Dr. LaRue: Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals Diagnosed with ASD

The transition from the public school system to adulthood represents a challenging and stressful period for individuals with ASD and their families. Supports and services that were entitlements during their school-age years are no longer available, and families often struggle to identify needed resources. The ability to obtain and maintain employment represents a critical developmental step in the lives of most people. While the public school system does well in this regard for individuals who are neurotypical, less favorable outcomes are observed for adolescents and adults with an ASD diagnosis (Friedman et al., 2013; Taylor et al., 2015). In fact, estimates indicate that approximately 50% to 75% of adults with ASD are unemployed after graduation (Bush & Tassé, 2017; Howlin et al., 2004). Despite the importance of employment, the existing research regarding assessment, intervention, and outcomes for individuals with ASD remains relatively sparse. While there have been several studies documenting that people with ASD tend to be employed less, there have been few studies outlining what constitutes best practice to improve employment outcomes. The purpose of the current workshop is to explore some of the barriers that contribute to these poor outcomes and discuss strategies that can be used to overcome them. We will review useful vocational assessment models and to suggest intervention strategies to improve outcomes for this population. The primary goal of the workshop will be to discuss empirically-supported assessment and intervention strategies that can lead to more supportive work environments, better job matching, and improved long-term outcomes. 

Robert H. LaRue, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA-NJ is a Clinical Professor at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University. He earned a dual doctorate in biological and school psychology from Louisiana State University in 2002. He completed his predoctoral internship with the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University and a postdoctoral fellowship with the Marcus Institute (now the Marcus Autism Center) at Emory University. He currently serves as the Director of Behavioral Services at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC) and the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS), where he provides consultative support for students and staff providing intensive behavioral services to students and adults within the Centers. His research interests include the assessment and treatment of maladaptive behavior, improving transitional outcomes for adolescents and adults with ASD, the use of behavioral economics in intervention, and the evaluation of psychotropic medications used with at-risk populations. He has authored articles in peer-reviewed journals, written several book chapters, and presented at national and international conferences.