Incorporating Neurodiverse Voices: Providing Autistic Youth With Pathways to STEM Careers With Continuous Program Evaluation

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Transitioning to Adulthood: Career Readiness and Inclusion for Students With Disabilities (Table 11)

Abstract

Despite deep interests and abilities in STEM fields, autistic adolescents face a hurdle between their desire to participate in the STEM workforce and available opportunities. There is a need to develop supportive programs for autistic youth to bridge this gap and honor the voices of autistic youth. [Program] began in 2021 to provide a one-on-one mentored internship summer program for autistic youth interested in STEM educational and career pathways. Through ongoing program evaluation and input from autistic adolescents, their parents, and their mentors, we present how evaluation data has guided the continuous improvement of our internship program and the key elements which help autistic students develop STEM identities, learn STEM research skills, and improve their socioemotional and executive functioning skills.

Authors

• Ariana Riccio Arista, Education Development Center, Inc.

• Meagan Kathleen Bromley Henry, EDC Center for Children and Technology

• Andrew Grillo-Hill, WestEd

• Joshua Valcarcel, WestEd

• Karen Melchior, WestEd

• Kimberly Nguyen, WestEd

• Rasha El Sayed, WestEd

• Wendy B. Martin, Education Development Center, Inc.

• Laura Peticolas, Sonoma State University

• Lynn Cominsky, Sonoma State University