Maintaining vocational readiness during summer vacation: A two-group pilot evaluation of a culturally adapted digital parent-mediated programme for autistic adolescents and young adults in Saudi Arabia

Background Summer vacation may reduce opportunities for autistic adolescents and young adults to practice vocational readiness skills when structured educational and transition supports decrease. This two-group pilot programme evaluation examined the feasibility, acceptability, and implementation of the 8-week Summer Advocacy and Vocational Opportunities for Readiness (SAVOR) Programme, a culturally adapted digital parent-mediated intervention in Saudi Arabia, and estimated preliminary between-group differences in parent-reported vocational readiness and transition-related functioning. Methods Sixty-four parent–participant dyads involving autistic adolescents and young adults aged 15–21 years were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the immediate intervention ( n = 32) or waitlist comparison group ( n = 32) using a computer-generated allocation sequence. SAVOR comprised eight asynchronous parent micro-learning modules and structured home-based vocational readiness activities. Feasibility, acceptability, and implementation were assessed using retention, intervention exposure and adherence indicators, the SAVOR Parent Feedback Questionnaire (SPFQ), and qualitative parent feedback. Parents completed the SAVOR Career Readiness Skills Checklist (SCRSC) and Transition Planning Inventory–Arabic Version (TPI-AR) at baseline and post-intervention to provide preliminary between-group estimates. Exploratory direct feedback was additionally obtained from five autistic participants. Results Fifty-eight of the 64 allocated dyads completed the post-intervention assessment (29 per group; retention = 90.6%). Among intervention completers, 89.7% completed all eight modules, 93.1% completed all weekly implementation checklists, and 82.8% reported an average daily practice duration of at least 15 min. Parent-reported usability, acceptability, feasibility, and confidence were favorable, and the mean likelihood-to-recommend rating was 9.1/10. Preliminary intention-to-treat estimates also favored SAVOR for parent-reported vocational readiness (adjusted mean difference = 6.1, 95% CI [1.2, 11.0]; Cohen’s d = 0.58, 95% CI [0.10, 1.06]). Exploratory domain-level estimates were largest for self-management and time-management skills, while the estimate for transition-related functioning was directionally consistent but less precise. Exploratory autistic participant feedback highlighted accomplishment, independence, structured routines, task-initiation challenges, and interest in broader community-based activities. Conclusions SAVOR demonstrated favorable feasibility, acceptability, and implementation among participating families. Preliminary between-group estimates provide a signal of potential benefit for parent-reported vocational readiness but are not intended to establish programme effectiveness. Further evaluation is warranted in a fully powered, prospectively registered study with longer follow-up, systematic autistic participant-reported outcomes, and multiple outcome sources. The study was not prospectively registered. Following completion of data collection and analysis, the study was retrospectively registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF; GUID: qajs8).