A new tool to assess social communication skills for young adults with autism in the workplace
Official title: A Novel Employment Specific Social Communication Assessment Tool for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Funded at Kessler Foundation, INC. · NIH-10742468 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how young adults with autism can improve their job skills, especially in communicating politely at work, by testing a new tool that simulates real workplace situations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kessler Foundation, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Hanover, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $150,436 |
| NIH project number | 1R03MH132000-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10742468 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young adults aged 16-24 on the autism spectrum who are seeking employment or currently unemployed.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not on the autism spectrum or those who are not in the transition age group may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the challenges faced by Transition Age Youth on the Autism Spectrum (TAY-AS) in maintaining employment, particularly focusing on social communication deficits. It aims to develop and evaluate a novel assessment tool called the Voicemail Elicitation Task (VET), which simulates workplace scenarios to assess the use of politeness markers in communication. By comparing the performance of TAY-AS individuals with neurotypical controls, the study seeks to identify specific areas where support is needed to improve employment outcomes. The findings could lead to better vocational training and support strategies tailored for individuals with autism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance employment opportunities and social interaction skills for individuals with autism, leading to reduced unemployment rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using similar assessment tools for other populations with social communication deficits, indicating potential for this approach in the autistic community.
Where this research is happening
-
Kessler Foundation, INC.
East Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elsayed, Heba — Kessler Foundation, INC.
- Study coordinator: Elsayed, Heba
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.