College to Career is meeting need of autistic young adults

An estimated 80 percent of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are unemployed or under employed. In an effort to meet the needs of the growing population of young adults on the autism spectrum, the UCLA College to Career study led by Drs. Amanda Gulsrud and Elizabeth Laugeson, aims to test the effectiveness of the PEERS® for Careers 20-week training program. The program teaches young adults on the spectrum the necessary skills for obtaining and maintaining a job, and helps to facilitate internship and/or employment opportunities. Since the start of the study, the employment team has connected with over 150 community partners and individuals and amassed over 80 internship and employment opportunities for our Young Adults. The study has enrolled over 75 young adults to date and is currently enrolling individuals for our final group that will begin in January 2022. To learn more about this study and participant eligibility, please click here.