title: Longitudinal patterns of employment and postsecondary education for adults with autism and average-range IQ.
abstract: This study examined correlates of participation in postsecondary education and employment over 12 years for 73 adults with autism spectrum disorders and average-range IQ whose families were part of a larger, longitudinal study. Correlates included demographic (sex, maternal education, paternal education), behavioral (activities of daily living, maladaptive behaviors, autism symptoms), and family (size of maternal social network; maternal depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pessimism) factors. Although two-thirds of adults with autism spectrum disorder participated in competitive employment/postsecondary education during the study, fewer than 25% maintained these activities over the study period. Behavioral characteristics distinguished those who never had competitive employment/postsecondary education from those who sometimes or consistently participated in these activities. Women were considerably less likely than men to maintain employment/postsecondary education over time.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, USA Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, USA Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, USA Julie.l.taylor@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Julie Lounds
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, USA.
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Henninger
authors.affiliation: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
authors.forename: Marsha R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mailick
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004493:Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adult; autism spectrum disorder; employment; longitudinal; postsecondary education