ERIC Number: EJ1466088
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Apr
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: EISSN-1461-7005
Available Date: 0000-00-00
'I Did What I Could to Earn Some Money and Be of Use': A Qualitative Exploration of Autistic People's Journeys to Career Success and Fulfilment
Jade Davies1,2; Rachel Melinek1; Adam Livesey1; Estelle Killick1; Evelyn Sam1; Anna Melissa Romualdez1; Elizabeth Pellicano1; Anna Remington1
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v29 n4 p988-1004 2025
Employment contributes to well-being, yet many autistic people who want to work face barriers to meaningful employment. Much research focuses solely on employment rates, rather than taking a more holistic view of professional trajectories and occupational experiences. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 autistic adults to explore their experiences of, and perspectives on, career success. Our participants highlighted the overarching importance of finding fulfilment in one's career. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified five additional key themes: (1) volatile career journeys, (2) the need for continuing career support, (3) the impact (positive or negative) of social interactions, (4) the important role of organisations and (5) the catastrophic impact of poor experiences. Our findings highlight the importance of tailored, lifelong employment support and inclusive workplaces in enabling autistic people to thrive at work. Enabling autistic career fulfilment requires moving beyond entry-level hiring to foster sustainable, fulfilling employment for all autistic people.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Adults, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Job Satisfaction, Employment Opportunities, Supported Employment, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Equal Opportunities (Jobs), Career Pathways, Interpersonal Competence, Bullying
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1University College London, UK; 2University of Manchester, UK