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

Trial Summary

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment KF-STRIDE Into Work! for autism?

The KF-STRIDE treatment is based on a positive psychology framework that helps young adults with autism understand and express their strengths, which is important for job interviews. Research shows that focusing on strengths and providing early work experience are key strategies for improving employment outcomes for autistic individuals. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Employment Program for Autism safe for participants?

The available research does not provide specific safety data for the Employment Program for Autism or its related interventions. The studies focus on employment outcomes and the effectiveness of the programs rather than safety concerns. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

How does the KF-STRIDE Into Work! treatment differ from other treatments for autism?

KF-STRIDE Into Work! is unique because it focuses on a strength-based approach to job interview training for young adults with autism, using positive psychology to help them identify and express their character strengths to potential employers, which is different from other treatments that may not emphasize personal strengths in this way. ^{1 3 4 8 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The investigators are looking to evaluate how effective a training program that focuses on character strengths may be in improving job maintenance skills in young adults. The investigators are examining the effects of this intervention in young adults who feel they would like to help in improving their satisfaction with work, and in keeping their jobs.

Research Team

Helen Genova, Ph. D.

Principal Investigator

Kessler Foundation

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multi-informant International Perspectives on the Facilitators and Barriers to Employment for Autistic Adults. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Meta-Analysis of Video Modeling Interventions to Enhance Job Skills of Autistic Adolescents and Adults. [2023]

3. Switzerland 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. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Employment for adults with autism spectrum disorders: A retrospective review of a customized employment approach. [2017]

5. United States 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. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Competitive Employment for Transition-Aged Youth with Significant Impact from Autism: A Multi-site Randomized Clinical Trial. [2020]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Competitive employment for youth with autism spectrum disorders: early results from a randomized clinical trial. [2021]

8. Japan pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Process evaluation of an autism-specific workplace tool for employers. [2022]