Transition preparation activities among families of youth on the autism spectrum: Preliminary study using repeated assessments across a school year

Much is still unknown about the transition to adulthood for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including what preparation activities best support positive adult outcomes. Parents play a crucial role in the transition planning and preparation process, yet the existing literature lacks detailed information about parent perceptions about transition preparation activities. To examine family transition preparation activities, we conducted a ten-month study of the transition preparation process of 15 families of youth with ASD across an academic year. Youth were ages 14–17 and 93% male. We collected data on transition preparation activity time spent and parent satisfaction over twenty data collection points. We used multi-level modeling to determine longitudinal trajectories of parent-reported preparation for the transition to adulthood based on endorsed transition preparation activities. Findings from this preliminary study revealed that discussions about the future were the most commonly endorsed activities, while social activities were most associated with increased parental perception of transition preparation over time. This study expands understanding of various transition preparation activities engaged in by families of youth with ASD during high school, though research with a larger and more diverse sample is needed to extend findings.