Efficacy of the SAFE Program to Promote Preventative Behaviors for Infectious Airborne Diseases and Improve Well-Being for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Workplace United States, 2021-2024.

The purpose of this research study was to determine if the SAFE program increases perceived safety and well-being in the workplace and increases individual knowledge of actionable behaviors to prevent transmission of infectious airborne diseases (IAD) in the workplace for Autistic people. This study compared differences in three groups in perceived knowledge and actionable behaviors to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases, self-advocacy, and self-efficacy. In this pilot study to determine proof of concept and feasibility, participants were randomized in blocks into one of three arms: 1) SAFE Program delivered by a peer interventionist; 2) SAFE Program delivered by employment services staff/educators; and 3) employment services as usual. Participants assigned to the services as the control group continued with their current employment services and supports without the integration of the SAFE program components. Participants assigned to the intervention arms of the study continued to receive their employment services with the SAFE program integrated over four weeks. Outcome measures were administered before the start of the intervention (pre-test), after the four-week intervention period (post-test 1), and once again one month post-intervention (post-test 2) to measure retention. Data was collected from 10/24/2023 to 4/30/2024.