CAST Intervention to Improve Transition Outcomes for Autistic Students Integrating Support Across School, Home, and Community Settings

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the COMPASS Across Settings CAST intervention to improve goal setting and achievement skills among autistic youth. The project addresses challenges in current education practices that have not reliably led to positive postsecondary outcomes for autistic students, despite legal requirements for transition services. CAST integrates three evidence-based interventions and provides coaching support to caregivers, students, and employment specialists to better align goals across home, school, and community settings. CAST starts with an initial joint session involving the student, caregiver, special education teacher, and pre-employment transition specialist to discuss the students postsecondary goals, preferences, challenges, and strengths. This informs personalized intervention plans targeting social, communication, and work behavior goals. Following this, four additional one-hour coaching sessions are delivered by investigators, including feedback and instructional support. The project includes development activities with focus groups in year one, a field test in year two, and a randomized controlled trial RCT in year three. Participants will engage in assessments including goal attainment scaling of Individualized Education Program IEP goals and postsecondary goal achievement measured three months and one year after high school. Other evaluations include fidelity assessments of coaching sessions, organizational connectedness, and transition plan quality. Data collection involves focus groups, interviews, social network analysis, and cost analysis. The total participation spans multiple years with varying activities in development, testing, and evaluation phases.

COMPASS Across Settings (CAST) for Improving Transition Outcomes for Students With ASD