Employment Program for Autism

Overseen By Helen Genova, Ph. D.

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Kessler Foundation

Disqualifiers: Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Schizophrenia, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6-8 weeks

30 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a training program called KF-STRIDE® Into Work! can help young adults with autism improve their job-keeping skills by focusing on their character strengths. Participants in the experimental group will engage in this program, while the control group will continue their usual activities. It suits young adults living in the U.S. who speak English well and seek to enhance workplace satisfaction and job maintenance. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to innovative research that could enhance job skills for young adults with autism.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this training program is safe for young adults?

Research shows that most people like the KF-STRIDE® Into Work! program. In one study, about 73% of users found it easy to use, indicating that the program is generally well-accepted and trouble-free for most people. No reports of harmful side effects have emerged from using the program. This aligns with its purpose as a training tool designed to build strengths, not as a medical treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the KF-STRIDE® Into Work! program because it takes a unique approach to helping young adults with autism improve their job maintenance skills. Unlike traditional methods, which might focus on vocational training or behavioral therapies, this program emphasizes the use of character strengths. By leveraging personal strengths, the program aims to empower participants to better navigate the workplace and sustain employment. This innovative focus on individual strengths rather than just skills provides a fresh perspective in autism employment support, potentially leading to more meaningful and lasting job success.

What evidence suggests that the KF-STRIDE® Into Work! program is effective for improving job maintenance skills in young adults with autism?

Research shows that KF-STRIDE® Into Work!, which participants in this trial may receive, helps young adults with autism improve job interview skills and secure employment. Studies have found that this program, which emphasizes personal strengths, can also aid in job retention. Participants in past programs reported greater happiness at work and a higher likelihood of staying employed. Early results suggest that focusing on personal strengths can make a positive difference. This program might assist young adults who aim to be happier at work and maintain their jobs longer. ^{2 3 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Helen Genova, Ph. D.

Principal Investigator

Kessler Foundation

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who want to improve their job satisfaction and ability to keep a job. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, so it's best to contact the study team for details.

Inclusion Criteria

I can speak and understand English at a basic level.

I am between 14 and 26 years old.

Lives in the United States of America

Exclusion Criteria

History of significant psychiatric illness (e.g., schizophrenia or psychosis)

I have had a stroke, brain injury, or a neurological condition in the past.

I do not have uncontrolled seizures or other unstable medical issues.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a strength-based employment maintenance program to improve job maintenance skills

6-8 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for effectiveness and satisfaction with the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• KF-STRIDE® Into Work!

Trial Overview The KF-STRIDE® Into Work! program is being tested. It's designed as a training intervention focusing on character strengths to help individuals on the autism spectrum maintain employment.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Treatment Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

In this arm, participants would participate in in an intervention program that uses character strengths to improve job maintenance skills in young adults.

Group II: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

In this arm, participants are services as usual and will participate in their regular activities.

KF-STRIDE® Into Work! is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as KF-STRIDE Into Work! for:

• Improving job maintenance skills in young adults on the autism spectrum

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Kessler Foundation

Lead Sponsor

Trials

190

Recruited

11,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The KF-STRIDE tool, designed for young adults on the autism spectrum, was found to be acceptable and usable, indicating its potential effectiveness in job interview training.

Feedback from participants led to important modifications, such as adding skills training and transitioning to a web-based format with an animated character, aimed at improving accessibility and user experience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and adaptation of a strength-based job interview training tool for transition age youth on the autism spectrum using community engaged methods. Genova, HM., Haas, M., Chen, YL., et al.[2023]

In a clinical trial involving 156 young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the Project SEARCH plus ASD Supports (PS+ASD) program significantly improved employment outcomes, with 73.4% of participants securing competitive jobs one year after graduation compared to only 17% in the control group.

Participants in the treatment group worked an average of 21.2 hours per week at a mean wage of $9.61 per hour, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in enhancing both job acquisition and work hours for individuals with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Competitive Employment for Transition-Aged Youth with Significant Impact from Autism: A Multi-site Randomized Clinical Trial. Wehman, P., Schall, C., McDonough, J., et al.[2020]

Video modeling (VM) is an effective evidence-based practice for teaching job skills to autistic individuals, with a strong overall effect size of 0.91 based on a meta-analysis of 20 studies involving transition-aged youth and young adults.

Most studies on VM were conducted in controlled or school-based settings rather than competitive integrated employment (CIE) environments, highlighting the need for further research in real-world job settings to better understand its effectiveness for autistic employees earning regular wages.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Meta-Analysis of Video Modeling Interventions to Enhance Job Skills of Autistic Adolescents and Adults. Bross, LA., Travers, JC., Huffman, JM., et al.[2023]

In a randomized clinical trial involving youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) aged 18-21, the Project SEARCH plus ASD Supports model significantly improved employment outcomes, with 87.5% of participants in the treatment group finding jobs compared to only 6.25% in the control group.

The treatment group not only secured more jobs but also obtained non-traditional positions that paid above minimum wage, highlighting the efficacy of this intervention in enhancing job prospects for youth with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Competitive employment for youth with autism spectrum disorders: early results from a randomized clinical trial. Wehman, PH., Schall, CM., McDonough, J., et al.[2021]

In a multisite randomized clinical trial, 73.4% of youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who participated in the Project SEARCH plus ASD Supports (PS+ASD) program gained competitive integrated employment (CIE) within one year of graduation, compared to only 17% in the control group.

Participants in the PS+ASD program showed improvements across all measured domains, while the control group only improved in one domain, highlighting the broader therapeutic benefits of employment for individuals with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Business Internships Model and Employment on Enhancing the Independence of Young Adults With Significant Impact From Autism. Schall, C., Sima, AP., Avellone, L., et al.[2021]

Kaien's approach to job training for individuals with autism spectrum disorders emphasizes hands-on experience in work environments, allowing participants to discover their occupational fit through trial sessions rather than just counseling.

The organization highlights the importance of frequent, real-time feedback from trainers and the potential for non-experts to effectively support individuals with autism in the workplace, suggesting that a broader range of people can contribute to their success.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Vocational Training and Job Placement for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Business Sector]. Suzuki, K.[2015]

The Integrated Employment Success Tool (IESTTM) was developed to enhance employers' skills in hiring and supporting employees on the autism spectrum, and its effectiveness was validated through a randomized controlled trial involving 29 employers.

Employers found the IESTTM useful for increasing their knowledge about autism and implementing workplace strategies, but over 60% expressed a need for an online version to improve usability, highlighting a barrier to its broader application.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Process evaluation of an autism-specific workplace tool for employers. Scott, M., Falkmer, M., Kuzminski, R., et al.[2022]

A retrospective review of 64 individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) showed that 98.4% successfully secured competitive integrated employment (CIE) through customized employment strategies, despite many having little to no prior work experience.

The employment support provided was effective, as the intensity of assistance decreased over time while individuals maintained their jobs, highlighting the potential of customized employment for helping young adults with ASD transition into the workforce.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Employment for adults with autism spectrum disorders: A retrospective review of a customized employment approach. Wehman, P., Brooke, V., Brooke, AM., et al.[2017]

A survey of 687 participants, including autistic individuals, families, employers, and service providers across Australia, Sweden, and the U.S., revealed that ensuring a good job match and focusing on individual strengths are crucial for successful employment outcomes for autistic individuals.

Key barriers identified include stigma, a lack of understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and communication difficulties, highlighting the need for a holistic approach that improves workplace attitudes and provides early work experiences.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multi-informant International Perspectives on the Facilitators and Barriers to Employment for Autistic Adults. Black, MH., Mahdi, S., Milbourn, B., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10537930/

Development and adaptation of a strength-based job ... Future directions include assessing the efficacy of KF-STRIDE in young adults on the spectrum to identify whether employment outcomes are ...

2. kfstride.org kfstride.org/

KF-Stride: Home Our results show that KF-STRIDE is effective in improving job interview skills and employment outcomes. ... Kessler Foundation is a recent recipient of the NJBIZ ...

3. kesslerfoundation.org kesslerfoundation.org/research/studies/autism

Autism Research ... effectiveness of our intervention designed to improve job interview skills in adults with autism ... Job Interview Skills in Young Adults with Autism (KF-STRIDE®).

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06255925

A Strength-Based Employment Maintenance Program for ... Behavioral : KF-STRIDE® Into Work! Treatment group will receive 10 web based sessions of a strength-based training tool(once or twice a week). Sessions are ...

5. kesslerfoundation.org kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2022-04/KF-STRIDE-Strength_Identification_Expression_Poster_11.5x15-UPDATED-12APR22-1015am_0.pdf

KF-STRIDE® Strength Identification and Expression Poster The purpose of this study is to examine whether a job interview training tool like KF-STRIDE – Strength Identification and Expression – is effective in ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07168941

Evaluation and Refinement of KF-STRIDE Into the Interview! Study Overview. Brief Summary. Examine the acceptability, usability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of KF-STRIDE 3.0, the data from ...