Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40372603›Full record

ArticleJournal of occupational rehabilitation2026

Reflections of Autistic Adults on Employment Preparation Programs: A Qualitative Analysis.

Jena K Randolph, Jaclyn Benigno, Maia Z Markollari, Nancy Cheak-Zamora

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Article in Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Jena K RandolphDepartment of Special Education, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
Jaclyn BenignoThompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
Maia Z MarkollariDepartment of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
Nancy Cheak-ZamoraDepartment of Public Health, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA. nancy.cheak-zamora@utsa.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAutistic adults face significant barriers to employment. While caregiver and provider perspectives have informed transition programming to address these barriers, limited research has gathered insights directly from autistic adults. This study aimed to explore the experiences of autistic adults who completed an employment preparation program to identify the unmet needs and evaluate the impact on employment outcomes.

methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 autistic adults and consisted of 26 core questions, allowing for an exploratory line of questioning. This method was chosen to address the gap in the literature regarding autistic adults' direct experiences and needs. The interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, prioritizing participants' words and experiences revealing novel insights into transition services. Demographic information and closed-ended questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

resultsParticipants expressed overall satisfaction with the programs, and most were currently employed, attributing their job obtainment to the transition program. Thematic analysis revealed four primary themes: (1) Job Skills; (2) Job Experience and Coaching; (3) Peer Relationships; and (4) Goal Setting. Participants reported benefits such as improved job obtainment skills, on-the-job experience, peer socialization, and practice setting goals. However, challenges were identified, including difficulties in maintaining relationships with peers and concerns about excessive involvement by job coaches.

conclusionThe findings highlight the benefits and limitations of employment preparation programs for autistic adults. The insights gained can inform the development of future programs and the training of personnel aiming to enhance the effectiveness of services for autistic adults seeking employment.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderEmploymentRehabilitation, VocationalAdultFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPeer GroupQualitative ResearchYoung AdultAutistic adultsAutistic adults' direct experiencesAutistic adults’ employment outcomesEmployment barriersEmployment preparationTransition programs

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.