Differential vocational rehabilitation service patterns and outcomes for transition-age youth with autism

Background: It is important to investigate receipt of vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, service patterns and outcomes for youth with autism, so that limited public resources can be used more efficiently. Method: This study used chi-squared automatic interaction detector, and multivariate logistic regression analysis to investigate relationships between demographic variables, receipt of VR services and employment outcomes for transition-age youth (TAY) with Autism. Results: The results indicate that gender, education level and cash benefits are significant predictors of employment outcomes. After controlling for the effect of demographic variables, several VR services (i.e., job placement, on-the-job support, on-the-job training, maintenance, other services, information referral, and diagnostic and treatment services) were significantly associated with competitive employment. Conclusions: Overall, the results indicate that job-related services were significantly related to employment outcomes for TAY with Autism; therefore, it is important these youths are provided with more targeted job placements and supported employment services (Wehman et al.,).