The federal Government Accountability Office issued a report today concerning transition services for special education students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Among the recommendations of the GAO is that the Department of Education consider reducing the age for transition services to age 14.
Here are some excerpts from the report:
"Students with disabilities are less likely than their peers to successfully
transition to postsecondary education or the workforce, and youth with
autism are even less likely to successfully transition than youth with other
disabilities, according to recent research. When young adults with
disabilities do not successfully transition out of high school, they may face
a lifetime of continued reliance on public assistance, potentially leading to
substantial costs to their families, the government, and society.
Commonly known as autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group
of complex developmental disorders characterized by difficulties with
social interactions and communication, highly focused interests, or
repetitive or ritualized behaviors... This report, which builds upon our recent work
identifying this population’s needs examines (1) the types of services
and supports provided at the local level to assist youth with ASD in
transitioning to adult life, (2) the key challenges for youth with ASD in
successfully transitioning to adult life, and (3) the extent to which key
federal agencies have collaborated to assist youth with ASD in
successfully transitioning to adult life...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
about 1 in 68 children were identified as having ASD in 2012 (about 1.5
percent of 8-year-olds). ASD is a complex developmental disorder with
characteristics that can range from mild to more pronounced (see fig. 1). Each autism characteristic may vary in type and degree from person to
person and can fluctuate over time. The combination of characteristics
results in a highly individualized condition, as illustrated in figure 2. To successfully transition into adulthood, youth with ASD need to be able
to access services that are individualized, timely, equitable, and
community- and evidence-based, among other things, according to a
roundtable panel we convened in 2016 to examine the needs of
transitioning youth with ASD. The panel also identified 14 key services
and supports that may help youth with ASD attain the goals of education,
employment, health and safety, independent living, and community
integration as they transition to adulthood (see table 1).
Recent research analyzing the outcomes of youth with ASD suggests that
they encounter obstacles to attaining their goals for adulthood. According
to analysis of data from Education’s National Longitudinal Transition
Study-2 (NLTS2), in 2009:
• 36 percent of young adults with ASD had attended some type of
postsecondary education institution. Of those youth, 32 percent had
attended a 4-year college; 70 percent had attended a 2-year college;
and 33 percent had attended a vocational, business, or technical
school. • 19 percent of autistic adults in their early 20s had lived independently
at some point, either with or without supports. Fourteen percent had
lived in a supervised setting, such as a group home or medical facility,
which may have provided services such as life skills education or
vocational supports. The analysis further indicates that young adults
with autism are less likely to live independently than youth with other disabilities, including intellectual disabilities and emotional
disturbances. • About one-third of young adults with autism did not participate in any
community activities, and one-quarter had not had any contact with
friends for at least a year."
Among the recommendations of the GAO was: "To determine whether IDEA’s current transition age requirement allows
youth with disabilities, including those with ASD, the time needed to plan
and prepare for the transition to adult life, the Secretary of Education
should examine outcomes for students when transition services begin at
age 16 and the merits and implications of amending IDEA to lower the
age at which school districts are to begin providing transition services to
students with disabilities, such as 14."
If you are involved with children with autism, you should read this report which includes a wealth of information. You can review the entire 70 page report here. A summary of highlights is also available.
This was a very interesting post. I think it would be beneficial for youth with ASD to beging receiving services at the age of 14 as this post discusses. The statistics were alarming that there are so many with ASD that don't seem to be adjusting well into adulthood. We can sit back and do nothing. If the professionals are suggesting we take this step then we must join them in making our voices heard to enact change.
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