Many youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face challenges accessing needed services as they transition to adulthood. The present study describes the development, feasibility and acceptability of a new intervention designed to teach parents of transition-aged youth with ASD about the adult service system and the most effective ways to access…

Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face challenges accessing needed services as they transition to adulthood. Correlates of service access identified in the literature--such as family resources, race/ethnicity, or youth functioning--can be difficult to change and may not be feasible targets for intervention. This study focused on a…

It has been reported that there is a rise in the number of individuals being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Singapore along with evolving changes in public awareness, attitudes, and levels of financial support occurring in the field in recent years. As such, this column presents the current status and issues related to the…

Students on the autism spectrum often require support to navigate transitions from one educational setting to another. This study examined stakeholder perceptions about the transition supports that educators employ to support students on the autism spectrum to transition from one school setting to another. A non-matched Australia-wide sample of…

Transition from pediatric to adult health care systems presents unique challenges for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder who often have complex medical and mental health needs. Without a coordinated transition plan, pediatric providers often continue to provide care to young adults with autism spectrum disorder beyond the scope of their…

Autistic transition age youth struggle with obtaining employment, and interviewing is a critical barrier to getting a job. We adapted an efficacious virtual reality job interview intervention to meet the needs of autistic transition age youth, called the Virtual Interview Training for Transition Age Youth. This study evaluated whether Virtual…

Recent calls by transition researchers in postsecondary transition have advocated for new approaches to transition services focused on career design, which uses career-related experiences based on a person's interests to develop goal setting and problem-solving abilities. Youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who often have…

To promote health care transition services (HCTS) among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is important to understand their access to HCTS and the association with functioning. We conducted weighted descriptive statistics and regressions. Findings suggested that HCTS were inconsistently provided to youth with ASD. Access to two or more…

This paper is a methodological reflection drawn from a study on the transition from school into young adulthood in Aotearoa New Zealand. During this process, the personal priorities of young adults with significant disabilities often becomes overpowered by those involved in their post-school planning. Through the experiences of young adults living…

Background: This study focuses on young people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism who, due to child welfare concerns, have grown up in children's residential care and are now transitioning out of care at the age of 18 years towards young adulthood. This transition is termed "care leaving" and the young people in transition…

The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators during the transition to adulthood for young adults on the autism spectrum, from the perspectives of service providers. Fourteen disability service providers participated in two focus groups. Focus group data were analysed using thematic analysis resulting in two themes relative to…

University provides individuals with the opportunity to develop greater independence in living skills and social networks, while also gaining valuable qualifications. Despite a high proportion of autistic individuals aspiring to attend university, many either do not seek or gain entry or drop out prematurely. Although some steps have been taken to…

There is a growing need to provide appropriate services to help students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) transition to employment. Limited research has investigated what aspects of support should be prioritized when preparing youth with ASD for employment. By conducting structural equation modeling using a nationally-representative dataset on…

The article describes research into the factors that facilitate a smooth transition for young women with High Functioning Autism (HFA) as they move between secondary school and Sixth form or Further Education (FE) College. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four young women with HFA and, additionally, with four members of education…

Young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience increased rates of anxiety and depression which can impact academic success. The Stepped Transition in Education Program for Students with ASD (STEPS) applies cognitive-behavioral principles to help young adults with ASD improve their adjustment to postsecondary education. We aimed to…