“This funding will allow us to find ways to help reduce
or eliminate the disconnect from needed services that
often occurs when students with autism spectrum disorder
complete school.”
— Dr. Lisa Ruble, UK College of Education professor
A new study at the University of Kentucky College
of Education helps frame the conversation around
this transition. The National Institute of Mental
Health has awarded a $693,000 grant to UK College
of Education professor Dr. Lisa Ruble and a crossdisciplinary team of co-investigators at UK and
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
“This funding will allow us to find ways to help
reduce or eliminate the disconnect from needed
services that often occurs when students with autism
spectrum disorder complete school,” Ruble said.
Melanie says her son has multiple skills that are
valuable to an employer, but he needs additional
support.
“The powerful thing about this study is that it brings
national attention to it beyond just some parent like
me saying, ‘Oh dear, my poor child,’” she said. “It is
exciting because when something gets researched, it
gets attention and it counts. It formalizes things and
forces people to begin to pay more attention in this
area. We have all kinds of people like my son Jay in
the far reaches of this state and we need to figure out
how we are going to meet their needs and give them
a quality of life.”
The study will further the research team’s previous
work with an intervention called the “Collaborative
Model for Promoting Competence and Success” for
young children with ASD. COMPASS is a parentteacher consultation model that has empowered
teachers, families, and above all, students, by
improving educational outcomes.
While the work with COMPASS has been successful
for young students, it will need to be adapted, based
on stakeholder input, for students nearing adulthood
and preparing to complete high school. Once
adopted, it will be tested in a randomized controlled
study of 32 participants. Additional variables to help
understand factors that explain optimal and poor
outcomes will be obtained.
Jay has received services at the UK College of
Education since he was a preschool student at the
college’s Early Childhood Lab. He participates
in services offered through the college’s CASPER
center, such as social skills training and small group
programs. Through the years, Jay has had the
opportunity to interact with many of the college’s
faculty members and students.
“UK is conducting research and training all these
people who are going into careers to help those with
autism,” Ruble said. “It is uplifting because I know
every student who goes through these programs
helps raise the state and nation’s capacity to provide
services to children and adults with autism spectrum
disorder. We need to continue to keep doing better.”
Melanie is involved with the Autism Society of the
Bluegrass, which is a caregiver support and advocacy
group. She has had the opportunity to meet many
people on the autism continuum who have a wide
range of abilities – some attend college, but many
struggle to find employment.
“While many on the continuum have achieved
postsecondary education and/or employment, there
continue to be a significant number who struggle,”
she said. “The challenge is how we are going to plan
and get what we need for these individuals.”
For now, Jay is putting in lots of volunteer hours in
pursuit of “the good life.”
“I’m doing the same thing any parent would want
for their child,” his mother said. “We want to make
sure our children are OK after we are gone. With
Jay, it’s a more involved, complicated plan. I think
it’s possible. I have got to figure out as a parent how
to do it. «
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