Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Journal

Accession No.:

J71126

Journal:


Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (JADD)

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

, 44, 3, 487-500

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Article presents the preliminary results of a randomized clinical trial of a modified Project SEARCH model on the employment outcomes for youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) between the ages of 18-21 years of age. Project SEARCH is a 9-month internships model where youth with development disabilities in their last year of high school are embedded in a large community business. In this study, additional components were added to the model to meet the learning and behavioral needs of youth with ASD. This model provided very promising results in that the employment outcomes for youth in the treatment group were much higher in non-traditional jobs with higher than minimum wage incomes than for youth in the control condition. Specifically, 21 out of 24 (87.5 percent) treatment group participants acquired employment while 1 of 16 (6.25 percent) of control group participants acquired employment.

Author(s):


Wehman, Paul H., Schall, Carol M., McDonough, Jennifer, Kregel, John, Brooke, Valerie, Molinelli, Alissa, Ham, Whitney, Graham, Carolyn W., Riehle, J. Erin, Collins, Holly T., Thiss, Weston

Participating Centers: