Transition Outcomes of High-Functioning Students with Autism: How and When Students Learn the Skills Necessary for Self-Management of Daily Responsibilities
The purpose of this project is to (1) understand the programs and strategies that parents and special educators use to teach students with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASD) how to manage daily life tasks and (2) examine how the ability to self-manage daily life tasks is associated with successful transition outcomes for students with HFASD. Research has shown that although students with HFASD have similar levels of academic achievement as their peers, they also exhibit significant impairments in their ability to manage daily life tasks, which are a strong predictor of poor adult outcomes. There is a need to better understand the factors that account for the poor transition outcomes of students with HFASD. This study aims to inform the development and refinement of interventions and supports that will facilitate the ability of students with HFASD to self-manage daily life tasks and thus prepare for life after high school.