Abstract
Significant research exists on the benefits and potential challenges of employing individuals with developmental disabilities (DD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Most of this research has focused on employment preparation and attainment practices targeted at persons with DD. There has been no knowledge synthesis related to building employer capacity. This synthesis review identifies studies that focus on perspectives of services and supports to help build employers’ capacity to support vocational opportunities for adults with DD. A total of 15 studies met our inclusion criteria. Findings from this study illustrated that involvement of support workers’ was viewed as the main strategy for building employer capacity. In addition, disability awareness training and education and acknowledgment of psychosocial benefits associated with of employing individuals with disabilities were identified as supports. Employer concerns related to employees with disabilities were also identified.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altman, D. G. (1991). Practical statistics for medical research. London: Chapman and Hall.
Cooper, M. (1995). Epilepsy and employment—employers’ attitudes. Seizure, 4(3), 193–199.
Hagner, D., & Cooney, B. F. (2005). “I do that for everybody”: supervising employees with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 20(2), 91–97. doi:10.1177/10883576050200020501.
Hernandez, B., McDonald, K., Divilbiss, M., Horn, E., Velcoff, J., & Donoso, O. (2008). Reflections from employers on the disabled workforce: focus groups with healthcare, hospitality and retail administrators. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 20, 157–164. doi:10.1007/s10672-008-9063-5.
Holmes, D. A., & McWilliams, M. J. (1981). Employer’s attitude towards hiring epileptics. Journal of Rehabilitation, 47(2), 20–24.
Howlin, P., Alcock, J., & Burkin, C. (2005). An 8 year follow-up of a specialist supported employment service for high-ability adults with autism or Asperger syndrome. Autism, 9(5), 533–549. doi:10.1177/1362361305057871.
Irvine, A., & Lupart, J. (2008). Into the workforce: employers’ perspectives of inclusion. Developmental Disabilities Bulletin, 36, 225–250.
Luecking, R. G. (2011). Connecting employers with people who have intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 49(4), 261–273. doi:10.1352/1934-9556-49.4.261.
Mawhood, L., & Howlin, P. (1999). The outcome of a supported employment scheme for employment service for high-ability adults with autism or Asperger syndrome. Autism, 9(5), 533–549. doi:10.1177/1362361305057871.
Morgan, R. L., & Alexander, M. (2005). The employer’s perception: employment of individuals with developmental disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 23(1), 39–49.
Morgan, R. L., Ames, H. N., Loosli, T. S., Feng, J., & Taylor, M. J. (1995). Training for supported employment specialists and their supervisors: identifying important training topics. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 299–307.
Nicholas, D. B., Attridge, M., Zwaigenbaum, L., & Clarke, M. (2014). Vocational support approaches in autism spectrum disorder: a synthesis review of the literature. Autism, 1–11. doi:10.1177/1362361313516548.
Nicholas, D. B., Roberts, W., & Macintosh, C. (2015). Advancing vocational opportunities for adultswith autism spectrum disorder: proceedings from the 1st annual Canadian ASD vocational conference. Currents: Scholarship in Human Services, 15(1).
Nietupski, J., Hamre-Nietupski, S., Vander Hart, N. S., & Fishback, K. (1996). Employer perceptions of the benefits and concerns of supported employment. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 310–323.
Petty, D. M., & Fussell, E. M. (1997). Employer attitudes and satisfaction with supported employment. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 12(1), 15–22. doi:10.1177/108835769701200102.
Robertson, J., & Emerson, E. (2006). A systematic review of the comparative benefits and costs of models of providing residential and vocational supports to adults with autistic spectrum disorder. Lancaster: Lancaster University.
Scott, M., Falkmer, M., Girdler, S., & Falkmer, T. (2015). Viewpoints on factors for successful employment for adults with autism spectrum disorder. PloS One, 10(10), e0139281.
Unger, D. D. (1999). Workplace supports a view from employers who have hired supported employees. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 14(3), 167–179.
Vogeley, K., Kirchner, J. C., Gawronski, A., van Elst, L. T., & Dziobek, I. (2013). Toward the development of a supported employment program for individuals with high-functioning autism in Germany. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 263(2), 197–203. doi:10.1007/s00406-013-0455-7.
Wehman, P. (2012). Supported employment: what is it?. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 37(3), 139–142.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Funding
This study was funded by Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services-Developmental Services Research Grant (Co-PI: Nicholas and Hodgetts).
Informed Consent
Not applicable.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rashid, M., Hodgetts, S. & Nicholas, D. Building Employers’ Capacity to Support Vocational Opportunities for Adults with Developmental Disabilities. Rev J Autism Dev Disord 4, 165–173 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-017-0105-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-017-0105-5