Research and prac,ce that informs innova,on:
The research perspec,ve…
Craig Newschaffer A.J. Drexel Au5sm Ins5tute Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Au5smIns5tute@drexel.edu www.drexel.edu/Au5smIns5tute 1
Thanks and acknowledgements to‌. Paul Sha:uck Program Area Leader Anne Roux Kristy Anderson Jessica Rast Peter Doehring Amy Edwards Elizabeth McGee Hasserick ColleMe Sosnowy Angel Hogan
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o The study of employment in the au5sm
research landscape o Findings on the challenges o Findings on the poten-al solu-ons o Priority research direc5ons o Thoughts on how research and prac5ce can work together to foster innova5on
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o  The study of employment in the au5sm research landscape
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Pubmed publica,ons on interven-on in children with ASD* and employment in adults with ASD* by year 80
74
70
54 Intervention in children
50
Employment in adults 40
36 31
30
25 21 17 10 3
5
2015
2013
5
2014
2012
3 4 2011
1 1 2008
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
1
2010
2 2001
2000
3 2 3 1999
4
1998
1996
1995
1 1 1994
1993
1992
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
0
1991
1 2 1
1
1997
10
11 11 9 10 8 7
16
2009
20
2007
Number of Articles
60
Publication Year
* Based on searching for the word “au,sm” plus either “interven,on” (top panel) or “employment” (bo:om panel) – resul,ng publica,ons were then further screened for relevance.
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6
o The study of employment in the au5sm research landscape o Findings on the challenges o Descrip5ve studies o Observa5onal studies
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Source: NLTS2 Propor5on of young adults (age 21-25) with disabili5es ever having a job for pay
Propor5on of young adults (age 21-25) with ASD ever having a job for pay stra5ďŹ ed by HS work history
S o u r c e : N a , o n a l L o n g i t u d i n a l Transi,on Survey 2 as presented in the Na,onal Au,sm Indicators Report – Transi-on Into Young Adulthood
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o 18 studies o Only 4 rated as high quality – limita5ons noted: work
par5cipa5on o`en part of a composite outcome, correla5on between predictors not adequately addressed, results commonly do not achieve sta5s5cally significant, combina5ons of factors not considered o IQ is the only factor consistently significantly associated with work par5cipa5on
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Disconnec,on (no work or school) stra,ďŹ ed by skill level and family income among young adults (age 21-25) with au,sm 100% 80% 60%
79%
Income < $25K Income > $75K 45%
40% 20%
13% 3%
0% Lowest Skill
Highest Skill
Source: Na5onal Longitudinal Transi5on Survey 2 as presented in ShaMuck et al, 2012. Pediatrics 129(6)
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o The study of employment in the au5sm research landscape o Findings on the challenges o Findings on the poten-al solu-ons o Observa5onal studies o Experimental studies
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Observa,onal studies of supported employment: The US DOE RSA-911 database Work par,cipa,on in transi,on age clients by ASD status
Service predictors of work par,cipa,on in transi,on age male clients with ASD Job supports
5
100
Counseling
60 40 20
36% 29% 36
29
Adjusted Odds Ratio
Percent
80 College Job placement
1.0
Other Disabilities
Burgess and Cimera. Amer J Intel Dev Dis 2014
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Voc. Training
0
ASD
Job readiness
7
8
Transport
0.5
Sung et al. J Au5sm Dev Disorders. 2015
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Randomized controlled trial of Project SEARCH plus ASD supports vs. HS a:endance plus IEP services in Virginia Work par,cipa,on at one-year post enrollment by group 100
87.5%
Percent
80
60
40
87.5
20
6.25% 6.25
0
Project Search
Control
Wehman et al. J Aut Dev Disord 2014 13
o The study of employment in the au5sm research landscape o Findings on the challenges o Findings on the poten-al solu-ons o Priority research direc5ons
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Priority research direc,ons (1)
o Understanding the challenges o Expanded outcomes beyond work par5cipa5on o Job reten5on/sa5sfac5on o Impact
o Predictors that inform programming o Execu5ve func5on, comorbid symptoms, social cogni5on o Interac5on between predictors (gender, cogni5ve status)
o Measure what maMers! o Longitudinal data
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Priority research direc,ons (2)
o Uncovering solu-ons o Comparison groups o Apply analy5c methods that help combat confounding (large sample size and measure what maMers - again!) o Understand “ac5ve ingredients” o More randomized studies o Study innova5on o Collect quality data on emerging/novel programs
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o The study of employment in the au5sm
research landscape o Findings on the challenges o Findings on the poten-al solu-ons o Priority research direc5ons o Thoughts on how research and prac5ce can work together to foster innova5on
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Research and prac,ce working together to study innova,on (1)
o Programming innovators should commit to data collec5on and evalua5on o Develop a culture of compromise between prac55oners and researchers o Resources (!?)
o Compe55ve funding programs increasingly (but slowly) selng priori5es that are a match for these ini5a5ves o Sponsors (employers) need to invest o Even with a boMom-line orienta5on, R&D will pay off
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Research and prac,ce working together to study innova,on (2)
o Researchers should find ways to incubate innova5ve
programming o In partnership with prac55oners, employers, and philanthropists Drexel Transition Pathways Initiative
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www.drexel.edu/AutismInstitute AutismInstitute@drexel.edu Link to National Autism Indicators Report Transition Into Young Adulthood:
drexe.lu/autismindicators
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