Journal Article Details

Citation:
Florence, A.C.; Elwyn, G.; Mueser, K.T.; McGurk, S.R.; Liebmann, E.P.; McLaren, J.L.; & Drake, R.E. (2025). Adapting individual placement and support for unemployed adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 62 (2), 115-127.
Title:
Adapting individual placement and support for unemployed adults with autism spectrum disorder
Authors:
Florence, A.C.; Elwyn, G.; Mueser, K.T.; McGurk, S.R.; Liebmann, E.P.; McLaren, J.L.; & Drake, R.E.
Year:
2025
Journal/Publication: 
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Publisher:
Sage Journals
DOI:
Full text:
Peer-reviewed?
Yes
NIDILRR-funded? 
No

Structured abstract:

Background:
Employment benefits adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in many ways, yet unemployment remains high. Existing interventions use predominantly “train-place” methods, emphasizing pre-employment training before competitive employment. As an alternative, Individual Placement and Support is a “place-train” model, originally developed for people with serious mental illness, that is rapidly spreading to new populations, including adults with ASD. Adaptations to evidence-based interventions for new groups should receive scientific validation.
Purpose:
This article outlines the scientific steps to adapt Individual Placement and Support to serve the needs of adults with ASD.
Data collection & analysis:
The authors describe a scientific approach to developing, implementing, studying, and disseminating Individual Placement and Support to adults with ASD.
Findings:
A five-step approach to adapting Individual Placement and Support to adults with ASD includes 1) Involving stakeholders; 2) Examining available data from different perspectives; 3) Conducting a pilot study to establish acceptance, feasibility, proximal and distal outcomes, and adaptations; 4) Conducting comparative effectiveness research; 5) Translating research to policy.
Conclusions:
Evidence-based interventions can transfer usefully to new populations and settings, but the process should follow scientific methods. As an example, this article describes a scientific process for adapting Individual Placement and Support to adults with ASD.