How do individuals with autism participate in work life? A study on inclusive employability

• Date: 14 September 2023
• Pages: 173-187
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-09-2022-0254
• Published date: 14 September 2023
• Author: İbrahim Efe Efeoğlu,Ömür Kılınçarslan

How do individuals with autism

participate in work life? A study

on inclusive employability

_

Ibrahim Efe Efeo

glu and €

Om€

ur Kılınçarslan

Faculty of Business Administration,

Adana Alparslan T€

urkes

¸Science and Technology University, Adana, T€

urkiye

Abstract

Purpose –In studies considering the employment of individuals with autism, the organisational context –which

consistsof the behavioursand attitudesof employees–has frequently been neglected. This study investigates the

employment of workers with autism, who have an intellectual disability (AID) in T€

urkiye. The study aims to

understand the perspectives of managers and co-workers with regard to the employment of individuals with AID.

Design/methodology/approach –The authors conducted interviews with 23 people who were the

co-workers, managers and parents of workers with AID. They also reviewed performance documents

concerning employees with AID and analysed the data using qualitative content analysis.

Findings –The employment of individuals with AID has caused concern amongst employees within

organisations. However, training activities have raised awareness of autism a mongst those employees. This new

awareness has overcome initial negative judgements about the employmentof individuals with AID, turning these

instead into positive ones. Thus, social interaction between workers with AID and their co-workers has increased.

Practical implications –This research provides evidence of the positive impact of employees with AID on

companies and shows that employing individuals with AID in inclusive contexts improves their quality of life.

It also provides guidance for the design of training programmes for employees and the adaptation processes of

people with disabilities in the workplace.

Originality/value –This study emphasises the role of the organisational context in the successful

employment of people with AID in supported employment settings. It could contribute to changing attitudes

and negative expectations and guide interventions in these contexts.

Keywords Autism, Workers with autism, Employee relations, Intellectual disability, Managing diversity,

Workplace disability

Paper type Research paper

1. Introduction

Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders co-occur at very high rates.

Approximately 40–70% of individuals with autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed with

intellectual disability (Matson and Shoemaker, 2009). However, most studies have been

carried out on individuals with autism who do not have intellectual disability or who are

considered to have no intellectual disability due to the type of work that they do. Therefore,

there is a gap in the inclusive employment of individuals with AID. Individuals with AID are

often characterised by difficulties with cognitive, social and communication skills. They,

therefore, have difficulty expressing themselves and distinguishing between appropriate and

inappropriate behaviour (Kaya and Yıldız, 2023). Due to such challenges, people with AID

face additional barriers to employability (Chan et al., 2018). One of the barriers to finding

meaningful employment for people with AID is that they need a high level of support in the

workplace (Allen et al., 2012). Moreover, employees generally have pessimistic beliefs about

the work-related abilities and potential of individuals with AID (Bonaccio et al., 2020). These

employment issues demonstrate that many individuals with AID do not have the opportunity

to pursue a career in organisational settings (Stone and Colella, 1996).

Inclusive

employability

173

The authors thank to Thomas K€

ollen, Christopher McCreanor, and three anonymous reviewers for their

constructive comments on a previous version of this paper.

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

https://www.emerald.com/insight/2040-7149.htm

Received 7 September 2022

Revised 27 April 2023

5 July 2023

11 August 2023

Accepted 17 August 2023

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 43 No. 2, 2024

pp. 173-187

© Emerald Publishing Limited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-09-2022-0254