Cognitive Support Technology for Postsecondary Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Cognitive Support Technology (CST)
- Registration Number
- NCT04980963
- Lead Sponsor
- Kent State University
- Brief Summary
This study will fill important knowledge gaps in the availability of best practices that use innovative methods to integrate the cognitive and vocational needs of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who will be transitioning from 2- and 4-year postsecondary education to employment. Best practices exist from the assistive technology (AT) field to help people compensate for cognitive impairments, and from the vocational rehabilitation (VR) field to enhance employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. However, these practices have not been integrated to provide needed supports and services to improve the employment outcomes of students with ASD. The study's goal is to expand the availability of innovative practices by testing the efficacy of a technology-driven, long-term, and resource-rich individualized support program that merges assistive technology for cognition and vocational rehabilitation practices. The end products will include technology application guidelines, training and procedural manuals, and resource information that rehabilitation professionals and students with ADS can utilize to enhance technology and mentoring proficiency, academic success, self-determination, and long-term career success for students with ASD.
The knowledge to be gained from this research will have a beneficial impact on students with ASD, rehabilitation professionals, higher education personnel, case managers, and employers who work with people with ASD. There is strong potential for the students to develop skills that will help them succeed in learning as well as employment settings. The ultimate benefit of research activities for the target population will be seen in the improved capacity for postsecondary students with ADS to utilize state-of-the-art technology to accommodate disability-related limitations, address career readiness, and to prepare for and obtain employment after graduation.
Because the risks to subjects are no greater than those associated with everyday life and because the study staff will refer students who are in psychological distress or medical emergency situations to appropriate resources in the community, the minimal risks of this study justify the considerable benefits that this study will yield. Not only will the study benefit participating students, it stands to make important contributions to the knowledge bases in the fields of assistive technology and rehabilitation.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 90
- Must be a post-secondary student enrolled in degree programs at two-year and four-year colleges or universities within a 60-mile radius of Kent, Ohio
- Must have a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- No other exclusion criteria will be applied
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Full Treatment Cognitive Support Technology (CST) Steps of the Intervention Condition. Following an in-person session in which a pretest assessment is completed, each member of the intervention group will participate in three face-to-face sessions with the interventionist at the student's campus or at the interventionist's office to complete the CST component of the intervention. Taking into consideration available psychoeducational assessment data, functional assessments from other agencies, and the participant's self-report regarding the functional difficulties that result from his or her ASD-related cognitive impairments, Scherer's (2012) Matching Person and Technology (MPT) protocol will guide the CST assessment. For purposes of the CST component of this intervention, the technological platform for cognitive accommodations will be an iPad II that is provided to each intervention-group participant at no charge (including wireless access if needed). The interventionist will provide training in the use of the iPad if necessary. Abbreviated Treatment Cognitive Support Technology (CST) Steps of the Control Condition. Following an in-person session in which the pretest assessment is completed, each member of the control group will participate in two telephone or Skype sessions with the interventionist to discuss her or his needs for electronic cognitive supports. An abbreviated version of Scherer's (2012) MPT assessment will be administered via telephone or Skype in the first of these virtually-administered sessions. In the second telephone or Skype session, the interventionist will summarize the results of the abbreviated MPT assessment, suggest a variety of cognitive enhancement apps for tablet computers or smart phones that the control group participant can consider.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Grade Point Average (GPA) Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Participant GPA
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method % of Participants Receiving Disability Benefits Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Whether participants receive SSDI and/or SSI benefits or not
Current academic standing Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Satisfaction with current living status and transportation access Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Measured using single item 5-point Likert question on questionnaire
Overall Health Status Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Measured using RAND 36-item Health Survey
Acceptance of Disability Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Measured using the Acceptance of Disability Scale- Short Form
Satisfaction with Social Support Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Measured using single item 5-point Likert question on questionnaire
Current Employment Status Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Three items on questionnaire including dichotomous employment question (e.g., are you employed?), if yes, number of hours employed and weekly earnings.
Quality of Life (QoL) Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Measured using the Qualify of Life Scale
Post-Secondary Enrollment Status Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) % of participants still enrolled in a postsecondary program
Perceived Stress Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Measured using Perceived Stress Scale- 10
Depression Symptoms Baseline (enrollment in study), 6 months, and 1 year (study completion) Measured using Beck Depression Inventory- II (BDI-II)
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Kent State University
🇺🇸Kent, Ohio, United States