Abstract:

Despite the increasing rate of research on understanding autism as a spectrum disorder every day, research on the work life of autistic individuals is quite limited. Today, autistic individuals face a variety of difficulties in finding a job and living independently from their families. This affects their families as it affects autism individuals. But with the right amount of support, autism individuals have the ability to participate in all activities of life, including paid employment. The objective of this phenomonological study is to increase the level of knowledge on the issues of employment, autism and diversity at work by exposing the effects of employment of autistic individuals on their families and on themselves through the experiences of families. Half-structured conversations were conducted with the parents of autistic individuals living with their families and also involved in the work life. In total, the data obtained as a result of face-to-face conversations with thirteen parents were analyzed through the content analysis method. The findings of the study show that the employment of autistic individuals has significant benefits for both autistic individuals and their families. Parents are able to spend more time with themselves, more social, more qualified with their autistic children, and fewer concerns about the future of their post-employed children. Autism individuals are reducing their dependence on their families, healing in their physiological characteristics, ordering their lives, increasing levels of self-confidence and socialization. The results of the research were discussed compared to the studies in literature.

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