Employment of people with autism

Kao nužna komponenta ulaska u svijet odraslih, zapošljavanje je jedan od najpoželjnijih ishoda u odrasloj dobi svakog pojedinca, uključujući osobe s autizmom. Iako mnoge osobe s autizmom iskazuju želju za zaposlenjem, brojne studije pokazuju poražavajuće ishode u zapošljavanju ove populacije. Čak i kada se uspiju zaposliti, osobe s autizmom uglavnom rade na radnim mjestima za koja su prekvalificirani, često moraju mijenjati poslove, a nerijetko su za svoj rad i potplaćeni. Takvi bi se ishodi djelomično mogli protumačiti specifičnostima u funkcioniranju osoba s autizmom, no nedvojbeno je da tome značajno doprinose i brojni otežavajući čimbenici i prepreke u okolini s kojima se osobe s autizmom susreću tijekom zapošljavanja. Ohrabrujuće je da, usprkos svemu navedenom, postoji znatan potencijal za unapređenje ishoda zapošljavanja ove populacije osoba, a shodno tome i njihove kvalitete života. Postojeća istraživanja pokazuju da, uz osiguravanje odgovarajuće podrške, osobe s autizmom mogu biti uspješne u nizu zanimanja. Naglašava se važnost holistički sagledanog ekosustava zapošljavanja, s elementima koji uključuju individualni i mogući angažman obitelji, formalnu i neformalnu podršku pri zapošljavanju, šire resurse zajednice, adekvatno prilagođena radna mjesta te jačanje kapaciteta poslodavaca i svih drugih osoba izravno ili neizravno uključenih u život autističnih osoba, zajednički usklađenim i integriranim unutar komplementarne javne politike. Stoga će se ovim radom nastojati prikazati najsuvremenija saznanja o zapošljavanju i radu osoba s autizmom. Ovakav pregled literature može biti od posebnog značaja za stručnjake uključene u rad s osobama s autizmom u kontekstu Republike Hrvatske, uzme li se u obzir nedostatnost domaćih istraživanja u ovom području, nesustavnost u vođenju evidencija o zapošljavanju osoba s autizmom, kao i činjenica da Republika Hrvatska kasni za svjetskim trendovima u ranom otkrivanju, dijagnostici, rehabilitaciji, a posebno u skrbi o odraslim osobama s autizmom. Kao takav, ovaj rad može poslužiti kao osnova za daljnje izučavanje područja, a može biti od značajne koristi i u planiranju promjena u postojećim sustavima, kao i razvoju novih modela pružanja podrške.As a necessary component of entering the adult world, employment is one of the most desirable outcomes in adulthood for every individual, including people with autism. Although many people with autism express a desire for employment, numerous studies show concerning employment outcomes for this population. Even when they manage to get a job, people with autism mostly work in jobs for which they are overqualified, they often must change jobs, and they are often underpaid for their work. Such outcomes could be partly explained by the differences in functioning of people with autism, but there is no doubt that a number of aggravating factors and obstacles in the environment that people with autism encounter during employment also contribute to these poor outcomes. It is encouraging that, despite all the above, there is considerable potential for improving the employment outcomes of autistic persons, and consequently their quality of life. Existing research shows that, with the provision of appropriate support, people with autism can be successful in a range of occupations. Available studies emphasize the importance of a holistic employment ecosystem, with elements that include individual and possible family involvement, formal and informal employment support, wider community resources, matching jobs and capacity building of employers and all others directly or indirectly involved, jointly harmonized and integrated within a complementary public policy. Therefore, this paper will seek to present the latest knowledge on employment and work of people with autism. Such a review may be of particular importance for professionals involved in working with people with autism in the context of the Republic of Croatia, given the lack of domestic research in this area, inconsistency in keeping records of employment of people with autism, and the fact that the Republic of Croatia lags behind global trends in early detection, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and especially in the care of adults with autism. As such, this work can serve as a basis for further study and can be of significant use in planning changes in existing systems, as well as in developing new models of suppor