Making the transition to post-secondary education: opportunities and challenges experienced by students with ASD in the Republic of Ireland

Bell, S., Devecchi, C., McGukin, C. and Shevlin, M. (2016) Making the transition to post-secondary education: opportunities and challenges experienced by students with ASD in the Republic of Ireland. European Journal of Special Needs Education. 32(1), pp. 54-70. 0885-6257.

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Item Type:	Article
Abstract:	Internationally there are increasing numbers of young people on the ASD spectrum attending higher education. Early transition planning is essential and students with ASD often require support to articulate their post-school educational goals and actively participate in transition planning meetings. Services within higher education are primarily designed to provide academic supports however, non-academic supports may be an even more crucial factor in enabling successful transitions for young people on the ASD spectrum who often experience heightened anxiety within an unfamiliar environment. Within this paper, the results of a small-scale exploratory study of the transition experiences of six young people on the ASD spectrum to post-secondary education will be shared. There was limited evidence that transition planning had been initiated as a formal process for the six students. Accessing support in higher education proved to be a complex process for some students who required sustained input from parents to ensure that they would utilise the supports available. Encouraging the development of selfdetermination skills, a key predictor of success in higher education, needs to begin in secondary school. It is anticipated insights from this study can contribute to the development of an embedded infrastructure to support effective transitions for students with ASD to post-secondary education.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Transition to post-secondary education, students who experience ASD, support services in higher education, social interaction and curriculum
Subjects:	L Education > LC Special aspects of Education > LC3950 Exceptional children and youth. Special education > LC4801 Emotional and behavioral disorders
Creators:	Bell, Sheena, Devecchi, Cristina, McGukin, Conor and Shevlin, Michael
Publisher:	Routledge
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:	University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > Education, Children and Young People Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > Education, Children and Young People
Date:	23 December 2016
Date Type:	Published Online
Page Range:	pp. 54-70
Journal or Publication Title:	European Journal of Special Needs Education
Volume:	32
Number:	1
Language:	English
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2016.1254972
ISSN:	0885-6257
Status:	Published / Disseminated
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/9425

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