Jerika S. Hartman Occupational Therapy major
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION Hartman, J.S., Cruz, C. (SVSU student), Beach, J. (SVSU student), Moyer, S. (SVSU student), & Nagayda, J. (2011, March). Parent perceptions of the effectiveness of services for their adult children with th autism spectrum disorder. Paper presented at The 24 Annual Midwest Deans‘ Occupational Therapy Research Conference, St. Louis, MO. The researchers discussed the findings of their phenomenological study exploring three parents‘ perspectives of the effectiveness of the transition planning services provided to their adult children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The results of parent interviews indicated that their children received varying amounts of transition planning services, which were limited in effectiveness. Parents consistently reported the importance of mainstreaming to allow their children to interact with non-disabled peers in a natural setting. Parents also emphasized the importance of advocacy and involvement in finding services, and ―tough love‖ in helping their children to reach maximal independence in vocational and independent living skills as they transitioned to adulthood. The researchers used their findings to develop recommendations for services that could promote a more successful transition into adulthood.
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Saginaw Valley State University