Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience barriers to competitive integrated employment during their transition to adulthood. To better understand potential reasons for these barriers, we interviewed 10 young adults with ASD, ages 18-26, and their parents or guardians. We audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed the interviews using grounded theory methods. Four major themes emerged as barriers to employment: (a) pre-employment challenges, (b) logistics, (c) few on-the-job supports, and (d) a disconnect between interests and job tasks. These findings indicated young adults who desire competitive employment may benefit from autism-specific interventions and employment programming. Suggestions for research and practice related to the competitive integrated employment of individuals with ASD are discussed.
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