the course of the project and several were willing to take on more than one employee because of their positive experiences of employing someone with autism. Although existing resources within the disability employment service had not previously been able to provide effective job finding and support services for this group, the current scheme demonstrated that, with specialist input, supported employment can be very effective. Moreover the costs, although initially high, reduced significantly over time. One of the most expensive and time-consuming aspects of the scheme, but one that appeared to be crucial for success, was the need for close liaison with employers in order to explore appropriate job opportunities and to match these carefully to the skills and abilities of individual clients. (p. 229)

From the introduction: “Even if individuals are successful in getting through the interview process (a major stumbling block for most), jobs tend to be of low status and/or to end prematurely- often because of difficulties related to social competence. This failure to make appropriate use of their training and skills, or to find suitable work, sometimes despite many years of trying, results in frustration, loss of self esteem and, for some, entry into a cycle of anxiety and depression or other psychiatric disturbance. (p. 230)

“When a suitable job had been identified and the client began work, guidance from the support worker was provided on a full-time basis for the first 2-4 weeks of the employment. The support workers were responsible for job finding and work preparation, and ensuring the clients could cope with all the social and occupational requirements of the job; they also spent much of their time educating and informing potential and existing employers and advising work colleagues or supervisors on how to deal with or avoid problems. The amount of support decreased to weekly ot twice weekly visits during the second month and was then further reduced so that by the end of the fourth month only occasional, but planned, meetings between employee, line manager and support worker were required. However, a support worker could always be contacted at any time in an emergency.” (p. 233)

Correspondence should be addressed to Professor Patricia Howlin, Department of Psychology, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, Tooting, London SW17 ORE.