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. 2015 Oct;19(7):785-93.
doi: 10.1177/1362361315585643. Epub 2015 May 27.

Longitudinal patterns of employment and postsecondary education for adults with autism and average-range IQ

Julie Lounds Taylor  1 , Natalie A Henninger  2 , Marsha R Mailick  3
Affiliations

Longitudinal patterns of employment and postsecondary education for adults with autism and average-range IQ

Julie Lounds Taylor et al. Autism. 2015 Oct.

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.

Keywords: adult; autism spectrum disorder; employment; longitudinal; postsecondary education.

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