Employment and choice-making for adults with intellectual disability, autism, and down syndrome

Res Dev Disabil. 2017 Jun:65:23-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.04.004. Epub 2017 Apr 23.

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.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Choice-making; Down syndrome; Employment; Intellectual disability.

MeSH terms

  • 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 / epidemiology