Guastella, Adam John;
Hankin, Lorna;
Stratton, Elizabeth;
Glozier, Nick;
Pellicano, Elizabeth;
Gibbs, Vicki;
(2025)
Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults with Autism: A Study Protocol for a Mixed-Method Cohort Study for an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program.
JMIR Research Protocols
, 14
, Article e60806. 10.2196/60806.
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Abstract
Background: Adults with autism have a strong desire and need for employment that matches their strengths, skills, and interests. Yet, they are more likely to be un- or underemployed than their neurotypical peers. Facilitators to successful employment include positive attitudes toward and awareness of autism in the workplace, and provision of adequate support and accommodations, including mental health support. Despite previous workplace programs identifying the need for adapted recruitment and interviewing processes, awareness training, and ongoing employee support, there are no programs that specifically provide these supports and adaptations for employees with autism. Objective: In this study protocol, we describe a framework for a new end-to-end supported workplace program for adults with autism that encompasses 8 key areas to promote inclusive workplaces and improve recruitment and retention of employees with autism. Methods: Candidates with autism (n=15) will complete 2 workplace skills training sessions at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, before attending a tailored interview, onboarding session, and paid 12-week placement at consulting firm Ernst and Young (EY). EY managers and colleagues (n=30) will complete a half-day awareness and inclusion training program before supporting the adults with autism through their 12-week placements. Tailored mental health support will also be provided. This mixed methods cohort study will assess the change in the daily functioning and well-being of employees with autism, as well as the change in the managers’ and colleagues’ knowledge, attitude, and confidence in working with adults with autism following the training programs. These changes will be analyzed using repeated measures of ANOVAs. Results: Data collection for this study was completed in February 2022. As of November 2024, data analysis was in progress. This study is expected to be submitted for publication in June 2025. Conclusions: This study holds the potential to enhance the recruitment and retention of adults with autism, as well as their overall experience in the workplace.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults with Autism: A Study Protocol for a Mixed-Method Cohort Study for an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program |
| Location: | Canada |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.2196/60806 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.2196/60806 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | ©Adam J Guastella, Lorna Hankin, Elizabeth Stratton, Nick Glozier, Elizabeth Pellicano, Vicki Gibbs. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 01.05.2025. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR Research Protocols, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.researchprotocols.org, as well as this copyright and license information must be included. |
| Keywords: | Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Health Care Sciences & Services, Public, Environmental & Occupational Health, autism, neurodiversity, inclusive workplace, recruitment, job retention, accessibility, work opportunities, SPECTRUM DISORDER, EMPLOYMENT, SCALE, SATISFACTION, INDIVIDUALS, PERFORMANCE, HEALTH |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Clinical, Edu and Hlth Psychology |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10211600 |
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