Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults With Autism in an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cohort Study
BackgroundAdults 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...
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JMIR Publications
2025-05-01
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| Series: | JMIR Research Protocols |
| Online Access: | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e60806 |
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| author | Adam J Guastella Lorna Hankin Elizabeth Stratton Nick Glozier Elizabeth Pellicano Vicki Gibbs |
| author_facet | Adam J Guastella Lorna Hankin Elizabeth Stratton Nick Glozier Elizabeth Pellicano Vicki Gibbs |
| author_sort | Adam J Guastella |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundAdults 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.
ObjectiveIn 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.
MethodsCandidates 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.
ResultsData 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.
ConclusionsThis study holds the potential to enhance the recruitment and retention of adults with autism, as well as their overall experience in the workplace.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/60806 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7da67701f2a64de8b0e86794fbd8db41 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj-art-7da67701f2a64de8b0e86794fbd8db412025-08-20T03:14:14ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482025-05-0114e6080610.2196/60806Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults With Autism in an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cohort StudyAdam J Guastellahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8178-4625Lorna Hankinhttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-7235-3678Elizabeth Strattonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0699-7588Nick Glozierhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0476-9146Elizabeth Pellicanohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7246-8003Vicki Gibbshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5058-5164 BackgroundAdults 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. ObjectiveIn 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. MethodsCandidates 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. ResultsData 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. ConclusionsThis study holds the potential to enhance the recruitment and retention of adults with autism, as well as their overall experience in the workplace. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/60806https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e60806 |
| spellingShingle | Adam J Guastella Lorna Hankin Elizabeth Stratton Nick Glozier Elizabeth Pellicano Vicki Gibbs Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults With Autism in an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cohort Study JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults With Autism in an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cohort Study |
| title_full | Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults With Autism in an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cohort Study |
| title_fullStr | Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults With Autism in an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cohort Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults With Autism in an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cohort Study |
| title_short | Improving Accessibility for Work Opportunities for Adults With Autism in an End-to-End Supported Workplace Program: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cohort Study |
| title_sort | improving accessibility for work opportunities for adults with autism in an end to end supported workplace program protocol for a mixed methods cohort study |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e60806 |
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