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A Strength-Based Tool to Enhance Employment for Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Award Number: 90IFDV0032
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH
OPDIV: ACL
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: OTHER
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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A Strength-Based Tool to Enhance Employment for Adults on the Autism Spectrum - Individuals on the autism spectrum have significantly high rates of unemployment. Job interview skills have been identified as a critical area for vocational training by the autism and research community. Historically, treatment for individuals on the autism spectrum have been deficit-based (to fix what is deficient), while the autism community has advocated for tools which focus on one’s strengths. The goal of the current study is to develop and evaluate a strength-based job interview program: Kessler Foundation Strength Identification and Expression (KF-STRIDE). KF-STRIDE was designed to help individuals on the spectrum identify their personal strengths and improve their ability to express these strengths to others. KF-STRIDE was originally developed for adolescents on the spectrum; thus in the current study our objectives are: 1) To adapt KF-STRIDE for adults. This adaptation will focus on modifying the content and design of an existing prototype, KF-STRIDE, which was developed for youth. 2) To evaluate the acceptability, usability, feasibility, and initial effectiveness of the adapted KF-STRIDE in adults. Anticipated outcomes are: In Stage 1, key stakeholders will provide feedback on the original KF-STRIDE prototype. In Stage 2, we will develop an adapted KF-STRIDE using the feedback collected in Stage 1. In Stage 3, refinements will be made to the adapted KF-STRIDE based on stakeholder testing. In Stage 4, we hypothesize that individuals who receive KF-STRIDE will show improvements in their job interview skills compared to a control group. The final product will be an adapted KF-STRIDE which best suits the needs of adults on the spectrum. The current study will focus on one of NIDILRR’s major outcome domains, employment.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $199,028 )
2025	2025	KESSLER FOUNDATION, INC	120 EAGLE ROCK AVE STE 100	EAST HANOVER	NJ	07936	MORRIS	USA	ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research	00	3	9/5/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$199,028
														Subtotal = $199,028

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $188,147 )
2024	2024	KESSLER FOUNDATION, INC	120 EAGLE ROCK AVE STE 100	EAST HANOVER	NJ	07936	MORRIS	USA	ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research	00	2	6/5/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$188,147
2024	2023	KESSLER FOUNDATION, INC	120 EAGLE ROCK AVE STE 100	EAST HANOVER	NJ	07936	MORRIS	USA	ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research	00	2	6/5/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $188,147

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $190,612 )
2023	2023	KESSLER FOUNDATION, INC.	120 Eagle Rock Ave Ste 100	EAST HANOVER	NJ	07936	MORRIS	USA	ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research	00	1	8/29/2023	NEW	$190,612
														Subtotal = $190,612

Grand Total All Awards = $577,787

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A Strength-Based Tool to Enhance Employment for Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Award Number: 90IFDV0032

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH

OPDIV: ACL

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: OTHER

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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