The Effects of Behavior-Based Services on Social Communication Among Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

• In Event: Identifying, Assessing, and Teaching Students With Autism

Abstract

This study used propensity score techniques on data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 to assess the causal relationship between behavior-based support services and rates of social communication among high school students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Findings indicate that social conversation problems and social comprehension problems were significantly reduced among students with an ASD who received behavioral and family support services, and social conversation problems were significantly reduced among those who received occupational/life skills services. These results provide practitioners, advocates, and families with a clearer national picture of the causal linkage between behavior-based services and their impact on social communication outcomes, and illustrate the importance of these services in improving the social communication skills of adolescents with ASD.

Authors

• Jennifer Yu, SRI International

• Xin Wei, SRI International

• Mary M. Wagner, SRI International