Developing skills for functional independence is important to gain employment, engage in postsecondary education, and live independently. Unfortunately, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulties with functional independence skills needed to complete common, everyday tasks. This study examined the effects of work…

Introduction: People with learning disabilities in the United Kingdom are being incarcerated in hospital settings due to lack of suitable community care and support. Factors influencing discharge from institutional/hospital care to enable successful community living have not been explored systematically. Method: A systematic review using the…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, impacting social communication and in some individuals, aspects of language such as vocabulary diversity. However, we have only a limited understanding of the verbal language abilities of adults with ASD. The present longitudinal study examined conversational language and…

Peer mentors play a crucial role in campus-based living and support programs that assist autistic students in their transition to U.S. colleges. However, limited research has examined the characteristics of potential peer mentors and incentives that may be necessary to staff such programs. The present study evaluated the relationship between the…

Independence is a critical skill in preparing students with disabilities for success after high school. Secondary special education teachers equip their students toward task independence across skill domains (e.g., employment, independent living), yet there is little guidance regarding a simple and systematic way to do so. MADE 2 FADE (M2F) is a…

Postsecondary education (PSE) programs serving individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) aim to improve life outcomes by increasing skills in three key areas: academics, independent living, and employment. To ensure that PSE programs are successful, ongoing evaluations are necessary. It is particularly important to gather parental…

Social Stories (also known as social narratives) help individuals participate in and understand social situations. This scoping review identifies and synthesizes social narrative research targeting behavior change in individuals with ASD. Using the following questions as a guide: (a) What is the scope of social narrative interventions used for…

"Autism at-a-Glance" is a series of practitioner and family-friendly documents created by the Center on Secondary Education for Students with ASD (CSESA) designed for high school staff members supporting students on the autism spectrum, as well as family members of adolescents with ASD. The purpose of the "Autism at-a-Glance"…

Background: The study reported here investigated the views of staff who worked with adults with intellectual disability regarding the likely future of such adults. Method: Staff were provided with a short vignette portraying an adult with intellectual disability and asked to describe that individual's future in five years and then to indicate the…

The purpose of this study was to identify aspects of home life, college life, or high school preparation that supported the success of students with disabilities at community colleges. As students with disabilities are rarely represented in the literature, this study offered a space for students with disabilities to share their voice and further…

Self-care skills, especially food preparation skills, are essential for independence as young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) transition to adulthood. This practice brief reviews the impact of a six-week course designed to teach cooking skills to college students with ASD. The goal was to increase confidence in cooking and frequency of…

Data show that people with disabilities are consistently less likely to be working than their non-disabled counterparts. In this Data Note, the employment rate for working-age people is compared across disability types, as well as those without disabilities. While employment rates across disability subpopulation groups vary, all disability groups…

Background: Professionals play an important role in supporting the social relations of persons with a disability. This study looks at professional practices supporting or strengthening social relations of persons in independent supported living, by integrating the perspectives of adults with a disability, network members and professionals. Method:…

This dissertation is an exploration of the experiences and perceptions the behavior support plan (BSP) had on individuals placed into residential services or an independent living facility through a state waiver in Indianapolis, Indiana. Autistic high school graduates were addressed in this study to look at the various behaviors they faced when…

First-year college retention rates are dropping at alarming rates, resulting in individual, institutional and global detriments. The decline is largely due to the inability of students to socially and emotionally navigate the transition into college life. This qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews sought to identify themes that…