Do Autistic Youth Agree with Caregivers About their Transition Experiences? Findings from a National Survey

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 2:15 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Centering Families and Students in Inclusive Education

Abstract

Many surveys in special education and autism research are self-report or caregiver report. But, it is unclear whether respondents agree with each other or whether a caregiver can serve as a reliable source of information about their child’s experiences. This study compared responses from Autistic youth and their caregiver on an IRB-approved transition survey. The highest agreement ratings were for items that asked about outcomes, like having a job or attending school, with more disagreement about events from the past. The least amount of agreement was for questions about psychological empowerment, social skills, and self-advocacy/self-determination. Unless the focus of the research is on the caregiver’s perception, we recommend limiting caregiver survey questions to those about an event happening or not.

Authors

• Leslie Shaw, Cornell University

• Katherine Brendli Brown, Cornell University