STEPS: Stepped Transition in Education Program for Students With ASD

NCT ID: NCT02468505

Last Updated: 2019-07-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2014-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2018-10-01

Brief Summary

Young adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) without co-occurring intellectual impairment face a fairly unique set of challenges as they transition out of secondary school. These students are often quite capable of succeeding in higher education and many of them have interest in pursuing advanced degrees, but the nature of their disability and associated deficits (e.g., poor time management and poor self-regulation) may impede success. Individualized, appropriately timed, and developmentally sensitive transition and support services may promote optimal outcomes for these young people. The goal of this project is to develop a comprehensive program to promote successful transition of students with ASD from high school to post-secondary education.

Detailed Description

The investigators propose to refine and then evaluate a novel transition support and intervention program for adolescents and young adults with ASD: STEPS [Stepped Transition in Education Program for Students with ASD]. By targeting improved self-regulation (SR) and self-determination (SD) in young people with ASD, the investigators assert that this program may have positive outcomes with respective to college adjustment and functional behavior. Although the program will be finalized during the first phase of the proposed project, at present STEPS is comprised of two levels (or steps), which match the student's particular needs in relation to transition planning. In Step 1, students facing transition (i.e., have identified the college they will attend (either 2-year or 4-year institution) but are still in high school) and their caregivers will receive information to assist in transition planning, undergo readiness self-assessments (to identify degree of preparedness for post-secondary school), and participate in interactive sessions online and in person to promote self-knowledge and determination. The goal of Step 1 is to assist families and students with transition planning, specifically ensuring that families and students have the tools needed to make informed choices and take necessary steps (e.g., remediating identified skill deficits) to increase the likelihood of a successful transition out of high school. In Step 2, college students with ASD will receive fairly intensive supports and interventions, including individual counseling, structured support services, social integration activities, and coaching to promote academic and social success. The following specific aims are proposed.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

STEPS

structured psychosocial transition support that includes individual counseling, and education/training for parent and school personnel

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

STEPS

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

time-limited behavioral counseling, online materials, training

TAU

typical transition services and supports

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

STEPS

time-limited behavioral counseling, online materials, training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Must be 16 to 25 years
• Must have clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
• Must be preparing for postsecondary education or enrolled in postsecondary education

Exclusion Criteria

• Intellectual disability
• Psychiatric disturbance that warrants immediate treatment

• Minimum Eligible Age: 16 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Alabama at Birmingham

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Yasuo Miyazaki

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, Virginia, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

R34MH104337

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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