“I Do That for Everybody”: Supervising Employees With Autism

Abstract

The supervisors of 14 successfully employed individuals With autism Were intervieWed using a semistructured intervieW procedure, supplemented by Worksite observations, to examine their supervisory practices and their perceptions of employees With autism. Supervisors evaluated their employees With autism highly, and qualitative analysis found that a set of specific supervisory accommodation strategies Were commonly associated With successful supervision. These included maintaining a consistent schedule and set of job responsibilities, using organizers to structure the job, reducing idle or unstructured time, being direct When communicating With the employee, and providing reminders and reassurances. Supervisors believed that the assistance they and the individual received from a rehabilitation agency Was critical to successful employment. Implications for advancing the employment of individuals With autism are presented.