Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is exhibited through a wide-range of symptoms including social interactions, communication deficits, limited interests, and repetitive behaviors (e.g., stimming). The prevalence of autism amongst children and adolescents continues to grow with 1 in 36 diagnosed annually…

With many teens having to transition from a mainly educational system of support to a set of health and social service systems (Shattuck et al. in Autism Res Treat https://doi-org.bibliotheek.ehb.be/10.1155/2014/924182, 2017), there is a critical need to advance research and support services in the area of autism and transition to aid autistic* individuals and their…

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience high rates of psychotropic medication utilization and barriers to psychosocial services, yet limited literature explores use of these services and the association between a mental health condition (MH) and use. Using national multipayer claims data, this study estimates a multinomial logistic…

The transition to adulthood is a significant step in every individual's life. Specifically, for individuals with disabilities, the transition process requires targeted planning for specific adulthood outcomes (e.g., employment, higher education, living skills, social skills, and community preferences). As such, parent and professional voices and…

To explore issues surrounding re-consenting youth in longitudinal studies as they reach legal adulthood interviews were conducted with 46 parents plus 13 autistic teens enrolled in the Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK) study. Qualitative analysis focused on family sensitivities regarding guardianship decisions,…

Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are inequitably unemployed due to challenges associated with the social and communication demands of the traditional job interview process. Using a single-case multiple-baseline design replicated across participants, we evaluated the effects of eCoaching with online bug-in-ear (BIE) technology…

Autistic individuals have numerous strengths that are valuable in work settings (e.g., attention to detail, punctuality, low absenteeism, high work quality, strong work ethic, trustworthiness, loyalty). Yet, when compared to neurotypical peers, many autistic individuals continue to have difficulty securing, maintaining, and advancing in…

Previous research has shown that conversational language predicts vocational independence and friendship development. This study investigated the efficacy of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for School-Based Professionals delivered via Zoom as a pre-employment transition service on the social competence of…

In this systematic evaluation of intervention research for transition-age autistic youth, we examined quality indicators in 193 group and single-case design intervention studies, which tested effects on 1258 outcomes. Behaviorally based interventions were the most common intervention type. We found significant threats to internal validity for the…

This review aimed to map the literature surrounding strengths-based approaches in studies with autistic adolescents focusing on adult transition outcomes, by describing the active ingredients of interventions and the properties of assessment tools. Relevant databases were searched for articles surrounding strengths-based practices, which met the…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder impacting social interaction and communication skills. ASD can cause restrictive or repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities, with associated challenges and co-morbidities that often carry over into adulthood. These can limit opportunities for higher education, socialization,…

This paper reports on a qualitative, longitudinal case study conducted in England that explored the transition experiences of autistic students with intellectual disabilities (ID) as they left special school to go to colleges of further education (FE). Sequential interviews with six young people, their parents/carers and educators were developed…

In a convenient large-size format, this book presents the first research-based, comprehensive program designed to support high school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Developed and tested in public schools by the Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CSESA), the program addresses four critical…

The purpose of the current study was to conceptually replicate a multi-indicator construct of economic hardship in a national sample of adolescents with and without disabilities (N = 9,230). Using data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS2012), the latent construct economic hardship was confirmed from six theoretically…

In a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT), "Virtual Interview Training for Transition Age Youth" (VIT-TAY) enhanced employment for autistic youth receiving transition services. For this study, a nonrandomized hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial evaluated whether VIT-TAY maintained its core implementation and effectiveness…