Work Inclusion in Autistic Young People: “ArcheoAgriAut”, APilot Study

Introduction: Inclusive agriculture aims to create work environments that allow autistic people to engage in meaningful activities with concrete outcomes. Studies suggest that agricultural contexts promote interpersonal and adaptive functioning. This pilot study assessed the impact of a social farming program on autistic young adults. background: Inclusive agriculture aims to create work environments that allow people with disabilities to engage in activities with a concrete outcome. Several studies show that participants derive important interpersonal and adaptive benefits from being part of a social community and from working in the countryside. Methods: The sample included 17 autistic young adults (M age = 23.76; SD = 3.562), 82.4% male, recruited from the Centro Medico Riabilitativo Pompei. Activities took place at the archaeological site of Pompeii. Functional domains were assessed at baseline and at a 12-month follow-up using the SUPER observational sheet. Results: Significant improvements were observed across several domains. In interpersonal functioning, participants showed enhanced ability to interact with others (p < .001). Improvements were also detected in communication (p < .05; p < .01), mobility (p < .001), adaptive behaviour, including task execution and behavioural self-regulation (p < .001), and personal care (p < .01). method: The pilot project had a prospective observational research design involving: the administration of the observational protocol at the time of recruitment (T1); the observation of the subjects during all the activities over the twelve months; a further administration of the protocol at the end of the activities (T2). Discussion: Findings suggest that structured, inclusive agricultural settings can support social, motor, and adaptive growth in autistic adults, promoting participation and autonomy. Conclusion: Social farming may represent a valuable strategy to enhance occupational and social inclusion in autistic adults. These results support the implementation of nature-based, community-integrated programs to foster meaningful development opportunities. conclusion: These data confirm the important role of social agriculture in the development of work and interpersonal skills in adults with ASD.