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Article
Exploring the Impact of Community Service on Career Exploration, Self-Determination, and Social Skills for Transition-Age Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders
ThinkWork! Publications
  • Jaimie Ciulla Timmons, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Agnes Zalewska, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Allison C Hall, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Sheila Fesko, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2017
Keywords
  • autism,
  • transition,
  • community service,
  • employment,
  • ThinkWork
Abstract

Bleak transition outcomes for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), coupled with the surge in incidence, has led to the need for focused and innovative transition strategies. While structured community service reveals promise, documentation of how community service experiences contribute to building employment skills for youth with intellectual/developmental disability (IDD), including those with ASD, is under-researched. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of a community service on employment skill-building for youth with ASD. Findings from 23 qualitative interviews with a range of stakeholders showed positive perceptions in the areas of career exploration, self-determination, and social skill building. Implications emphasize the likely benefits of structured community service and the potential to maximize the connection to employment, and thus community inclusion, for transition-age youth with ASD.

Community Engaged/Serving
No, this is not community-engaged.
Publisher
Inclusion
Citation Information
Timmons, J., Zalewska, A., Hall, A. C., & Fesko, S. (2017). Exploring the Impact of Community Service on Career Exploration, Self-Determination, and Social Skills for Transition-Age Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Inclusion, 5(1), 16–32. http://doi.org/10.1352/2326-6988-5.1.16. © 2017 Inclusion. Reprinted with Permission of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.