ERIC Number: EJ1470902
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3432
Available Date: 2024-04-25
Preparing to "Live a Life of Possibilities": Experiences of Healthcare Providers Readying Autistic Adolescents and Their Families for Independent Driving
Rachel K. Myers1,2; Christina Labows1; Catherine C. McDonald1,3,4; Benjamin E. Yerys5,6; Emma B. Sartin1; Meghan E. Carey1; Cynthia J. Mollen2,7; Allison E. Curry1,2
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v55 n6 p2107-2114 2025
Autistic adolescents and their families may experience barriers to transportation, including independent driving, which is critical to supporting quality of life and engagement in social, educational, and employment opportunities. Healthcare providers may feel unprepared to provide guidance to autistic adolescents, although they are among the professionals families turn to for guidance. This study describes providers' experiences supporting autistic adolescents and families in the decision to pursue licensure and identifies barriers experienced in providing support. We conducted interviews with 15 healthcare providers focused on how they support autistic adolescents and their families in navigating topics related to independence, driving, and transportation. Key themes identified included: importance of understanding adolescents' perspectives and motivations, approaches to readying caregivers for children to pursue driving, and role of providers in fostering agreement between adolescents and caregivers. Results reflect healthcare providers as intermediaries between autistic adolescents and caregivers making the decision to pursue licensure and bring families to consensus. Our findings emphasize the importance of healthcare providers, in collaboration with community-based providers, in supporting autistic adolescents and their families considering licensure. Improving conversations between providers and families provides opportunity to better support quality of life among autistic adolescents and their caregivers navigating the transition to independence.
Descriptors: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Adolescents, Motor Vehicles, Barriers, Allied Health Personnel, Transportation, Perspective Taking, Motivation, Readiness, Parents, Role
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01HD079398; R01HD096221
Author Affiliations: 1Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Philadelphia, USA; 2University of Pennsylvania, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA; 3University of Pennsylvania, Department of Family and Community Health, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, USA; 4University of Pennsylvania, Division of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA; 5University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA; 6Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Autism Research, Philadelphia, USA; 7Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PolicyLab, Philadelphia, USA