Helping high school-aged military dependents with autism gain employment through project SEARCH + ASD supports
Research Report:
APA Citation:
Whittenburg, H. N., Schall, C. M., Wehman, P., McDonough, J., & DuBois, T. (2020). Helping high school-aged military dependents with autism gain employment through Project SEARCH+ ASD Supports. Military Medicine, 185, 663–668. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usz224
Abstract Created by REACH:
Military-connected young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be less likely to obtain employment due to the transitory nature of military life. The Project SEARCH and ASD Supports (PS + ASD) program matches young adults with ASD to community internships and provides on-the-job training using applied behavior analysis (i.e., an evidenced-based intervention focused on modifying behavior). In this study, the PS + ASD program was hosted at a military installation. Using a sample of military-connected young adults with ASD (N = 14) and a randomized controlled trial design, employment rates of those in the program (n = 6) were compared to participants’ in a waitlist control condition (n = 8). Nearly all of the PS + ASD program participants were employed after program completion; in contrast, only one waitlist participant was employed.
Focus:
Programming
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Child of a service member or veteran
Civilian
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Methodology:
Preliminary analysis
Longitudinal Study
Quantitative Study
Authors:
Whittenburg, Holly N., Schall, Carol M., Wehman, Paul, McDonough, Jennifer, DuBois, Thomas
Abstract:
Introduction: Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face high rates of unemployment, with unique challenges for military-dependent and -connected youth with ASD. This paper reports preliminary findings from Year One of a randomized waitlist controlled trial investigating the efficacy of the Project SEARCH + ASD Supports (PS + ASD) intervention model for military-dependent and -connected youth with ASD. Methods: Treatment group participants (n = 6) participated in internships at a military installation in the southeastern United States; waitlist group participants (n = 8) received special education transition services at their local high schools. Employment outcome data were collected at 12 months for both groups. Results: Fourteen unique internship experiences were developed across seven business partner organizations on the military installation during Year One. Five of six PS + ASD treatment group participants obtained competitive integrated employment for an overall employment rate of 83.3%. Four of the positions were federal jobs. None of the waitlist group participants obtained competitive integrated employment during the same period. Conclusions: Initial results are promising and suggest that the PS + ASD model may help to meet the transition needs of military-dependent and -connected youth with ASD and the employment needs of local military communities.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Oxford Academic
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Virginia Commonwealth University, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, HNW
Virginia Commonwealth University, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, CMS
Virginia Commonwealth University, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, PW
Virginia Commonwealth University, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, JM
Virginia Commonwealth University, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, TD
Keywords:
military, autism spectrum disorder, military youth, employment
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
Sponsors:
All phases of this study were funded by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Autism Research Program Grant #W81XWH16-1-0707.
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