Beyond Individual Support: Employment Experiences of Autistic Korean Designers Receiving Strength-Based Organizational Support
Saved in:
| Title: | Beyond Individual Support: Employment Experiences of Autistic Korean Designers Receiving Strength-Based Organizational Support |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | SoHyun Lee (ORCID |
| Source: | Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 2025 29(7):1883-1897. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 15 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Employees, Design, Employee Attitudes, Inclusion, Empowerment, Organizational Climate, Sense of Belonging, Quality of Life, Self Concept, Individual Characteristics |
| Geographic Terms: | South Korea |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251329605 |
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| Abstract: | This study qualitatively examined the employment experiences of autistic designers in a South Korean company providing strength-based support at the organizational level. The experiences of 12 autistic employees (mean age = 27 years old, 83.3% male), 12 parents, and 5 non-autistic employees were examined using semi-structured interviews and multi-perspective interpretive phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes emerged: the impact of inclusive support systems, views on autistic characteristics, empowering employment experiences, and associated outcomes. Results emphasized the importance of organization- and individual-level support in shaping the employment experiences of autistic and non-autistic employees. While autistic characteristics served as facilitators and challenges of autistic employees' employment experiences, they contributed to the company's overall success. A sense of belonging, competency, and agency motivated autistic employees; their employment outcomes involved perceived changes in autistic characteristics, enhanced quality of life, and positive autistic self-identity. The findings suggest that the implementation of neurodiversity-based support at the organizational level allows autistic employees to leverage their unique characteristics as strengths regardless of support needs and benefits all employees. Future research should explore cultural influences, assess generalizability to other vocational contexts, and investigate the impacts of adopting neurodiversity in the workplace to create inclusive environments that maximize the career potential of autistic employees. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1474894 |
| Database: | ERIC |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | This study qualitatively examined the employment experiences of autistic designers in a South Korean company providing strength-based support at the organizational level. The experiences of 12 autistic employees (mean age = 27 years old, 83.3% male), 12 parents, and 5 non-autistic employees were examined using semi-structured interviews and multi-perspective interpretive phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes emerged: the impact of inclusive support systems, views on autistic characteristics, empowering employment experiences, and associated outcomes. Results emphasized the importance of organization- and individual-level support in shaping the employment experiences of autistic and non-autistic employees. While autistic characteristics served as facilitators and challenges of autistic employees' employment experiences, they contributed to the company's overall success. A sense of belonging, competency, and agency motivated autistic employees; their employment outcomes involved perceived changes in autistic characteristics, enhanced quality of life, and positive autistic self-identity. The findings suggest that the implementation of neurodiversity-based support at the organizational level allows autistic employees to leverage their unique characteristics as strengths regardless of support needs and benefits all employees. Future research should explore cultural influences, assess generalizability to other vocational contexts, and investigate the impacts of adopting neurodiversity in the workplace to create inclusive environments that maximize the career potential of autistic employees. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251329605 |
