Changes in the quality of autistic people's life that work in supported and sheltered employment. A 5-year follow-up study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: García-Villamisar, Domingo | Wehman, Paul | Navarro, Maria Diaz

Affiliations: Universiad Complutense de Madrid, Spain | Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Note: [] Address for correspondence: D. García-Villamisar, Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Psicología Clínica, Facultad de Educación, Despacho 3403, Avda. Juan XXIII, s.n., 28040 Madrid, Spain. Tel.: +34 91 3946117; Fax: +34 91 6377763; E-mail: villamisar@correo.cop.es

Abstract: This research offers the result of the follow-up study on the evolution of the quality of life of persons with autism between 1996 and 2000. It compared two modalities of employment: sheltered employment versus supported employment. Fifty-five subjects of both sexes participated in the research, all of them having been diagnosed with autism. The outcome demonstrated that people with autism who participated in the supported employment program improved their quality of life level in a very meaningful way during the analysis period. In contrast, the group who participated in the modality of sheltered employment did not experience a meaningful improvement in their quality life level. We conclude that supported employment is a useful means to enhance quality of life.

Keywords: autism, supported employment

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 309-312, 2002