Research: Supported Employment Improves Cognitive Performance in Adults with Autism

Authored by Garcia-Villamisar, D., and Hughes C. in Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, Volume 51, Issue 2, p. 142-150, (2007).

Article summary (posted Jun 4, 2008):

Jobs (work therapy) may help adults with autism get smarter.

This study was designed to see if people with autism have higher cognitive function after three years of working at a job (supported employment program). The authors found that people with autism who were given a cognitive test scored higher on the test after three years of working at a job. People with autism who were not given a job did not score higher on the cognitive test after three years of not working. Thus, training for a job and working at a job can help the brain to work better. The study had only 44 adults.

Links:

You can access the original abstract and the complete paper is sometimes available for free via Google Scholar (look for entries that say "PDF" or "HTML" on the right side of the page).
adults with autism, autism, cognitive, employment, therapy, work therapy
Share |