Autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities: A comparison of ADA Title I workplace discrimination allegations.

Using the Integrated Mission System (IMS) of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for allegations of discrimination involving Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), allegations made by individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and by individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are compared and contrasted. Key dimensions of workplace discrimination examined include: demographic characteristics of the charging parties; the industry designation, location and size of employers against whom allegations were filed; the nature of workplace discrimination alleged to have occurred; and the EEOC outcome/resolution of these allegations. The characteristics of ASD allegations are then compared and contrasted with those of ID allegations. The findings of this study imply that typical ASD and ID allegations are characteristically quite similar to each other. Differences that were found between the two groups of allegations indicate that charging parties with ASD are more likely to be a bit younger than those with ID, and are more likely to be male. Additionally, ASD allegations of discrimination were more likely than ID to have been made against Information, Educational Services, and Arts/Entertainment/Recreation industry employers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]