Spectrum Innovates Pathway: Preparing Autistic Students to Enter Higher Education and Careers in Advanced Technological Fields

Spectrum 创新途径：为自闭症学生进入高等教育和先进技术领域的职业做好准备

• 批准号: 2000670
• 负责人: Patrick Waters
• 金额: $ 59.98万
• 依托单位: NFP NEXUS INC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-08-15 至 2023-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2000670&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Spectrum; Innovates; Pathway; Preparing; Autistic

Based on recent estimates, about 1 in 60 children born in the United States are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Speaks (autismspeaks.org) currently reports that as many as 90% of autistic individuals are unemployed or underemployed. To address the autistic community's employment needs and the forecasted shortage of technicians in the aeronautics industry over the next twenty years, nfpNEXUS, Inc. will partner with Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, Inc. to develop and implement the Spectrum Innovates Pathway project. Design of this Pathway is informed by the findings of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2018) on best practices for learning, as well as recent research that has led to modified and new cognitive models for autism. The Spectrum Innovates Pathway will support autistic students who share a common passion for aeronautics. The primary goal of the Pathway is to prepare autistic students to succeed in higher education and to enter the workforce in advanced technician roles. This project will provide full immersion of autistic students in a STEM learning environment designed to support them as they acquire the knowledge and certifications needed for their entry into advanced technical careers. The project will develop and implement a bridge year for autistic students who have completed their high school requirements. The project will leverage experiential learning to support students’ acclimation to the collegiate and work environments and development of critical life and practical skills. A robust recruitment process for students will increase awareness of the availability of the advanced technician options for autistic individuals. Students will be included in a cohort for the duration of the program, which is expected to contribute to creating a supportive learning environment. Student projects will model real world challenges to reinforce existing knowledge and skills. Industry partners will serve a dual role as advisors on emergent work force skills as well as identifying and promoting opportunities for autistic individuals in the job market. The Innovation Hub at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology includes the Maker Space, Composite Prototyping Center, Robotics Lab, Flight Simulators, and Air Traffic Control Simulators. This Hub will inform and drive the project and its methodology. Dissemination strategies will include postings about project activities and results on the project website and the Autism Speaks website, as well as through local workshops and presentations at conferences. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

根据最近的估计，在美国出生的60名儿童中约有1个被诊断出患有自闭症谱系障碍。自闭症会话（自闭症Speaks.org）当前报告说，多达90％的加速个人失业或就业不足。为了满足加速社区的就业需求以及未来二十年来航空公司行业技术人员的预测短缺，NFPNexus，Inc。将与沃恩航空技术学院（Vaughn Aeronautics and Technology，Inc。）合作，以开发和实施Spectrum Innovates Pathway Project。该途径的设计是由美国国家科学，工程和医学学院的发现（2018）的发现，对学习的最佳实践以及最近导致自闭症的经过修改和新的认知模型的研究。 Spectrum Innovates Pathway将支持对航空充满热情的加速学生。该途径的主要目标是为积极进取的学生做好准备，以在高等教育中取得成功并进入高级技术角色。该项目将在STEM学习环境中充分沉浸于加速学生，旨在支持他们，因为他们获得了进入高级技术职业所需的知识和证书。该项目将为完成高中要求的加速学生开发和实施桥梁年。该项目将利用学习经验来支持学生对大学和工作环境的适应以及关键生活和实践技能的发展。为学生提供的强大招聘过程将提高人们对高级技术选择的可用性的认识。在计划期间，学生将被纳入队列，这将有助于创建支持学习环境。学生项目将模拟现实世界的挑战，以增强现有知识和技能。行业合作伙伴将担任紧急劳动力技能的顾问，并确定和促进就业市场中加速个人的机会。沃恩航空技术学院的创新中心包括制造商空间，复合原型中心，机器人实验室，飞行模拟器和空中交通管制模拟器。该枢纽将告知并推动该项目及其方法。传播策略将包括有关项目活动和结果网站和自闭症讲话网站的发布以及通过会议的本地讲习班和演示的发布。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划的重点是推动国家经济的高级技术领域的技术人员的教育。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查标准来通过评估来诚实地支持支持。