Students’ Attitudes to the Employment Options of College Graduates on the Autistic Spectrum and their Integration in the Labor Market

Abstract

The challenge of becoming integrated in the workforce is relevant for all graduates of the system of higher education, but it is particularly meaningful for those with ASD. Integration in the labor market has a wide impact, beyond the financial aspect, and the impact may be social, psychological, physiological, or other. The research literature found that the employer’s attitudes and perceptions of people with disabilities and their manner of employment are significant factors for successful integration of people with disabilities in the workforce. The current study explored the attitudes of students who may in the future be employers of high-functioning individuals with ASD or who may work with them. The premise was that current-day young people have more tolerance for diversity and containment of different populations in society and hence more social responsibility. The research findings indicate that students’ level of education has an impact on their positive attitudes to the employment of high-functioning individuals with ASD. In addition, two major fundamental causes underlying the success of students with ASD were found: the social importance of integrating people with autism and how they are treated by their employer. In addition, the students noted that lacking strong desire by people with ASD to becoming integrated in the labor market and willingness to suffer many difficulties when starting work and less at later stages, the desire of society and of the workplaces will not suffice. The research findings illuminate the potential employment options of college graduates on the autistic spectrum and their integration in the labor market as a function of the attitudes of employers who graduated from these institutions. The current research findings indicate a low association between the level of familiarity with people with ASD and attitudes toward the integration of people on the spectrum in the workforce, in contrast to previous findings. The question is: How can leaders of academic institutions act to arouse awareness of importance of integration in work market for the weaker in society among their graduates in a world where containment and equal opportunities are high values in society in general and in academic institutions in particular? Another direction that arose is that together with the meaningful development of technology use in workplaces, academic institutions must direct students with ASD to various studies of technology on different levels so that they will be able to occupy suitable jobs.