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…

The postsecondary landscape for autistic youth is changing, with increased opportunities in education and employment. However, autistic youth still face higher disengagement rates than other disability groups. The Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism (CSESA) was a multisite study examining high school programming in 60 schools…

The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses myriad challenges for families, yet there is a scarcity of research focusing on their journey from recognizing initial anomalies to implementing interventions. This qualitative study examines how caregivers in Sylhet, Bangladesh, perceive and manage ASD in their children, including early…

Autistic people are more likely to experience mental health problems such as anxiety disorder and depression than are the general population. This study reports a qualitative analysis of interview data provided by 12 psychological therapists regarding their experiences of working with autistic people with anxiety disorders and/or depression within…

This qualitative study investigates teachers' perspectives on anxiety among autistic learners with intellectual disabilities (ID) in special school settings. Research in this area remains limited, with existing studies often overlooking the distinct ways anxiety manifests and interacts with ID in this population. Semi-structured interviews with…

In Australia, approximately one in 100 people have a diagnosis of autism, with young people on the spectrum less likely to continue education beyond secondary school. Barriers include the school environment, inadequate teacher preparation, a lack of understanding about autism, and the persistence of negative stereotypes that are linked to the…

Introduction: Music and speech prosody share notable parallels, and music-based interventions have shown promise in fostering language development and social responsiveness. Song-based training, leveraging acoustic similarities between song and speech, is especially effective. This study examined whether short-term song-based training could…

Researchers acknowledge how the experiences of Black autistic students and their families are virtually absent from educational research and research about autistic people. This chapter offers insights and perspectives from the parents of a Black autistic child, using hooks' construct of homeplace to understand the need for safety in school…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ASD symptoms are overrepresented among gender-diverse youth across studies. Gender-diverse and ASD youth are at risk for anxiety, but anxiety is unclear among gender-diverse youth with ASD. The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) is a commonly used ASD screener, including in multidisciplinary…

There has been a heightened awareness of an increased risk of suicidality among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to high rates of suicidal ideation (SI) in this population (11-66%). The current study investigated the rate of parent-endorsed SI and associated clinical features in 48 youths with ASD (Age; M: 12.97 years, SD:…

Emerging research shows that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may improve mental health for caregivers. Parents of autistic children, adolescents, and adults (N = 54) were randomly assigned to either complete a brief group-based ACT intervention or remain on the waitlist. Participants completed surveys immediately prior to randomization,…

Medicaid is a major insurer of autistic people. However, during the transition to adulthood, autistic individuals are more likely than people with intellectual disability to lose their Medicaid benefits. Individuals with intellectual disability may have greater success maintaining Medicaid coverage during this time because most states provide…

Independent living skills (ILS) are crucial for the post-school success of students with disabilities. In this systematic literature review, we examined ILS interventions for secondary and postsecondary education students with intellectual disability or autism ranging from ages 13-24 years. Forty-two articles met the inclusion criteria and were…

Little is known about differences in dosage or feedback that make teacher coaching effective in relation to teacher and student outcomes. This study builds upon previous research on the Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success (COMPASS) to understand the impact of different types (face-to-face coaching vs. emailed feedback) and…

Taking an inclusive and equitable approach to emergency management planning means considering the needs of all populations, and neurodivergent individuals are entitled to the same emergency services as neurotypical individuals. Core planning teams should team up with disability specialists, parents and guardians, and Individualized Education…