Employment Preparation and Application Skills Support (EPASS)
Training for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Connie Sung, PhDAssistant Professor of Rehabilitation
CounselingDepartment Counseling, Educational Psychology &
Special Education
June Chen, PhDFormer Hegarty Fellow in MSU-DOCTRID ProgramSoft
Skills and Employment Readiness Skills Training for Transition
Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Purpose of the projectTo conduct a pilot study for developing
and evaluating two progressive employment-related social skill
trainings for transition-aged individuals with high functioning
autism (HFA).
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Employment Preparation and Applied Skills Support
Assistive Social Skills and Employment Training
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Milestones and Accomplishments
Project Milestones and Accomplishments 1. Conducted eight expert
interviews: In order to develop the training program to best meet
the needs of our target population, we conducted eight individual
interviews with experts in the local area, who represented
different stakeholders, included young adult with HFA, parents,
rehabilitation counselors, educators, employers, and social
workers. Several key information and suggestions were collected
from the interviews and incorporated into the curriculum
development. 2. Developed two training curriculum: Based on the
findings from the expert interviews, the training curriculum for
ASSET and EPASS were developed and then further reviewed and
revised by a team of researchers and experts in rehabilitation
counseling, special education, human resource, as well as
occupational therapy. The two curriculum was both finalized in
2014.3. Conducted four pilot trials: As part of the iterative
design and development process, we conducted a total of four pilot
training groups to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of
the two programs. In Fall 2014, two pilot groups of ASSET were
conducted. A total of nine young adults with a diagnosis of autism
spectrum disorder but without intellectual disability or mental
illness participated in the study. Participants were
transition-aged students from local education
settings/institutions. All of them were male whose mean age was
20.43 (SD=1.20). Two-thirds were European Americans. In Spring
2015, two pilot groups of EPASS were then conducted. The same two
groups of participants with HFA took part in the program and learn
about employment readiness skills. Both ASSET and EPASS programs
were co-facilitated by two masters level rehabilitation
professionals.4. Analyzed preliminary data: Mixed-methods were used
with both qualitative and quantitative data collected. Data was
then analyzed and positive findings were revealed. Participants
showed improvement in general, social, and empathy self-efficacy;
whereas there was a reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms
pre- and post-intervention. More than 50% of the participants
reported improvement in work-related social skills after
participating in the programs. Participants also reported increased
confidence in work-related activities after participating in the
programs. Finally, all participants reported that the program
helped them in working with others and to feel successful in the
workplace. Findings also suggested that the manualized group-based
Program is effective in improving work-related social skills,
self-efficacy and mental health among transition-aged individuals
with HFA with some sustained effects after two months. 4
Preliminary Results
>50% of the participants reported improvement in work-related
social skills after participating in the ASSET program.
Participants also reported increased confidence in work-related
activities after participating in the ASSET program.
Participants showed improvement in general, social, and empathy
self-efficacy; whereas there was a reduction in anxiety and
depressive symptoms pre- and post-intervention.
Hear what participants have to say
Research ProductsThree articles published2 articles in Journal
of Autism and Developmental Disabilities1 article in Review Journal
of Autism and Developmental DisordersTwo proposals
submittedOrganization for Autism Research (OAR)Department of
Defense (DoD)Three conference presentationsAPA, NCRE, DOCTRIDTwo
media coverageAutism SpeaksMSU TodayOne online support platform
Moving forwardContinue with second round of feasibility trials
(Two new pilot training groups have been recruited and will start
at the end of September).Continue to enhance the online support
platformThree manuscripts are under preparation
AcknowledgementRAINDCOE Design StudioJodene Fine, Ph.D.Angela
Hall, Ph.D.Stacy Hickox, Ph.D.Hung-Jen Kuo, Ph.D.Alan Wu, Ph.D.
Annemarie Connor, MSChien-Chun Lin, MABoyang Tong, MASeema
Mahdavi, MAKayla Musielak, MADavid Hensley, MATaryn Coetzee,
MAFiona Cutinha, MAPriya Mehla
Thank you!
Comments and Questions?
Connie Sung: [email protected] Chen: [email protected]