Employment Support for Autistic Adults in the Information Technology Sector: A Case Study of Meticulon Consulting Inc

Abstract

Background: Autistic adults are at heightened risk to experience poor employment outcomes. Employment supports are suggested to improve these outcomes, but relatively little is known about the key ingredients of employment support and their respective impact.

Methods: We conducted a case study of employment support offered by Meticulon Consulting Inc., a social enterprise that facilitates and supports employment in the information technology (IT) sector for autistic adults. We conducted three sequential interviews (once per month) with four autistic adults working in the IT sector and receiving employment support, as well as one-time interviews with nine employers and three employment support personnel.

Results: Participants valued employment support. They appreciated the immediacy and flexibility of support, varied assistance offered to both employees and employers, and organizational learning about needed workplace adjustments. Participants further stated that employment support improved work environments, decreased employee anxiety at work, and improved employee confidence. Challenges to employment included gaps in support during times of employment interruption, waning employee motivation, and mental health service gaps in the community. Recommendations for future advancement entailed (1) continuous support even in periods of unemployment, (2) employment support services across industries and sectors beyond IT, and (3) greater opportunity for autistic people, as they desire, to advance to leadership roles in employment settings.

Conclusions: The study identifies benefits of, and guidance for, employment support in the IT sector. We offer recommendations, with potential relevance for autistic employees, employers, and employment support providers. Ensuring employment-related supports, as needed and desired by autistic adults, is a priority for advancing employment outcomes in this population.

Lay summary: Why was this study done?: We did this study to learn about employment support in the information technology (IT) sector since little is known about these supports and they may be important in helping autistic adults obtain and keep jobs.What was the purpose of this study?: We sought to explore employment support for autistic individuals working in the IT sector including what employment support was like for autistic adults, individuals employing them, and professionals providing them employment support.What did the researchers do?: We asked 16 people with experience receiving or providing employment supports in the IT sector about their thoughts on employment support: 4 autistic adults who received program support, 9 employers, and 3 employment support professionals.What were the results of the study?: Both employers and employees found employment support services helpful in obtaining and retaining employment. Participants described positive experiences with employment support, including better access to suitable and satisfying employment, improved work environments, decreased anxiety, and a supportive and trusting relationship with the job coaches. Employers noted the proficiency of the employees in their work duties, and identified the job coaches as sources of knowledge and guidance. Employers described benefits to their organizations including learning and growth in their work environment related to attitudes and knowledge about autism and autistic coworkers. Participants recommended (1) continuous employment support even in times of employment interruption, (2) providing employment support across industries and sectors beyond IT, and (3) fostering opportunities for leadership roles for autistic adults, as they desire. Some challenges identified by participants included gaps in services when individuals were waiting to be employed, employees losing motivation, and gaps in community mental health services.What do these findings add to what was already known?: This study helps us better understand employment support in IT jobs. It adds knowledge about the benefits that autistic adults receive from this support. It also describes the importance of extending beyond only individual skill development and moving toward the development of an "ecosystem" of support with increased community resources, including supporting potential employers and reducing barriers to employment. The study also describes specific tasks of employment support, such as brokering communication between employees and employers.What are potential weaknesses in the study?: We did this study in a single region and with a small group of people. It is possible others might have different experiences and perspectives.How will these findings help autistic adults now or in the future?: This study highlights the value of employment support for autistic adults in the IT sector. With wider availability of effective employment support, it is hoped that more autistic adults will achieve better and more satisfying employment. Our findings offer information that can potentially contribute to good and satisfying career opportunities for autistic adults.

Keywords: autism; employer; employment; information technology; job coaching.