What is the “Autism Transition Project”? The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools at The George Washington University School of Public Health Services is interested in learning more about how public schools in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia are preparing students with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to leave the school system and be successful in adulthood. Throughout the project, we will be connecting with parents of adolescents or young adults with an ASD who have recently, or are currently, going through the transition process and are willing to share their experiences with us. We will also be talking with local schools in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia to learn about the challenges they experience in providing helpful transition services to students with an ASD; and determine what tools and resources they need in order to make sure every student with an ASD is receiving quality transition planning before leaving the public school system. Using what we learn from parents and schools, the project team will identify the strengths and weaknesses of the public school systems in providing transition planning and services. The goal is to share this information with parents and educators in order to improve school transition planning and services, and thereby help students with an ASD and their families experience greater support and success during the transition from school to adulthood. What is the “Center for Health and Health Care in Schools”? The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) is a nonpartisan resource, policy, and technical assistance center located at The George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services. CHHCS has a 25-‐year history of developing school-‐connected strategies for better health and education outcomes for children. CHHCS specializes in researching school-‐connected programs, policies and systems, focusing on the school location as a central place for improving children’s overall health and education. It partners with foundations, government health and education agencies, and individual school districts across the country, to support effective school-‐connected initiatives. The Autism Transition Project (ATP) is funded by the Nelson and Michelle Carbonell Family Foundation. Who may Participate? The Autism Transition Project (ATP) is looking for parents/guardians of adolescents or young adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who are willing to participate in a focus group or telephone interview to share their experiences with school-‐based transition planning and services. To participate in a focus group, you must be the parent or legal guardian of a child with an ASD between the ages of 14 and 23, who attends public school or completed public high school within the last two years, in Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia. Focus groups will be held in the following school districts: • • • Maryland: Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Prince George’s County Virginia: Fairfax County, City of Alexandria District of Columbia Parents/guardians who wish to participate in the ATP but do not live within one of the focus group areas, or are unable to attend a focus group may participate through a phone interview with project staff. Parents/guardians should be willing to give 1-‐2 hours of time to participate in a confidential focus group or phone interview to share their experiences on ASD transition from school to adulthood. Parents will be compensated for their time with a $10 Target gift card. Other Things to Know: • • • • • • • • We plan to hold focus groups on weekday evenings in October and November. The specific dates, times, and locations for the focus groups are currently being decided. Details will be confirmed soon and sent to participants via email. Each focus group is anticipated to take between 1 and 2 hours. Participants may only participate in one focus group that is specific to their child’s school district. Each phone interview is anticipated to take 1 hour. Participation is voluntary. You may choose not to answer a question for any reason or leave the focus group or stop the phone interview at any time. Results from the focus groups and phone interviews will be used for the Autism Transition Project (ATP), but all responses will be anonymous and will not include any information that would identify you, your child, or any family member. Refreshments will be provided at focus groups. No childcare will be provided at focus groups. There is no direct compensation for your time or travel costs, but you will receive a $10 Target gift card for your participation. For More Information, Please Contact: Stephanie David, Assistant Research Professor, GWU School of Public Health and Health Services. Phone: (202) 994-‐4249; Email: [email protected]