A Review of CommunityWorks Canada®: Toward Employability Among High School-Age Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder

David B Nicholas; Wendy Mitchell; Rosslynn Zulla; Evgeny Solomatin; Siwei Qi

doi:10.1177/2333794X19885542

A Review of CommunityWorks Canada^®: Toward Employability Among High School-Age Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Glob Pediatr Health. 2019 Nov 1:6:2333794X19885542. doi: 10.1177/2333794X19885542. eCollection 2019.

Authors

David B Nicholas¹, Wendy Mitchell², Rosslynn Zulla³, Evgeny Solomatin¹, Siwei Qi²

Affiliations

¹ University of Calgary (Central and Northern Alberta Region), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
² Sinneave Family Foundation, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
³ University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Abstract

CommunityWorks Canada^® is a 12-week (30-hour) program that provides social, communication, and job skill-building activities as well as peer mentorship to youth with autism spectrum disorder. Administration of a pre- and postprogram employment readiness measure (n = 76 participants) demonstrated positive changes as reflected by the participants' decreased concerns about their responsibility, flexibility, job skills, communication, self-view, and health and safety. Postprogram qualitative interviews and survey data collected from a range of program stakeholders (participants, parents, peer mentors, and community partners/employers) corroborated identified gains in personal development, employment exposure, work proficiency, and comfort in work settings. For community partners/employers and peer mentors, greater understanding about autism spectrum disorder and commitment to inclusive hiring reportedly resulted from program engagement. Implications and recommendations are offered.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; employment; employment support; job readiness; secondary review.