Employment Support for Autistic Adults in the Information Technology Sector: A Case Study of Meticulon Consulting Inc.

Background: Autistic adults are at heightened risk to experience poor employment outcomes. Employment supports are suggested to improve these outcomes, but relatively little is known about the key ingredients of employment support and their respective impact. Methods: We conducted a case study of employment support offered by Meticulon Consulting Inc., a social enterprise that facilitates and supports employment in the information technology (IT) sector for autistic adults. We conducted three sequential interviews (once per month) with four autistic adults working in the IT sector and receiving employment support, as well as one-time interviews with nine employers and three employment support personnel. Results: Participants valued employment support. They appreciated the immediacy and flexibility of support, varied assistance offered to both employees and employers, and organizational learning about needed workplace adjustments. Participants further stated that employment support improved work environments, decreased employee anxiety at work, and improved employee confidence. Challenges to employment included gaps in support during times of employment interruption, waning employee motivation, and mental health service gaps in the community. Recommendations for future advancement entailed (1) continuous support even in periods of unemployment, (2) employment support services across industries and sectors beyond IT, and (3) greater opportunity for autistic people, as they desire, to advance to leadership roles in employment settings. Conclusions: The study identifies benefits of, and guidance for, employment support in the IT sector. We offer recommendations, with potential relevance for autistic employees, employers, and employment support providers. Ensuring employment-related supports, as needed and desired by autistic adults, is a priority for advancing employment outcomes in this population.