https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Wehman2022

Wehman, P., Schall, C., Avellone, L., McDonough, J., Whittenburg, H., Dubois, T., & Broda, M. (2023). Effects of a 9-month military-base internship on the competitive integrated employment of military dependent and connected youth with ASD. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(9), 3525-3541. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05634-8

This study examined employment outcomes for military-dependent youth (hereafter military youth) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who participated in an intensive internship program called Project SEARCH Plus ASD Supports (PS + ASD). 37 military youth with a diagnosis of ASD were randomly assigned to either the PS + ASD group or the high school group (i.e., the control group). They completed questionnaires about their demographics (e.g., race) at the start of the program. At the 12- and 18-month follow-ups, military youth completed questionnaires related to their employment experiences (e.g., employment status, hours worked, wages earned, types of employment). Overall, military youth in the PS + ASD group had higher employment rates than those in the control group.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05634-8

Youth
Programming
Children

Multiple branches
Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Navy

Active Duty

Child of a service member or veteran

Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)

Longitudinal Study
Quantitative Study

Wehman, Paul, Schall, Carol, Avellone, Lauren, McDonough, Jennifer, Whittenburg, Holly, Dubois, Thomas, Broda, Michael

This waitlist-controlled cluster randomized clinical trial presents the results of PS + ASD for military dependent and connected youth with ASD. Following earlier findings regarding PS + ASD, this study expands upon that previous work by including a new population, military dependent and connected transition aged youth with ASD. Findings indicate that military dependent and connected youth who participated in PS + ASD gained competitive integrated employment at 60% despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. In addition, these youth worked a mean of 24.42 h weekly and earned an average hourly wage of $9.38 at one year post baseline while the waitlist control group participants did not gain CIE. In addition, by 18 months, 58.3% of participants gained positions in federal employment. Implications of the study are discussed.

Springer Link

Article
REACH Publication

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, PW
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, CS
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, LA
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, JM
Department of Teaching & Learning, Washington State University, HW
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, TD
School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University, MB