Increasing ATE Career Placement for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Identification and Dissemination of Best Practices

根据美国疾病控制中心(CDC)的数据，全国自闭症谱系障碍的患病率从2000年的1/150上升到2010年的1/68，增幅为119.4%。导致ASD患病率增加的因素包括公众意识的提高、筛查的改进、诊断规范的变化，特别是识别和诊断过去可能被忽视的功能较高的ASD患者的能力提高。有证据表明，这些人，有时被称为高功能自闭症患者，可能是自闭症人口中增长最快的部分。这对高等教育机构和雇主的影响是深远的。除了诊断的改善，干预措施的成功和将自闭症学生纳入主流活动的努力也有助于提高大学入学率。预计未来几年，患有高功能自闭症谱系障碍的学生进入大学的人数将会增加，数据显示，社区大学中患有自闭症的学生的入学率是四年制大学的两倍多。该项目将制作一系列基于视频的教育材料，供教育工作者和雇主进行专业发展。主要的重点是：1)建立学术和以雇主为基础的STEM计划的意识，促进自闭症患者在大学和工作场所取得成功；2)向更多的教育机构、自闭症患者及其家人和雇主推广现有的“最佳实践”。这些视频将展示跨多个STEM学科的应用最佳实践，特别是在高级技术教育的技术人员准备计划中。Pellet Productions将首先分析目前以学术和雇主为基础的对自闭症患者的支持情况，然后制作一系列招聘和专业发展视频，包括：六个学生简介，三个面向家庭的ATE和STEM视频，一个面向普通观众的ATE和ASD概述视频，以及一个长篇纪录片风格的最佳实践视频，这将构成通过在线格式提供的专业发展课程的基础。将制作一本电子书，既伴随课程，又作为最佳做法实施的独立指南。主要受众包括：ATE教职员工、学生事务人员、企业部门人力资源人员和主管，以及患有自闭症的学生及其家人，帮助指导他们的大学和职业决策过程。

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), the national prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) increased by 119.4 % from 1 in 150 (in 2000) to 1 in 68 (in 2010). The factors contributing to the increased prevalence of ASD include heightened public awareness, improved screening, changes in the diagnostic specification, and, notably, improved ability to recognize and diagnose higher-functioning individuals with ASD who may have been overlooked in the past. Evidence suggests that these individuals, sometimes referred to as having high-functioning ASD, may be the fastest growing sector of the autism population. The implications for institutions of higher education and for employers is far-reaching. In addition to improved diagnosis, the success of interventions and efforts to include students with ASD in mainstream activities has contributed to increased rates of college attendance. The number of students entering college with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders is expected to increase in coming years, and data reveal an enrollment rate of students with ASD at community colleges at more than twice that of four-year colleges.This project will produce a series of video-based educational materials for the professional development of educators and employers. The overarching focus is to: 1) build awareness of academic and employer-based STEM programs that promote the college and workplace based success of individuals with ASD and, 2) to promote existing "Best Practices" to an expanded community of educational institutions, students with ASD and their families, and employers. The videos will showcase applied best practices across multiple STEM disciplines and specifically in technician preparation programs in advanced technological education. Pellet Productions will first perform an analysis of the current landscape of academic- and employer-based supports for individuals with ASD, and then produce a series of recruitment and professional development videos including: six student profiles, three ATE and STEM videos for families, and one ATE and ASD overview video for general audiences and a long form documentary-style best practices video that will form the basis for a professional development course to be offered via an online format. An e-Book will be produced to both accompany the course and serve as a stand-alone guide to best practice implementation. The primary audiences include: ATE faculty, student affairs personnel, corporate sector human resource personnel and supervisors, and students with ASD and their families to help guide their college and career decision process.