Studies from the Center for Autism Research at Kessler Foundation
How a Simple Voicemail Test Could Help Autistic Young Adults Succeed at Work Social communication differences may affect employment. Researchers are finding new ways to help.
The Key Takeaway: Researchers found that workplace communication differences in autistic youth can be measured using simple tools like voicemail tests.
Terms to Know: Politeness markers: Words or phrases like “please,” “thank you,” or “would you mind” that show respect Pragmatics: The social rules of language—how we use words in different settings Finding and keeping a job can be challenging for young adults, but it can be even more difficult for autistic youth. Some studies show that nearly two out of three autistic adults are unemployed. One big reason is not lack of talent or ability—it is often communication style, which can be misread in the workplace—sometimes affecting job interviews, relationships with supervisors, or teamwork. Many autistic individuals may not use the same polite phrases that non-autistic people expect, such as those phrases which soften a request (“Would you mind helping me with this, please?” vs, “Help me with this.”) or offering thanks. While these differences can be interpreted as “rudeness,” they actually reflect diversity in how autistic and non-autistic people understand and use language. (Continued, next page)
Voicemail Elicitation Task: A role-play test where participants leave mock workrelated voicemail messages