A Strength-Based Intervention to Improve Job Interview Skills in Transition Age Youth with ASD - High rates of unemployment are observed in transition-age youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (TAY-ASD).
Moreover, TAY-ASD within 2 years of high school graduation are at the greatest risk of unemployment. Given
that 1 in 59 youths have autism, the exclusion of this growing subpopulation from the workforce is expected to
have a profound negative impact upon the economy as these individuals age. Thus, to help enhance access to
employment for TAY-ASD, the current study will evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a strength-
based intervention (Kessler Foundation Strength Identification and Expression; KF-STRIDE) that can enhance
job interview skills and employment. Despite possessing employable talents, the core social deficits of TAY-
ASD make it difficult for this group to articulate their individual strengths. This inability to identify and express
one’s strengths to a potential employer can negatively affect interview performance and lead to difficulty with
job obtainment. Thus, the current proposal will examine the effectiveness (Aim 1), acceptability, usability, and
feasibility (Aim 2) of a novel strength-based intervention, KF-STRIDE, which is designed to enhance the ability
of TAY-ASD to identify personal strengths and effectively discuss them. The goals of the current study are to
evaluate the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of KF-STRIDE in an 8-week randomized controlled trial
comparing the intervention to services as usual (SAU). The study will be performed at two private therapeutic
schools. Compared to a SAU group, we hypothesize that the KF-STRIDE group will: a) improve the ability to
identify strengths (Hypothesis 1), b) improve the ability to express strengths (Hypothesis 2), c) improve other
job interview skills (Hypothesis 3) and finally c) improve ability to obtain employment 6-months following the
intervention (Hypothesis 4). In this way, the current study is in line with the NIMH’s experimental therapeutics
model, as we will examine whether the intervention improves employment, as well as identify potential
mechanistic targets that could affect outcome. In Aim 2, we will also monitor fidelity, acceptability, usability, and
feasibility of the strength-based intervention. The long-term goal of the current research is to collect pilot data
that will lead to fully-powered effectiveness and implementation evaluations of KF-STRIDE in other community
settings.