Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Autistic Young Adults Participating in Employment Readiness Skills Training.

This study aimed to examine the experiences and perceptions of participants engaged in an employment readiness program, Employment Preparation And Skills Support (EPASS), which is a manualized group-based training program designed to improve employment readiness among autistic young adults. A qualit...

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Publicado en:Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 213 - 229
Autores principales: Sung, Connie, Okyere, Christiana, Connor, Annemarie, Chen, June
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Springer Nature Jan2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Autistic Young Adults Participating in Employment Readiness Skills Training.
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          Sung, Connie
          Okyere, Christiana
          Connor, Annemarie
          Chen, June
        affil: https://ror.org/05hs6h993 Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, Michigan State University, 620 Farm Lane, Room 452A, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Autism Spectrum Disorder Psychosocial Factors
          Autism Spectrum Disorder Rehabilitation
          Employment of Persons with Disabilities Education
          Patient Attitudes Evaluation
          Rehabilitation, Vocational
          Group Processes
          Validity
          Needs Assessment
          Program Evaluation
          Michigan
          Human
          Funding Source
          Female
          Male
          Young Adult
          Qualitative Studies
          Descriptive Research
          Descriptive Statistics
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Thematic Analysis
          Pretest-Posttest Design
          Confidence
          Experiential Learning
          Goals and Objectives
          Learning
          Social Skills
          Employment
          Personal Satisfaction
          Scales
          Female
          Male
      ab: This study aimed to examine the experiences and perceptions of participants engaged in an employment readiness program, Employment Preparation And Skills Support (EPASS), which is a manualized group-based training program designed to improve employment readiness among autistic young adults. A qualitative descriptive design was utilized to generate thick descriptions through semi-structured interviews with 22 transition-age autistic individuals (Mage = 20; 6 females; 16 males). Thematic analysis was employed to understand the experiences and career outcomes of transition-age autistic individuals pre- and post-participation in the EPASS program. Five main themes were identified: (1) More Negative Than Positive Employment-related Experiences; (2) Insight about Training Needs despite Hesitation to Participate; (3) Improved Perception and Confidence of Employment readiness through Experiential Learning; (4) Emerging Career Goals and Plans in Future Application of Knowledge and Skills; and (5) Learning Preference for More Interactive and Practice Experience. Participants reported a better understanding of job preparation skills, work-related social skills and interview etiquette. They also reported that what they learned in EPASS helped them improve their skills and confidence in obtaining and maintaining employment. Overall, participants expressed satisfaction with participating in EPASS and anticipated potential long-term impacts on their employability. This study sheds light on the training needs for transition-age autistic individuals and informs future employment readiness program development. Future studies should focus on collaborating with stakeholders to address training gaps and support needs that foster improved employment outcomes for this population.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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