Development of the Supported Employment, Comprehensive Cognitive Enhancement, and Social Skills Program for Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Results of Initial Study

Overview

Journal Autism

Date 2017 Oct 17

PMID 29034696

Citations 10

Authors

Mary J Baker-Ericzen

Meghan A Fitch

Mikaela Kinnear

Melissa M Jenkins

Elizabeth W Twamley

Linda Smith

Gabriel Montano

Joshua Feder

Pamela J Crooke

Michelle G Winner

Juan Leon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The population of adults on the autism spectrum continues to increase, and vocational outcomes are particularly poor. Longitudinal studies of adults with autism spectrum and without intellectual disability have shown consistent and persistent deficits across cognitive, social, and vocational domains, indicating a need for effective treatments of functional disabilities as each impact employment. This initial pilot study is an open trial investigation of the feasibility, acceptability, and initial estimates of outcomes for the newly developed Supported Employment, Comprehensive Cognitive Enhancement, and Social Skills intervention, a manualized "soft skills" curriculum, to enhance both cognitive and social development in adults with autism spectrum. A total of eight adults with autism spectrum, without intellectual disability (78% males), participated in the study. Results support the original hypothesis that adults with autism spectrum can improve both cognitive (i.e. executive functioning) and social cognitive (i.e. social thinking and social communication) abilities. Further Supported Employment, Comprehensive Cognitive Enhancement, and Social Skills was found to be feasible, acceptable, and highly satisfactory for participants and parents. Employment rates more than doubled post-intervention, with an increase from 22% to 56% of participants employed. Conclusion is that Supported Employment, Comprehensive Cognitive Enhancement, and Social Skills has promise as an intervention that can be easily embedded into exiting supported employment vocational training programs to improve cognitive, social, and vocational outcomes.

Citing Articles

Vocational rehabilitation of adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder: a review.

Syriopoulou-Delli C, Sarri K Int J Dev Disabil. 2025; 71(1):41-60.

PMID: 39882416 PMC: 11774167. DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2023.2208898.

Toward workforce integration: enhancements in adaptive behaviors and social communication skills among autistic young adults following vocational training course.

Lousky Y, Selanikyo E, Tubul-Lavy G, Ben-Itzchak E Front Psychol. 2024; 15:1392672.

PMID: 39723396 PMC: 11668975. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1392672.

Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Autistic Young Adults Participating in Employment Readiness Skills Training.

Sung C, Okyere C, Connor A, Chen J J Autism Dev Disord. 2024; .

PMID: 39292345 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06527-8.

Psychometric properties of the mock interview rating scale for autistic transition-age youth.

Smith M, Sherwood K, Genova H, Ross B, DaWalt L, Bishop L Front Psychiatry. 2023; 14:1235056.

PMID: 38025460 PMC: 10657996. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1235056.

Social Skills and Cognitive Training to Support Work-Related Skills and Job Placement in a Group of Autistic Adults : Effectiveness of a Neuropsychological and Social Skills Intervention: A Case Series Study on a Pilot Program.

Brighenti S, Mustacchia L, Cicinelli G, Chieregato S, Comella C, Torrero L Community Ment Health J. 2023; 59(8):1610-1618.

PMID: 37318671 PMC: 10598175. DOI: 10.1007/s10597-023-01152-8.

References

Bailey A . Autism in adults. Autism Res. 2011; 5(1):1-2. DOI: 10.1002/aur.233. View

Twamley E, Savla G, Zurhellen C, Heaton R, Jeste D . Development and Pilot Testing of a Novel Compensatory Cognitive Training Intervention for People with Psychosis. Am J Psychiatr Rehabil. 2009; 11(2):144-163. PMC: 2636722. DOI: 10.1080/15487760801963678. View

Zimmerman D, Ownsworth T, ODonovan A, Roberts J, Gullo M . Independence of Hot and Cold Executive Function Deficits in High-Functioning Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Hum Neurosci. 2016; 10:24. PMC: 4742532. DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00024. View

Baron-Cohen S, Belmonte M . Autism: a window onto the development of the social and the analytic brain. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2005; 28:109-26. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.neuro.27.070203.144137. View

Curran G, Bauer M, Mittman B, Pyne J, Stetler C . Effectiveness-implementation hybrid designs: combining elements of clinical effectiveness and implementation research to enhance public health impact. Med Care. 2012; 50(3):217-26. PMC: 3731143. DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e3182408812. View

Mendella P, Burton C, Tasca G, Roy P, St Louis L, Twamley E . Compensatory cognitive training for people with first-episode schizophrenia: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial. Schizophr Res. 2015; 162(1-3):108-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.01.016. View

Hill E . Executive dysfunction in autism. Trends Cogn Sci. 2003; 8(1):26-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2003.11.003. View

Spain D, Blainey S . Group social skills interventions for adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Autism. 2015; 19(7):874-86. DOI: 10.1177/1362361315587659. View

OHearn K, Asato M, Ordaz S, Luna B . Neurodevelopment and executive function in autism. Dev Psychopathol. 2008; 20(4):1103-32. DOI: 10.1017/S0954579408000527. View

10.

Stichter J, Herzog M, Visovsky K, Schmidt C, Randolph J, Schultz T . Social competence intervention for youth with Asperger Syndrome and high-functioning autism: an initial investigation. J Autism Dev Disord. 2010; 40(9):1067-79. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-0959-1. View

11.

Happe F, Booth R, Charlton R, Hughes C . Executive function deficits in autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: examining profiles across domains and ages. Brain Cogn. 2006; 61(1):25-39. DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2006.03.004. View

12.

Couture S, Penn D, Roberts D . The functional significance of social cognition in schizophrenia: a review. Schizophr Bull. 2006; 32 Suppl 1:S44-63. PMC: 2632537. DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbl029. View

13.

Corbett B, Constantine L, Hendren R, Rocke D, Ozonoff S . Examining executive functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and typical development. Psychiatry Res. 2009; 166(2-3):210-22. PMC: 2683039. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2008.02.005. View

14.

Lawer L, Brusilovskiy E, Salzer M, Mandell D . Use of vocational rehabilitative services among adults with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2008; 39(3):487-94. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-008-0649-4. View

15.

Twamley E, Vella L, Burton C, Heaton R, Jeste D . Compensatory cognitive training for psychosis: effects in a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2012; 73(9):1212-9. PMC: 3593661. DOI: 10.4088/JCP.12m07686. View

16.

Howlin P, Alcock J, Burkin C . An 8 year follow-up of a specialist supported employment service for high-ability adults with autism or Asperger syndrome. Autism. 2005; 9(5):533-49. DOI: 10.1177/1362361305057871. View

17.

Kenworthy L, Yerys B, Anthony L, Wallace G . Understanding executive control in autism spectrum disorders in the lab and in the real world. Neuropsychol Rev. 2008; 18(4):320-38. PMC: 2856078. DOI: 10.1007/s11065-008-9077-7. View

18.

Gantman A, Kapp S, Orenski K, Laugeson E . Social skills training for young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders: a randomized controlled pilot study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011; 42(6):1094-103. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-011-1350-6. View

19.

Cederlund M, Hagberg B, Billstedt E, Gillberg I, Gillberg C . Asperger syndrome and autism: a comparative longitudinal follow-up study more than 5 years after original diagnosis. J Autism Dev Disord. 2007; 38(1):72-85. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-007-0364-6. View

20.

Pugliese C, Anthony L, Strang J, Dudley K, Wallace G, Naiman D . Longitudinal Examination of Adaptive Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Influence of Executive Function. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015; 46(2):467-77. PMC: 4726475. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2584-5. View