Barriers and facilitators to achieving employment in mainstream settings in adults with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual developmental disorders: A scoping review

Encephale. 2024 May 9:S0013-7006(24)00100-3. doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2024.02.012. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Autistic people without Intellectual Developmental Disorders (IDD) have a significantly lower employment rate compared to the general population even though employment favors social integration and quality of life.

Aims: To examine the barriers and facilitators to employability in mainstream settings for autistic adults without intellectual disability.

Methods: Following the scoping review guidelines, we searched the Cochrane, PubMed and PsycINFO databases for references published between 01/01/2000 to 01/08/2023.

Results: A review of the 44 identified articles suggests the existence of multiple individual and environmental factors influencing job access and retention.

Conclusions: This is the first review to assess the facilitators and barriers to employment support for autistic people without intellectual disability. The results underline the need for studying strategies to promote access to employment and job retention for autistic people. Future research should explore the mediating and moderating factors leading to the improvement of employability of autistic people WIDD.

Keywords: Accompagnement; Autism spectrum disorder; Emploi; Employment; Sans trouble du développement intellectuel; Support; Trouble du spectre de l’autisme; Without intellectual developmental disorders.