Does Providing Transition Services Early Enable Students with ASD to Achieve Better Vocational Outcomes as Adults?

Abstract

This study investigated whether receiving transition services early (i.e., by age 14) promoted better vocational outcomes than receiving transition services later (i.e., by age 16) for young adults with ASD. To do this, the outcomes achieved by two matched groups were examined—453 young adults from states requiring transition services be addressed by age 14 and 453 young adults with ASD from states requiring transition services be addressed by age 16. In each of the four years examined (i.e., 2006–2009), individuals from the early transition states were significantly more likely to be employed than individuals from the later transition group. Further, early transition individuals who became employed appeared to earn more wages and cost less to serve.