title: Predictors of employment status among adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the United States, adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience high rates of unemployment and underemployment in relation to adults with other disabilities and the general population. Yet there is little research examining their employment experiences and the predictors of employment status.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the employment characteristics and histories of both employed and unemployed adults with ASD, and the factors that contributed to their employment status.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study used an online survey and the Short Effort Reward Imbalance (ERI) Scale to gather data. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine predictors of employment status and self-reported health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 254 adults with ASD who participated in this study, 61.42% were employed and 38.58% were unemployed. Over half of the participants reported job imbalance on the Short ERI Scale and the vast majority did not receive any job assistance. Participants who disclosed their ASD diagnosis to their employer were more than three times as likely to be employed than those who did not disclose. Education level was also a significant predictor of employment status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests disability disclosure and education level are factors that contribute to employment status.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Alisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohl
authors.affiliation: Minnesota Department of Health, Maternal & Child Health Section, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grice Sheff
authors.affiliation: Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Small
authors.affiliation: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: NYC Department of Education, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Paskor
authors.affiliation: NYC Department of Education, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Aliza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanjirian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: Asperger’s disorder; Competitive employment; disability disclosure; organizations