Program Development for Transition to Adulthood for Individuals with Autism

This project aimed to enhance transition programs for individuals with autism by evaluating the assessments currently used to identify areas of concern in vocational skills training. A review of the literature highlighted that, as autism diagnoses continue to rise in the United States, transition programs play a crucial role in bridging the gap between youth and adulthood. However, programs focused on education and vocational skills training are often insufficient in clinical settings, revealing a significant need for improvement. The literature also indicated that occupational therapists face a shortage of effective vocational assessments tailored to support vocational readiness. This capstone project utilized the Transition to Adulthood program at Cutting Edge to evaluate its existing vocational assessment, identify areas of concern, and implement recommendations for improvement. The process involved surveys and interviews with Cutting Edge staff, clients, and guardians to gather feedback on the previous vocational assessment used. Based on this input, three primary concerns with the previous assessment were identified, and three recommendations were made to address these issues. As a result, a new assessment, the CHANCE 2.0 Pre-Vocational Assessment, was developed. This updated tool was designed to address the identified concerns and improve intervention and treatment planning at Cutting Edge, ultimately enhancing clients’ independence and readiness for vocational opportunities.