About the Study

The ROAD Ahead Study focuses on high school students on the autism spectrum who plan graduate high school with a regular high school diploma. We have completed the first phase of this study, which included focus groups and an online survey with school personnel to better understand the interventions and support provided to these students. We are currently finishing a short-term longitudinal study with parents and students on the autism spectrum to identify the predictors of optimal post-school outcomes for this population.

The primary goals of the study are to:

1. Understand the interventions and supports that parents and special educators use to teach diploma-track students on the autism spectrum how to manage the responsibilities of adulthood
2. Identify factors that predict optimal post-school outcomes for this population, focusing on the ability to self-manage the responsibilities of adulthood