The Efficacy of Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers Working with Autistic Clients

Hayward, Susan; Flower, Rebecca; Denney, Kathleen; Bury, Simon; Richdale, Amanda; Dissanayake, Cheryl; Hedley, Darren

doi:10.26181/24570814.v1

The Efficacy of Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers Working with Autistic Clients

journal contribution

posted on 2023-11-16, 01:20 authored by Susan HaywardSusan Hayward, Rebecca FlowerRebecca Flower, Kathleen Denney, Simon BurySimon Bury, Amanda RichdaleAmanda Richdale, Cheryl DissanayakeCheryl Dissanayake, Darren HedleyDarren Hedley

The efficacy of the Australian Disability Employment Services (DES) for autistic jobseekers has not been examined and is currently undergoing Government reform. To help inform the new DES strategy, we sought the views of: 24 autistic individuals; seven family members of autistic individuals, and; 46 DES employees. Data were collected using surveys and interviews. Data were analysed using Mann Whitney tests plus deductive thematic analysis based on Nicholas and colleagues’ ecosystems model. Participants highlighted a need to adapt existing policies to enhance flexibility of the DES model. There was participant consensus that DES staff require specific education and training to meet the needs of autistic people. Suggestions to inform the new model of DES for autistic people are made.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Disability Insurance Agency [ILC – 4 – BZQRRU2].

History

Publication Date

2023-12-01

Journal

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Volume

53

Pagination

14p. (p. 4641-4654)

Publisher

Springer Nature

ISSN

0162-3257

Rights Statement

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