Transition Services & Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Studies have revealed that youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participate in fewer activities, participate less frequently, and have fewer friends than typically developing children (Taheri et al., 2016). These problems transfer into adulthood if children do not get the opportunity to acquire the skills they need. The purpose of this research is to explore the experience of young adults with ASD and their social skills at transition programs. It aimed to (1) explore the experience of young adults with ASD within their transition program, (2) describe how young adults with ASD perceive their transition program has impacted their social skills, and (3) identify factors relating to the transition programs that have impacted their social skills. This qualitative phenomenological research study used semi-structured interviews which were audio-recorded and transcribed to code and find themes. The four emerging themes were the following: (1) Member Feelings Towards Group, (2) Personal Development, (3) Social and Learning Experiences with Program, (4) Aspirations. The results of this study indicate that young adults with ASD have a positive experience with their transition program and that it has helped them develop social, job, money, home management, and other skills through classes and activities. In addition, two participants mentioned they held a job. These findings correlate with previous literature. The results of Gorenstein et al. study published in 2020 improved social cognition skills after participating in a transition program as well as a 45% increase in employment within six months. The emerging themes of this study demonstrate how this transition program aids in developing the participants’ life skills as well as their aspirations in life. Occupational therapy involvement can aid these programs in furthering the participants’ skills to achieve more independent lifestyles and achieve occupational competence.

References

Gorenstein, M., Giserman-Kiss, I., Feldman, E., Isenstein, E. L., Donnelly, L., Wang, A. T., & Foss-Feig, J. H. (2020). Brief report: A job-based Social Skills Program (JOBSS) for adults with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(12), 4527–4534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04482-8

Taheri, A., Perry, A., & Minnes, P. (2016). Examining the social participation of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder in relation to peers. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 60(5), 435–443. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12289

Hillier, A., Fish, T., Cloppert, P., & Beversdorf, D. Q. (2007). Outcomes of a social and Vocational Skills Support Group for adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 22(2), 107–115. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576070220020201