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Young adults with autism attracted to STEM majors in college
Among young adults with disabilities, those with autism spectrum disorders had the highest participation rates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEM — majors in college, according to a recent report in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
“In an era where a world-class science and engineering workforce is needed to remain competitive in a technologically advancing global economy, it becomes imperative to discover previously untapped sources of STEM talent,” the researchers wrote. “This study confirms that individuals with an ASD may indeed have the potential to become such a resource.”
Xin Wei
However, the researchers also found that young adults with ASD also had one of the lowest overall college enrollment rates among students with disabilities. Young adults with ASD were less likely to enroll in a 2-year (27.7%) or 4-year (15.0%) college, compared with their peers, with the exception of those with intellectual disabilities and multiple disabilities.
The study included 660 high school students aged 13 to 16 years who were receiving special education for ASD. The students were part of the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2, which was commissioned by the US Department of Education to study the transition of more than 11,000 students with disabilities from high school to postsecondary education.
Results showed that 34.3% of young adults with ASD enrolled in STEM majors — a higher participation rate than that of peers with other disabilities or even students in the general population (22.8%) who selected STEM majors.
Breaking down the STEM-related fields, the researchers found that young adults with ASD were significantly more likely to major in science (12.1%), compared with peers with learning disabilities (4.7%), speech/language impairment (4.7%), intellectual disabilities (5.4%), hearing impairment (4.8%), orthopedic impairment (1.5%) or other health impairment (4.6%). Young adults with ASD were also more likely to major in computer science (16.2%) vs. those with learning disabilities (4.1%), speech/language impairment (5.9%) and orthopedic impairment (5.2%).
“These findings represent good news and bad news," said study researcher Xin Wei, PhD, senior research analyst with SRI International, told Healio.com. "Thirty-nine percent of male college students with ASD major in STEM. That's 10 percentage points more than males in the general population and is cause for celebration. On the other hand, only three percent of female college students have STEM majors. That is 12 percentage points less than females in the general population and is cause for concern."
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Perspective
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By examining rates of education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the study by Wei et al provides a strength-based view of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Implications for public policy on health and education are obvious, given the increased prevalence of autism and the large size of the national database.
The study supports a vision of ASD not as a disease but as a condition meriting adaptation. The challenge for parents, educators and clinicians will be to find ways to maximize talents such as interest in STEM while minimizing weaknesses such as social communication or sensory issues.
Yet, the overall rate of college enrollment in individuals with ASD is low and the study raises concerns on income disparity and gender gaps. Having autism, belonging to a poor income group and being female all decrease the likelihood of attending college and likely obtaining employment. These groups merit targeted intervention to improve their outcome, but efforts are needed to understand which interventions are effective and efficient.
The results apply mainly to higher-functioning individuals, since those patients with poor mental functioning were less likely to attend college. Also, the study relies on school district determination of ASD vs. rigorous diagnostic methods. Despite these concerns, the paper provides important information on a growing concern.