Employability for UK University Students and Graduates on the Autism Spectrum: Mobilities and Materialities

Participant	Sex	Age	Ethnicity	Diagnosis	Final year student	Recent grad	Subject/major	Highest qual: studying/completed	Institution type	Post-graduate employment aspirations	Relevant work exper	In postgradpaid emp
Grace	F	20	White	Asperger’s syndrome, OCD, Dyspraxia	✓		Business	BA	Post-1992	Business/marketing	✓
John	M	20	White	Asperger’s	✓		History	BA	Post-1992	Teaching	✓
Eliza	F	21	White	Asperger’s syndrome	✓		English Language and Linguistics	BA	Post-1992	University lecturer
Tom	M	22	White	Asperger’s syndrome	✓		Creative Writing	MA	Post-1992	Youtuber/author
Winston	M	22	White	ASD	✓		History	MA	Russell Group	Museum educator
Arthur	M	20	White	Asperger’s syndrome, Depression	✓		Creative Writing	BA	Post-1992	Further studies
Theo	M	20	White	Asperger’s syndrome, Ataxia	✓		Theology and Religious Studies	BA	Post-1992	Unsure
Lewis	M	20	White	Asperger’s syndrome, Depression	✓		Creative Writing	BA	Post-1992	Author/publishing
Matthew	M	21	White	Asperger’s syndrome, Anxiety	✓		Youth and Childhood Studies	BA	Post-1992	Unsure
Adam	M	21	White	Asperger’s syndrome, dyspraxia, depression	✓		Business	BA	Post-1992	Business/IT	✓
Robert	M	25	White	Asperger’s syndrome, Depression		✓	Digital media	PGcert	Post-1992	Graphic Design	✓
Timothy	M	22	White	ASD		✓	Mathematics	BA	Post-1992	Accountancy
Alice	F	23	White	Asperger’s syndrome		✓	Primary Education	BA	Post-1992	Teacher	✓	✓
Max	M	22	White	Asperger’s syndrome		✓	Creative Writing and Media	BA	Post-1992	Local government	✓	✓
Poppy	F	21	Afro-Carr	Asperger’s syndrome		✓	SEN & inclusion	BA	Post-1992	University lecturer	✓
Ezra	M	25	White	Asperger’s syndrome		✓	Mathematics	PhD	Russell Group	University lecturer	✓	✓
Lily	F	22	White	Asperger’s syndrome		✓	International Relations & Politics	BA	Russell Group	International NGO	✓
Dave	M	25	White	Asperger’s syndrome		✓	Creative Writing	BA	Post-1992	Author
Izzy	F	22	White	Asperger’s syndrome		✓	Creative Writing	BA	Post-1992	Teaching assistant	✓
Martin	M	26	White	ASD		✓	Education Studies	BA	Post-1992	Teacher	✓	✓
Kieran	M	26	White	Asperger’s syndrome, IBS, dyspraxia, depression		✓	Business	PGCert	Post-1992	University support services	✓	✓

Table 2

Characteristics of focus group participants.

Participant primary identities
Autistic adults	Specialist careers advisors	Researchers/academic staff	Employers	Public Sector	Parent/carer	HE/FE careers/disability service
10	6	6	5	11	8	12
17%	10%	10%	9%	19%	14%	21%
Participant age ranges
18–21	22–30	31–40	41–50	51–60	60–65	65+
6	5	16	19	8	3	1
10%	9%	28%	33%	14%	5%	2%
Participant gender identities
Male	Female
19	39
33%	67%