The document discusses the development of a survey to assess self-perception of abilities and barriers to college for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attending Nassau Community College. It includes a literature review on ASD and discusses prevalence increases. A timeline is proposed for survey development, administration, analysis and reporting from 2015-2016. A proposed budget of $1,690.88 covers supplies, standardized measures, personnel and a potential student satisfaction survey.

1. S
Self-Perception of
Student's Abilities and
Barriers for College
Readiness
Survey Project for Nassau Community College-Autism
Spectrum Disorders Project
Created by: Linda Courtien

2. Part I: Literature Review
S What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
S Developmental disability marked by impairments in social
interaction and communication and the presence of unusual
behaviors and interests.
S Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning,
paying attention, and reacting to different sensations.
S Thinking and learning abilities vary from gifted to severely
challenged.
S Begins before the age of 3 and lasts throughout a person's
life

3. Prevalence of ASD
S According to the Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Monitoring (ADDM) Network, it is estimated that 1 out of
68 children are identified with ASD in 2014.
S The prevalence of ASD has increased approximately
29% since 2008, 64% since 2006, and 123% since 2002.
S May 2013: DSM-V was published with new criteria for
diagnosing ASD.

4. Why is ASD a public health
concern?
S Individuals with disabilities have yet to be recognized as a
health disparity population, which increases the risk of poor
health outcomes (Krahn et al., 2015).
S Family and societal impact:
S Poor health outcomes negatively impact the societal burden of
health care costs.
S Caregivers of children with ASD are less likely to work full-time
S Individuals with disabilities are also less likely to be living in a
household with an earned income above $50,000
S Individuals with disabilities were also less likely to have health
insurance, which is most likely due to the lack of full-time
employment of caregivers

5. Why is ASD a public health
concern?
S Lack of support after individual with autism turns 21.
S No longer receive school services
S “Aging out”
S Young adults with disabilities are more likely to:
S Be unemployed and live below the poverty line in
comparison to their non-disabled peers.
S Acquire entry level, unskilled positions and not be
competitively employed following high school graduation

6. Part II: Draft Survey
Resources used to create survey
S Vocational Skills Program: Student/Parent Survey
S Special School District of St. Louis County, 2015
S Social Skills Questionnaire: Grades 7-12
S Gresham et. al, 1990
S Self-Efficacy Scale
S Zajacova et al., 2005

7. Unavailable resources
S Scale of Independent Behavior
S Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS)
S Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS)
S Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function®–Self-
Report Version (BRIEF®-SR)

8. Survey Introduction
Self-Perception of Student's Abilities and Barriers for College
Readiness
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. The
purpose of this survey is to learn more about your current living
and working situation, your aspirations and goals, and how you
perceive your academic and social barriers to future
success. Please answer openly and honestly.
The information gathered is confidential and will only be used for
purposes involving the NCC-ASD program.

9. Survey Breakdown
S 5- Demographic questions
S 3- Education questions
S 2- Housing questions
S 2- Vocation questions
S 18- Social skill questions
S 9- Academic skills questions

10. Types of Questions
S Text entry
S Multiple choice (single answer)
S Multiple choice (multiple answer)
S Side by side matrix table
S Likert scale

11. Part III: Codebook Examples
S 1=Full-time employment
2=Part-time employment
3=Supported employment
4=Sheltered employment
5=Volunteer work
6=Military
7=Other
98=Don't know
S 1=Not stressful
2=A little stressful
3=Moderately stressful
4=Very stressful
5=Extremely stressful
98=Don't know

12. Part IV: Timeline & Budget
Timeline 2015-2016
S May 2015
S Meeting with Nassau Community College (NCC) and Hofstra
University project coordinators
S Interviews
S Literature review
S June-July 2015
S Development of Nassau Community College-Autism Spectrum
Disorders (NCC-ASD) project pilot survey
S Initiate Hofstra IRB proposal
S Staff training

13. Timeline 2015-2016
S August 2015
S Schedule in-person meetings with students to initiate pre-program
assessments and gain consent for participation in program
S Electronically administer Survey: “Self-Perception of Student's Abilities and
Barriers for College Readiness” via Qualtrics
S Analyze survey data to create goals for students
S September 2015
S Program begins
S December 2015-May 2016
S Administer Survey: “Self-Perception of Student's Abilities and Barriers for
College Readiness” and analyze changes in response from pre-program
survey
S Survey analysis and report writing

14. Budget 2015-2016
S Office supplies (printer, ink, paper, binders)
S Reliable and standardized measures (mentioned earlier)
S Personnel
S Total = $1,690.88

15. If I could turn back time…
Student Satisfaction Survey
to measure how the students felt about
the program itself and what we could
have done better

16. References
Arky, B. (2012, April 2). Get Informed. Retrieved May 27, 2015, from http://
www.childmind.org/en/posts/articles/2012-4-2-aging-out-when-kids-autism-
grow-up-lose-services.
"American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment Spring 2008
Reference Group Data Report (Abridged): The American College Health Association."
Journal of American College Health (2008): 477-88. Print.
American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of
mental disorders (4th ed, text rev). Washington: American Psychiatric Association.
American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of
mental disorders (5th ed., pp. 5–25).Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric
Publishing.
Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. (2015, February 26).
Retrieved May 27, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/addm.html
Autism Speaks. (2009, December 18). Retrieved May 27, 2015, from https://
www.autismspeaks.org/about-us/press-releases/cdc-issues-new-autism-
prevalence- report-autism-speaks-asks-what-will-it-take

17. References
Buescher, A., Cidav, Z., Knapp, M., & Mandell, D. (2014). “Costs of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the United
Kingdom and the United States”. JAMA Pediatrics JAMA Pediatr, 210, 721-721. doi:10.1001
Data & Statistics. (2015, February 26). Retrieved May 26, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/
data.html
DSM-IV Diagnostic Classifications | Autism Society. (n.d.). Retrieved May 26, 2015, from http://www.autism-
society.org/dsm-iv-diagnostic-classifications/
Gresham, F., & Elliot, S. (1990). Social Skills Questionnaire: Grades 7-12. Retrieved June 16, 2015, from
http://overlake.virtual-space.net/SLP/SSRS_locked.pdf
Heck, K., & Makuc, D. (2000). Parental employment and health insurance coverage among school-aged
children with special health care needs. American Journal of Public Health, 90(12), 1856-1860.
Kaufmann M.D., W. E. (Director) (2012, October 24). DSM - 5: The New Diagnostic Criteria For Autism
Spectrum Disorders. Autism Consortium 2012 Research Symposium. Lecture conducted from Department
of Neurology Boston Children’s Hospital, Cambridge.

18. References
Krahn, G., Walker, D., & Correa-De-Araujo, R. (2015). Persons With Disabilities as an Unrecognized Health
Disparity Population. American Journal of Public Health, 105(S2), S198-S206.
Lindstrom, L., Kahn, L., & Lindsey, H. (2012). “Navigating the early career years: Barriers and strategies
for young adults with disabilities”. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39, 1-12.
Saunders, B., Tilford, J., Fussell, J., Schulz, E., Casey, P., & Kuo, D. (2015). Financial and employment
impact of intellectual disability on families of children with autism. Families, Systems,
& Health, 33(1), 36-45.
"What Is Autism?" Autism Science Foundation. 2015. Web. 16 June 2015.
http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/what-is-autism. Vocational Skills Program:
Student/Parent Survey. (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2015, from https://www.ssdmo.org/step3/
CBTS_parent_student_survey.pdf.
Young, R., & Rodi, M. (2013). “Redefining Autism Spectrum Disorder Using DSM-5: TheImplications of the
Proposed DSM-5 Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorders”. Journal of Autism and Developmental
Disorders, 758-765.
Zajacova, A., Lynch, S., & Espenshade, T. (2005). Self-Efficacy, Stress, and Academic Success in College. Res
High Educ Research in Higher Education, 46(6), 677-706.