scholarly journals Inclusive Communication Model Supporting the Employment Cycle of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4696
Author(s):  
Michał T. Tomczak ◽  
Joanna Maria Szulc ◽  
Małgorzata Szczerska
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Communication Model ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Job Interviews ◽  
Communication Processes ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Electronically Mediated Communication ◽  
Employment Cycle

Difficulties with interpersonal communication experienced by individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) significantly contribute to their underrepresentation in the workforce as well as problems experienced while in employment. Consistently, it is vital to understand how communication within the employment cycle of this group can be improved. This study aims to identify and analyze the possibilities of modifying the communication processes around recruitment, selection, onboarding, and job retention to address the specific characteristics and needs of the representatives of this group. This qualitative study is based on 15 in-depth interviews conducted with 21 field experts, i.e.,: therapists, job trainers, and entrepreneurs employing people with ASD. The findings of this research informed the creation of an inclusive communication model supporting the employment cycle of individuals with ASD. The most important recommendations within the model that was created include the modification of job advertisements, use of less structured job interviews, providing opportunities for mentorship, and supportive and non-direct, electronically mediated communication. To apply the above-mentioned solutions and take full advantage of the talents of people with ASD, it is also necessary to provide tailored sensitivity and awareness training programs for their direct addressees as well as their neurotypical colleagues, including managerial staff.

scholarly journals Role-Play-Based Guidance for Job Interviews Using an Android Robot for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirokazu Kumazaki ◽  
Taro Muramatsu ◽  
Yuichiro Yoshikawa ◽  
Yoshio Matsumoto ◽  
Hiroshi Ishiguro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Job Interviews ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Android Robot

scholarly journals Enhancing Communication Skills of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders While Maintaining Social Distancing Using Two Tele-Operated Robots

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirokazu Kumazaki ◽  
Taro Muramatsu ◽  
Yuichiro Yoshikawa ◽  
Hideyuki Haraguchi ◽  
Taichi Sono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Training System ◽  
Communication Training ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Communication Education ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

COVID-19 has affected many areas of daily life, including communication and learning. Social distancing is essential to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In these situations, teaching communication skills is essential for helping individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) reach their full potential. To provide communication education while maintaining social distancing, we developed a communication training system using a tele-operated robot. In this system, we prepared a PC and a robot for each participant. The participants were grouped in pairs and communicated with each other through the tele-operated robot. The objective of this study was to test whether this system can maintain motivation for training in individuals with ASD and whether our system was useful for improving communication skills. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the taking a class by teachers alone (TCT) group or robot-mediated communication exercise (RMC) group. Participants in the TCT group took a class about communication skills from their teacher. Participants in the RMC group, in addition to taking a class by teacher, were grouped in pairs and communicated with each other through the tele-operated robot once a week over 4 weeks (for a total of five sessions). In total, twenty individuals with ASD participated in the study. One-way ANOVA revealed that there were significantly greater improvements in being good at describing their thoughts to others, which was self-rated (F = 6.583; p = 0.019), and good at listening to the thoughts or feelings of others, which was rated by themselves (F = 5.635; p = 0.029) and their teacher (F = 5.333; p = 0.033). As expected, the motivation for training using this system was maintained during a session. Overall, this study revealed that our system was useful for improving communication skills (e.g., listening to the thoughts or feelings of others). Teaching communication skills under pandemic conditions is important, and this study demonstrated the feasibility of communication training using tele-operated robots.

Employees With Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Digitized Work Environment: Perspectives for the Future

2020 ◽  
pp. 104420732091994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michał T. Tomczak
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Electronic Systems ◽  
Communication Problems ◽  
Environment Temperature ◽  
The Future ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

The aim of this article is to examine the opportunities for employees with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), arising from digital technology (DT) development. The author discusses assistive technology (AT) as a mean of creating a better work environment, making the digitized workplace more friendly for people with ASD. A possible solution of communication problems is replacing the interpersonal communication between employees with electronic (non-direct) forms of communication, such as online communicators or chatbots. Another solution is the implementation of wearable electronic systems, monitoring stress levels and facilitating effective stress control. In the future, the whole digitized workplace could be designed according to a “smart workplace” concept. Sensors recording various human body parameters could be connected to a network with sensors recording physical parameters of the work environment (temperature, humidity, noise, smell, sunlight exposure) and also with controllers of its values, adjusting it dynamically to reduce distracting factors. As a result, communication, stress management, and sensory sensitiveness problems could be limited, improving the work comfort of people with ASD, and their colleagues. The pertinence of solutions proposed was also confirmed by the experts interviewed in the field who were asked to assess it in the context of future implementation.

Disfluency Characteristics Observed in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Preliminary Report

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura W. Plexico ◽  
Julie E. Cleary ◽  
Ashlynn McAlpine ◽  
Allison M. Plumb
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Young Children With Autism ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Developmental Stuttering

This descriptive study evaluates the speech disfluencies of 8 verbal children between 3 and 5 years of age with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Speech samples were collected for each child during standardized interactions. Percentage and types of disfluencies observed during speech samples are discussed. Although they did not have a clinical diagnosis of stuttering, all of the young children with ASD in this study produced disfluencies. In addition to stuttering-like disfluencies and other typical disfluencies, the children with ASD also produced atypical disfluencies, which usually are not observed in children with typically developing speech or developmental stuttering. (Yairi & Ambrose, 2005).

Aging and Autism

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Geriatric Patients ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Need For Support ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

In this article, I will review the available recent literature about the aging population with autism, a patient group that researchers know little about and a group that is experiencing a growing need for support from communication disorders professionals. Speech-language pathologists working with geriatric patients should become familiar with this issue, as the numbers of older patients with autism spectrum disorders is likely to increase. Our profession and our health care system must prepare to meet the challenge these patients and residents will present as they age.

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