Postsecondary Education and Employment Among Youth With an Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Postsecondary Education and Employment Among Youth With an

Autism Spectrum Disorder

T. Shattuck et al

Pediatrics - Published online May 14, 2012

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/05/09/peds.2011-2864.ab\

stract

OBJECTIVES: We examined the prevalence and correlates of postsecondary

education and employment among youth with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

METHODS: Data were from a nationally representative survey of parents,

guardians, and young adults with an ASD. Participation in postsecondary

employment, college, or vocational education and lack of participation

in any of these activities were examined. Rates were compared with those

of youth in 3 other eligibility categories: speech/language impairment,

learning disability, and mental retardation. Logistic regression was

used to examine correlates of each outcome.

RESULTS: For youth with an ASD, 34.7% had attended college and 55.1% had

held paid employment during the first 6 years after high school. More

than 50% of youth who had left high school in the past 2 years had no

participation in employment or education. Youth with an ASD had the

lowest rates of participation in employment and the highest rates of no

participation compared with youth in other disability categories. Higher

income and higher functional ability were associated with higher

adjusted odds of participation in postsecondary employment and education.

CONCLUSIONS: Youth with an ASD have poor postsecondary employment and

education outcomes, especially in the first 2 years after high school.

Those from lower-income families and those with greater functional

impairments are at heightened risk for poor outcomes. Further research

is needed to understand how transition planning before high school exit

can facilitate a better connection to productive postsecondary activities.