ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Adults with disabilities are employed at a significantly lower rate than adults without disabilities. Of adults with disabilities in the workforce, more individuals work in a facility setting rather than a community setting, despite efforts to improve community inclusion. Choice-making has been proposed as a predictive factor for employment for individuals with disabilities. AIMS: The purpose of this research was to examine the current state of employment for three groups of adults with intellectual disability (ID): individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), individuals with Down syndrome (DS), and individuals with idiopathic ID. Choice-making and its relation to improved employment outcomes was explored. METHODS: This study used National Core Indicator's Adult Consumer Survey datasets from years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. Factor analyses revealed latent variables from six choice-making questions in the Adult Consumer Survey. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify factors related to employment status. RESULTS: Adults with DS had the highest rates of paid community jobs, but adults with ID had the highest rates of choice-making. ID severity level and short-term choice-making had the greatest effects on employment status in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Employment rates remain low despite national efforts to find jobs for people with disabilities. Choice-making is a unique factor that was found to be associated with employment status and provides a target for interventions to increase employability.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Down Syndrome , Employment , Intellectual Disability , Adult , Autism Spectrum Disorder/epidemiology , Autism Spectrum Disorder/psychology , Autism Spectrum Disorder/rehabilitation , Choice Behavior , Disabled Persons/statistics & numerical data , Down Syndrome/epidemiology , Down Syndrome/psychology , Down Syndrome/rehabilitation , Employment/methods , Employment/organization & administration , Employment/standards , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/epidemiology , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Intellectual Disability/rehabilitation , Male , Quality Improvement , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities have poorer health and face unique barriers to health care compared to people without disabilities. These health disparities can be partially attributed to physicians' limited knowledge about caring for patients with developmental disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ASD training for medical students. Our training included a lecture and a panel presentation that featured people with ASD and family members. Students reported improved knowledge, skills, confidence, and comfort in caring for patients with ASD.
