Developing a support and training program for employers of adults on the autism spectrum

One of the aims of the Curtin Autism Research Group is to help improve employment rates for the autistic community. One way to do this is to design a support and training program that would help prepare employers, so they gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to successfully employ and support adults on the autism spectrum.

Ideally, the program would provide the resources and support they need to apply tried-and-tested recruitment and employment strategies that supports people with autism and to create workplaces where people on the autism spectrum can succeed.

We’ve collaborated with the Autism CRC to undertake research that would help determine what to include in such a support and training program. We recently interviewed adults on the autism spectrum and their employers and were able to find out information such as:

  • The challenges employers face.
  • The strengths and weaknesses of current practices.
  • What has worked, what hasn’t and in what situation.
  • What employers are doing to meet the needs of adults on the autism spectrum.
  • How employers modify their recruitment practices and workplace environments for adults on the autism spectrum.
  • How employers and employees provide support.
  • The value that adults on the spectrum are bringing to the organisations.
  • The resources that can make a difference for employers and each person on the team, including the individuals who are on the autism spectrum.
  • Any additional support that employers need to successfully employ and support adults on the autism spectrum.
  • Any additional support that adults on the autism spectrum need to succeed in the workplace and to maintain employment.

Our initial findings will be published and then we will proceed to the next stage where we’ll seek additional information from employers who are yet to employ adults on the autism spectrum.

To find out more about this project or you can get involved, contact our researcher Rhonda Chapman

 

Sonya’s sharing at University College London

Professor Sonya Girdler presented autism employment research at University College London in a joint event between Autistica and CRAE (Centre for Research in Autism & Education) on the 20th of September 2018 to over 250 interested community members – the event was a sell-out.

Sonya closed with a quote from Harry Potter – about playing to your strength!

VIEW SHARING

https://twitter.com/hashtag/DiscoverEmploy?src=hash

 

A strength-based approach in autism

The employment rate for individuals with autism is lower than all other categories of people with disability and without disability. This is surprising considering the valuable strengths and talents that individuals with autism demonstrate. While interventions should target employers, helping to recognize strengths over deficits, it is also thought that strength-based programs for adolescents can help build employability skills. The Curtin Autism Research Group has focused research on developing a strength-based technology program for adolescents with autism.

The research group aims to help develop a strength-based program through its partnerships with Autism Academy of Software Quality Assurance (AASQA) CoderDojo, Autism West and Firetech Camp Australia. The organizations provide opportunity for adolescents to learn new computer coding skills, robotics and game development. Data was gathered from all three organizations to create recommendations for delivering a strength-based approach. The recommendations can be used by health professionals to develop their own strength-based technology clubs for adolescents with autism.

The recommendations were presented at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 2018 annual meeting in Rotterdam, where the Curtin Autism Research Group formed part of an international panel discussing the strengths of individuals with autism.

To learn more about a strength-based approach in autism please consider attending the Curtin Autism Open Day on Sunday, 9th September 2018, or contact Matthew Jones.