A Collaborative Public/Private Employment Training and Placement Model ASD Transition Age Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trial

— ProjSEARCH1  

Official title:

A Collaborative Public/Private Employment Training and Placement Model for Transition Age Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02360332
• Other study ID #: NIDDRDRRP09-13
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: January 15, 2015
• Last updated: February 4, 2015
• Start date: October 2009
• Est. completion date: January 2015

Study information

• Verified date: February 2015
• Source: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The aim of the research project is to conduct evidence-based research on a nationally known vocational rehabilitation (VR) service model (Project Search) for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This information may be useful to high schools and vocational rehabilitation agencies that endeavor to use evidence based practices to serve individuals with ASD.

Description:

Autism is recognized to be a "complex disorder" as well as "a spectrum of disorders" that includes Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder- not otherwise specified. Diagnostic criteria for autism focus on impairments affecting socialization, verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. The number of high school students diagnosed with autism, for example, has been increasing over time with almost 194,000 students ages 6 through 21 nationwide identified as having autism and receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These young people create a significant need for vocational rehabilitation intervention in the decade ahead. Currently many persons with ASD continue to be. Howlin, et al. (2004) described the outcomes for 68 young adults with ASD (mean age 29), and found that a third worked and almost half were unemployed. RSA notes that in 2005 fewer than 2000 individuals with ASD received VR services. In Virginia the figure is only 255 total clients enrolled from between 2000 and 2007.

In this project the investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial which examines the impact of intensive community-based work experiences on the employment outcomes of youth with ASD. This study will test the efficacy of a nationally recognized model of an employer based employment training and placement program (Project SEARCH) for youth with ASD. Four dependent measures will be investigated: (1) employment status upon completion of the program, at 90 days post completion and 12 months post completion (primary), (2) wage upon completion, at 90 days post completion, and 12 months post completion (secondary), (3) number of hours worked per week (secondary) upon completion, at 90 days post completion and 12 months post completion. Three specific hypotheses are proposed, and (4) intensity of supports needed at work at completion, at 90 days post completion and 12 months post completion.

Hypothesis I: Individuals who participate in an employer based employment training and placement program will demonstrate a higher rate of employment than those in the control condition.

Hypothesis II: Individuals who participate in an employer based employment training and placement program will earn higher wages on average at project completion compared to those in the control condition.

Hypothesis III: Individuals who participate in an employer based employment training and placement program will work more hours per week on average than those in the control condition.

Hypothesis IV: Individuals who participate in an employer based employment training and placement program will require less intensive work support than those in the control condition.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 54
• Est. completion date: January 2015
• Est. primary completion date: September 2013
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 21 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Being a student in the local public school where the research was being conducted,

2. Having an ASD medical diagnosis and/or educational eligibility,

3. Displaying independent self-care,

4. Being able to provide consent or assent,

5. Having funding for supported employment through VR, and

6. Having continued eligibility for public school educational services in the coming school year.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Life threatening or dangerously severe aggressive or destructive behavior

2. History of fire setting

3. History of substance abuse

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autistic Disorder
• Child Development Disorders, Pervasive

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Project SEARCH plus ASD Supports
Project SEARCH program (Rutkowski, Daston, Kuiken, and Riehle, 2006) is a work based learning model for high school transition that was developed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The model provides complete immersion in the workplace. Students spend their entire school day at the workplace for a full school year. Consistent with principles of work based learning, Project SEARCH facilitates the development of a broad range of high-quality jobs within the employer organization and provides over 700 of supervised work experience. The model also relies on the intensive application of supported employments strategies (task analysis and customization, systematic instruction, ongoing support, etc.) to allow the participation of individuals with extensive support needs.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Virginia Commonwealth University	Chesterfield County Public Schools, Henrico County Public Schools, Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services

References & Publications (7)

Ham, W., McDonough, J., Molinelli, A., Schall, C., & Wehman, P. (2014). Employment Supports for Young Adults with ASD: Two Case Studies. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. DOI: 10.3233/JVR-140677.

Schall C, Wehman P, McDonough JL. Transition from school to work for students with autism spectrum disorders: understanding the process and achieving better outcomes. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2012 Feb;59(1):189-202, xii. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2011.10.009. Review. — View Citation

Schall, C. M. & McDonough, J. T. (2010). Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adolescence and Early Adulthood: Characteristics and Issues. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 32, 81-88.

Schall, C. M. (2010). Positive behavior support: Supporting adults with autism spectrum disorders in the workplace. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 32, 109-115.

Wehman PH, Schall CM, McDonough J, Kregel J, Brooke V, Molinelli A, Ham W, Graham CW, Erin Riehle J, Collins HT, Thiss W. Competitive employment for youth with autism spectrum disorders: early results from a randomized clinical trial. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014 Mar;44(3):487-500. doi: 10.1007/s10803-013-1892-x. — View Citation

Wehman, P., Schall, C., Carr, S., Targett, P., West, M., & Cifu, G., (2014). Transition from school to adulthood for youth with ASD: What we know and what we need to know. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 25, 30-40; DOI: 10.1177/1044207313518071.

Wehman, P., Schall, C., McDonough, J., Molinelli, A., Riehle, E., Ham, W., & Thiss, W. (2014). Project SEARCH for youth with autism spectrum disorders: Increasing competitive employment on transition from high school. Journal of Positive Behavior Intervention, 15, 144-155.

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in Employment Status across 3 points in time (Employed or not employed)	Are subjects currently employed?	9 months, 12 months, 21 months	No
Secondary	Change in Hours worked weekly across 3 points in time	How many hours do subjects work weekly	9 months, 12 months, 21 months	No
Secondary	Change in Hourly wage earned across 3 points in time	How much money do subjects earn hourly	9 months, 12 months, 21 months	No
Secondary	Change in Intensity of work support required across 3 points in time	What type and how much do support do subjects require at work?	9 months, 12 months, 21 months	No