Journal Article

Promoting Social Interactions and Job Independence for College Students with Autism or Intellectual Disability: A Pilot Study

Gilson, Carly B., Carter, Erik W.

2016

Overview

The employment outcomes for young adults with autism or intellectual disability (ID) lag far behind those of their peers without disabilities. Most postsecondary education programs for students with disabilities incorporate internship experiences to foster employment skills. However, the proximity of job coaches may inadvertently hinder social opportunities and independence. We used a multiple-probe, single-case experimental design across three college students with autism or ID to examine the effects of a coaching package on task engagement and social interactions. For all participants, interactions increased and task engagement maintained when job coaches reduced proximity and delivered prompts discreetly through bug-in-ear devices. Participants considered the intervention beneficial and unobtrusive. We present implications for supporting employment preparation within postsecondary education programs.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Adults / Autism / Autistic adults / Autistic Disorder - psychology / Autistic Disorder - rehabilitation / Autonomy (Psychology) / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Career Development / Child and School Psychology / Coaching / Coaching (Performance) / College Students / Community Based Instruction (Disabilities) / Developmental disabilities / Disability / Education / Educational programs / Employment / Feedback, Sensory / Female / Health aspects / Higher education / Humans / Independence / Intellectual disabilities / Intellectual Disability / Intellectual Disability - psychology / Intellectual Disability - rehabilitation / Interpersonal Competence / Interpersonal Relations / Interpersonal Relationship / Intervention / Job Skills / Job training / Learning disabilities / Learning disabled people / Learning disabled young people / Male / Mentors / Neurosciences / Normalization (Disabilities) / Original Paper / Pediatrics / People with disabilities / Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Pilot Projects / Postsecondary Education / Prompting / Proximity / Psychological aspects / Psychology / Public Health / Rehabilitation, Vocational - methods / Rehabilitation, Vocational - psychology / Research design / Social aspects / Social interaction / Social interactions / Students - psychology / Students with disabilities / Supported Employment / Undergraduate students / Work experience / Work skills / Young Adult / Young Adults / Youth employment