Achieving Steady Work Among Adults With Autism Through Specialized Employment Program

Description

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have significantly higher levels of unemployment and underemployment compared to their typically developing peers and all other groups with neurodevelopmental disorders, even though major companies that have employed and trained young people with ASD acclaim their significant innovations in their companies. The investigators hope to examine the effects of specialized employment support programs, over current traditional vocational rehabilitation approaches, for adults with ASD on their ability to maintain steady employment and overall benefit to the organizations at which they will be employed. The investigators predict that Stanford University's Neurodiversity at Work (NaW) Program will improve employment outcomes and positively impact the overall quality of life of individuals with ASD in this program. The investigators hope that the findings of the study will lead to the advancement of programs aimed to support individuals with ASD.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have significantly higher levels of unemployment and underemployment compared to their typically developing peers and all other groups with neurodevelopmental disorders, even though major companies that have employed and trained young people with ASD acclaim their significant innovations in their companies. The investigators hope to examine the effects of specialized employment support programs, over current traditional vocational rehabilitation approaches, for adults with ASD on their ability to maintain steady employment and overall benefit to the organizations at which they will be employed. The investigators predict that Stanford University's Neurodiversity at Work (NaW) Program will improve employment outcomes and positively impact the overall quality of life of individuals with ASD in this program. The investigators hope that the findings of the study will lead to the advancement of programs aimed to support individuals with ASD.

Achieving Steady Work Among Adults With Autism Through Specialized Employment Program

Achieving Steady Work Among Adults With Autism Through Specialized Employment Program

Condition
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Palo Alto

Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, United States, 94304

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Moderately functioning group of participants:
  • * Males and females with ASD
  • * Between the ages of 18-55
  • * No significant current psychosocial stressors per history
  • * Able to travel to work independently
  • * Attended either an internship program, pre-employment training, or both
  • * Possess an IQ between 60 and 90
  • * High functioning group of participants:
  • * Males and females with ASD
  • * Between the ages of 18-55
  • * No significant current psychosocial stressors per history
  • * Able to travel to work independently
  • * Attended either an internship program, pre-employment training, or both
  • * Possess a college degree
  • * Possess an IQ of 90 or above
  • * DSM-5 diagnosis of other severe psychiatric disorder such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Lawrence Fung,

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Stanford University

Study Record Dates

2026-12