Enhancing Community Participation through Peer-Mediated and Occupational Therapy Transportation Interventions |
The number of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) transitioning into adulthood has increased dramatically (CDC, 2012) with an estimated 50,000 individuals transitioning out of high school each year and an estimated 500,000 entering adulthood over the next decade (Roux, et al., 2015). Transportation is a major obstacle to accessing essential services and overall community participation for many individuals with ASD (Feeley, 2009).
Driving is often not a viable option due to the impact of the disability or lack of financial resources, resulting in a reliance on alternative modes of transportation. Public transportation is a low-cost option, although often avoided due to lack of training and experience (Rosenkvist, et al., 2009). Preliminary research has demonstrated positive outcomes of training programs for people with disabilities to learn how to use public transportation systems (Haveman et al., 2013), although none of the interventions explored the impact of peers as interveners. Peer-mediated interventions connect two individuals with a shared lived experience (i.e., condition of ASD), which is believed to enhance the interpersonal relationship, benefits of role modeling, and promote a more equal relationship (Watkins, et al., 2015). This project intends to: 1) implement a randomized control study with 64 participants to determine the efficacy of an innovative peer-mediated intervention to reduce transportation barriers for transition-aged youth and adults with ASD; 2) determine dosing recommendations for the intervention; and 3) collect qualitative data to identify potential outcomes for future studies targeting peer-interventionists. The outcome of this project has the potential to address a significant barrier to community participation for transitional-aged youth and adults with ASD. Participants will be accepted into the study until the proposed powered sample size is met with any drop outs replaced by participants on a waitlist who express interest. Any individuals on a waitlist at the completion of the study will be referred to SEPTA who has a free travel training program available to individuals with disabilities. |