Knowledge and Attitudes among Malaysian Employers in Accepting Adults with Autism spectrum disorder as Employees or Colleagues in Klang Valley, Malaysia
Main Article Content
Keywords
Autism spectrum disorder, employment, knowledge, attitudes, Malaysian Employers
Abstract
Apart from facing difficulties graduating from high school, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have significantly reduced opportunities in securing employment. This study aims to provide a quantitative analysis of Malaysian employers’ knowledge, level of management practiced, career fields, types of relationships with persons on the autism spectrum and attitudes in accepting adults
with ASD as employees or colleagues in Klang Valley. The sample for this study was obtained from conferences and seminars. One hundred and forty-five participants (n = 145) took part in this study by completing a series of questionnaires consisting of the participants’ demographics, knowledge in autism and acceptance of individuals with ASD. Results indicate that there are negative correlations between the participants’ knowledge on ASD, the level of management practiced and their level of acceptance of adults with ASD as employees or colleagues (p > 0.05). It was also found that there is no association between the career fields, types of relationship with persons on the autism spectrum and the level of acceptance (p > 0.05). As a conclusion, occupational therapists should play a more active role in supporting these individuals in obtaining and maintaining employment and advocating for the rights to employment as well as eliminating workplace discrimination towards adults with ASD.
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29. Sharma R.N., Singh S., Kutty A. T. T. (2006). Employment leads to independent living and selfadvocacy: A comparative study of employed and unemployed persons with cognitive disabilities. Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal; 17(1): 50–60.
30. Simonoff, E., Pickles, A., Charman, T., et al. (2008). Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence,
comorbidity, and associated factors in a population derived sample. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008; 47(8):921-929.
31. Sukhodolsky, D.G., Scahill, L., Gadow, K.D., et al. (2008) Parent-rated anxiety symptoms in children with pervasive developmental disorders:
Frequency and association with core autism symptoms and cognitive functioning. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36: (1): 117-128
32. Ta T. L., Wah L. L., Leng K. S. (2011).Employability of People with Disabilities in the Northern States of Peninsular Malaysia:
Employers' Perspective. Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development; 22(2): 79–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.5463/dcid.v22i2. 28
33. Taylor, J. L. & Seltzer, M. M. (2010). Changes in the autism behavioral phenotype during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders. 2010 Dec; 40(12): 1431-46.
34. UN calls for recognizing the rights of people with autism to make their own decisions. (2017). United Nations News. Retrieved from
https://news.un.org/en/story/2017/03/ 554532-un-calls-recognizing-rights- people-autismmake-their-own- decisions
35. Williams, L. H. (2017). Adults With Autism See Interests as Strengths, Career Paths. NYU Steinhardt News. Retrieved from https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/site/ataglance/2017/02/adults-with-autism-see- interests-asstrengths-career- paths.htm
2. Attitudes to Mental Illness: 2014 Research Report. (2015). Time To Change. Retrieved fromhttps://www.time to change. org.uk/sites/default/files/Attitudes_to_mental_illness_2014_report final_0.pdf
3. Autism, Aspergers, employment and mental health. (2011). Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/lear ningdisabilities/publications/autism- aspergersemployment-and-mental- health
4. Autism. (n.d.). The National Autism Society of Malaysia. Retrieved from https://www.nasom.org.my/autism/
5. Autism’s Associated Medical and Mental-Health Condition. (n.d.). Autism Speaks Canada. Retrieved from
https://www.autismspeaks.ca/aboutautism/what-is-autism/autism-s- associatedmedical-and-mental- health-conditions/#anxiety
6. Baldwin, S., Costley, D. & Warren, A. (2014). Employment Activities and Experiences of Adults with High- Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2014; 44(5): 1-12
7. Billstedt, E., Gillberg, I. C. & Gillberg, C. (2007). Autism in adults: symptom patterns and early childhood predictors. Use of the DISCO in a
community sample followed from childhood. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2007 Nov; 48(11): 1102-10.
8. Bush, K. L., & Tassé, M. J. (2017). Employment and choice-making for adults with intellectual disability, autism, and down syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 65, 23-34. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2017. 04.004
9. Cage, E., Di Monaco, J. & Newell, V. (2017). Experiences of Autism Acceptance and Mental Health in Autistic Adults. Journal of Autism
Developmental Disorder. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3342-7
10. Cage, E., Di Monaco, J., & Newell, V. (2018). Understanding, attitudes and dehumanization towards autistic people. Autism, 1 – 11. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613188 112
11. Chakrabarti, S. & Fombonne, E. (2001). Pervasive developmental disorders in preschool children. The Journal of the American Medical
Association 2001; 285(24): 3093 – 9.
12. Charman, T., Pickles, A. & Simonoff, E. et al. (2011). IQ in children with autism spectrum disorders: data from the Special Needs and
Autism Project (SNAP). Psychol Med. 2011 41(3):619- 627.
13. De Waal, C. (2001). On Peirce. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
14. Depression & Autism Spectrum Disorders. (n.d.).Autism Help. Retrieved from https://www.autism- help.org/adults-aspergersdepression.htm
15. Disability and work: the picture we learn from official statistics. (2005). Disability Research Series. Retrieved from http://nda.ie/nda- files/Disability-and-Work-Thepicture-we-learn-from-official- statistics.pdf
16. Edyvean, C. (2009). Attitudes Towards Autism: Reducing Discrimination with Contact. Ball State University. Retrieved from http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle /123456789/194217
17. Hale, C. M. & Tager-Flusberg, H. (2005). Brief report: the relationship between discourse deficits and autism symptomology. Journal of Autism Developmental Disorder 2005, (35),519-524.
19. Henderson, C. et al. (2014). Mental health-related stigma in health care and mental health-care settings. Lancet Psychiatry, 1: 467-82. DOI:
10.1016/S2215-0366(14)00023-6
20. Hudson, C. C., & Harkness, K. (2018). Many adults with autism also have depression. Spectrum. Retrieved from https://www.spectrumnews.org/news /manyadults-autism-also- depression/
21. Khoo S. L., Tiun L. T., Lee L. W. (2013). Unseen Challenges, Unheard Voices, Unspoken Desires: Experiences Of Employment By Malaysians
With Physical Disabilities. Kajian Malaysia; 31(1): 37–55.
22. McCary, K. (2005). The disability twist in diversity: Best practices for integrating people with disability into the workforce. Diversity
Factor, 13(3), 16 – 22
23. McConachie, H., Le Couteur, A., & Honey, E. (2005). Can a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome be made in very young children with suspected
autism spectrum disorder? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2005; 35: 167.
24. Melizarani, T. S. (2017). Giving support to children with autism. The Star Online. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/04/29/giving-support-to-children-withautism-it- is-an-uphill-struggle-for-thosediagnosed-with-the-disorder/
25. Morrison, K. E., DeBrabander, K. M., Faso, D. J. & Sasson, N. J. (2019). Variability in first impressions of autistic adults made by
neurotypical raters is driven more by characteristics of autistic adults. Autism,1-13.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613188 24104
26. Nord DK, Stancliffe RJ, Nye-Lengerman K, Hewitt AS. Employment in the community for people with and without autism: a comparative
analysis. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 2016; 24:11–16. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2015.12.013.
27. Othman R (2013). Workforce Diversity in Malaysia: Current and Future Demand of Persons with Disabilities. In Cultural and Social Diversity
and the Transition from Education to Work. Springer: 87–110.
28. Schur L, Kruse D, Blasi J, Blanck P (2009). Is disability disabling in all workplaces? Workplace disparities and corporate culture. Industrial
Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society;48(3): 381–410.http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-232X.2009.00565.x
29. Sharma R.N., Singh S., Kutty A. T. T. (2006). Employment leads to independent living and selfadvocacy: A comparative study of employed and unemployed persons with cognitive disabilities. Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal; 17(1): 50–60.
30. Simonoff, E., Pickles, A., Charman, T., et al. (2008). Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence,
comorbidity, and associated factors in a population derived sample. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008; 47(8):921-929.
31. Sukhodolsky, D.G., Scahill, L., Gadow, K.D., et al. (2008) Parent-rated anxiety symptoms in children with pervasive developmental disorders:
Frequency and association with core autism symptoms and cognitive functioning. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36: (1): 117-128
32. Ta T. L., Wah L. L., Leng K. S. (2011).Employability of People with Disabilities in the Northern States of Peninsular Malaysia:
Employers' Perspective. Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development; 22(2): 79–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.5463/dcid.v22i2. 28
33. Taylor, J. L. & Seltzer, M. M. (2010). Changes in the autism behavioral phenotype during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders. 2010 Dec; 40(12): 1431-46.
34. UN calls for recognizing the rights of people with autism to make their own decisions. (2017). United Nations News. Retrieved from
https://news.un.org/en/story/2017/03/ 554532-un-calls-recognizing-rights- people-autismmake-their-own- decisions
35. Williams, L. H. (2017). Adults With Autism See Interests as Strengths, Career Paths. NYU Steinhardt News. Retrieved from https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/site/ataglance/2017/02/adults-with-autism-see- interests-asstrengths-career- paths.htm
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Published
Mar 26, 2023
Article Details
How to Cite
Vanessa Choy WY, Deepthi Shridhar, Halima Sadia Hakim, Vasu N, Farzana Y, Theingi Maung Maung, Mohammed Shahjahan Kabir, Lubna Shirin, Prabal Bhargava, Norsyaqina S, Rubaiyat Siddique Diba, Nathan Vytialingam, & Nazmul MHM. (2023). Knowledge and Attitudes among Malaysian Employers in Accepting Adults with Autism spectrum disorder as Employees or Colleagues in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 30(4), 403-412. https://doi.org/10.47750/jptcp.2023.30.04.039
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How to Cite
Vanessa Choy WY, Deepthi Shridhar, Halima Sadia Hakim, Vasu N, Farzana Y, Theingi Maung Maung, Mohammed Shahjahan Kabir, Lubna Shirin, Prabal Bhargava, Norsyaqina S, Rubaiyat Siddique Diba, Nathan Vytialingam, & Nazmul MHM. (2023). Knowledge and Attitudes among Malaysian Employers in Accepting Adults with Autism spectrum disorder as Employees or Colleagues in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 30(4), 403-412. https://doi.org/10.47750/jptcp.2023.30.04.039