Short report: Initial pilot of a brief career development program for autistic young adults.
A 12-week MBTI/SII career workshop tripled post-secondary participation for autistic young adults, offering a cheap springboard before longer job programs.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Twelve autistic young adults joined a 12-week career workshop. The team used two tools: MBTI personality types and Strong Interest Inventory (SII).
Before and after, they counted how many clients were in college, trade school, or job training. They also asked about confidence.
What they found
After the workshop, post-school participation jumped from a large share to a large share. The change was big enough to be statistically significant (p = 0.014).
Confidence scores stayed flat. Clients felt no more sure of themselves, but they signed up for classes anyway.
How this fits with other research
Schall et al. (2020) ran a year-long internship program for similar clients. They saw a large share land real jobs, far above the a large share in control. Samantha’s brief class boosts school entry; Carol’s longer model gets actual paychecks. The two studies stack like steps: workshop first, internship next.
Paliliunas et al. (2018) gave neurotypical grad students a six-week ACT values course. Both projects used short, manualized classes and saw small academic gains. The pattern hints that brief, values-based modules can nudge young adults forward, even across diagnoses.
Sievers et al. (2020) warn that success looks different by ability. For less-verbal adults, daily-skills matter more than college credits. Samantha’s pilot did not split results by IQ, so we can’t tell who benefitted most. Future runs should track ability-level outcomes.
Why it matters
You can add this low-cost workshop to your transition plan. Run it in the spring of senior year to push clients into post-secondary slots by fall. Pair it with a longer internship track like Project SEARCH to turn that initial sign-up into lasting employment. Track data by cognitive level so you know which clients need extra supports.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Many autistic young adults may struggle to progress to further education or employment after high school, highlighting the need for tailored career development programs. If provided with the proper resources and support, the obstacles faced by autistic youth in pursuing post-secondary activities may decrease. AIMS: This pilot study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a brief career development program consisting of a strengths and challenges intervention paired with a 12-week workshop intervention. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We studied the participants' changes in confidence and participation in pursuing post-secondary activities using a series of questionnaires in 20 participants, ages 16-23. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Strong Interest Inventory (SII) helped the participants choose a post-secondary path. The 1-9 Vocational Index Scale measured post-secondary participation and hours working in a normed fashion. The Confidence Index Interval: Entering Workforce measured the participants' perceived confidence related to career transition. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Our results suggested that a brief career development program paired with a strengths and challenges intervention significantly increased post-secondary involvement in autistic young adults (N = 20, p = 0.014). There were no significant changes in confidence. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings provide proof of concept of a brief career development program using the MBTI and SII in young adults with ASD. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Research in career development and transition for autistic young adults reveals that career interventions specific to the autistic population are lacking. Our pilot study explores a new type of intervention that incorporates the analysis of personal strengths and challenges with a 12-week transition workshop. Our project is the first to utilize the MBTI and SII as a tool to guide autistic youth in choosing a post-secondary path. The results of our study suggest that our program significantly improves post-secondary participation in autistic young adults. The findings provide proof of concept of using the MTBI and SII with a 12-week workshop for autistic young adults. At the end of our program, several participants began pursuing post-secondary education on track to obtain associate's (N = 8) or bachelor's (N = 3) degrees. Some began trade school (N = 3) and internships (N = 2), and others began employment or onboarding to employment (N = 4). Given the need for more evidence-based career interventions for autistic adults, our pilot study contributes significantly to autism research to better serve the autistic population.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2023 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104634