Academic learning challenges and links to vocational outcomes in young autistic adults

• Published in: Autism : the international journal of research and practice Vol. 28; no. 12; pp. 3143 - 3155
• Main Authors: Grosman, Hannah E, Aragon-Guevara, Diego, McQuaid, Goldie A, Wallace, Gregory L, Lee, Nancy Raitano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-12-2024; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult learning; Arithmetic; Autism; Autistic adults; Challenges; Employment; Job hunting; Learning disabilities; Orthography; Principal components analysis; Rehabilitation; Special education; Vocational rehabilitation; vocational/labor force participation; autism spectrum disorders; learning; memory; adult; cognition (attention
• ISSN: 1362-3613; 1461-7005; 1461-7005
• DOI: 10.1177/13623613241255774

Obtaining and maintaining employment can be a challenge for autistic adults and learning challenges may be related to vocational outcomes in this population. The present study sought to evaluate the Learning Needs Screening Tool to identify autistic job seekers who may benefit from additional services to obtain employment. A total of 401 autistic adults participated in this study. Internal consistency of Learning Needs Screening Tool items was evaluated. A principal component analysis was then completed to understand the measure’s factor structure and evaluations of external validity were completed. Evaluation of the screening items of the Learning Needs Screening Tool revealed high internal consistency. Three factors (Orthography, Arithmetic, and Retrospective Learning and Service Receipt) emerged. Overall, 56% of the sample screened positive on the Learning Needs Screening Tool, indicating a history of learning challenges. Analysis of history of special education receipt and vocational outcomes showed strong external validity for the measure. Results support the utility of the Learning Needs Screening Tool as a possible screening tool to evaluate learning challenges in autistic job seekers. As those who screened positive were more likely to have no vocational/educational activities, knowledge of retrospective learning needs may help vocational counselors identify autistic adults who need greater supports when seeking and obtaining jobs.
Lay abstract
Finding a job can be hard for autistic adults. No studies have been completed that look into whether having difficulties learning and troubles finding a job are related in this population. The current study did so by evaluating the Learning Needs Screening Tool, a measure of learning challenges used in vocational rehabilitation settings, or places meant to help people find work. A total of 401 autistic adults completed this study online. Specifically, the study evaluated (a) the characteristics of the Learning Needs Screening Tool, including the relationships between questions that ask about similar learning challenges, and (b) the ability of the measure to relate to real-world outcomes that are associated with learning difficulties, namely prior special education receipt and difficulties finding a job. Evaluation of the questions asked on the Learning Needs Screening Tool revealed that they were highly related and that learning difficulties fell into different categories. Fifty-six percent of the people in the study showed learning challenges on the measure. People who were identified as having learning difficulties on the Learning Needs Screening Tool had higher rates of receiving special education services in the past and lower rates of current employment. These results suggest that the Learning Needs Screening Tool may help to identify autistic job seekers who have learning difficulties and may have more challenges finding a job.