COMPASS Across Settings (CAST) for Improving Transition Outcomes for Students With ASD

BEHAVIORAL

COMPASS Across Settings (CAST)

CAST will begin with an initial joint session with the student, caregiver, special education teacher, and pre-employment transition specialist that allows for discussion on the student's postsecondary goals, preferences, frustrations, challenges, and strengths related to social skills, adaptive/self-management, communication, problem behaviors, learning skills, and sensory sensitivities and preferences. This discussion will pinpoint critical social, communication, and work behavior/learning goals related to postsecondary goals and inform the intervention plans that are generated for each goal. Following this initial consultation, there will be four additional 1-hour sessions that incorporate evidence-based coaching, provided by the investigators, including performance feedback monitoring and instructional support. Each session is standardized and allows for assessment of student progress and intervention modification/self-reflection on the implementation of the intervention plans.

Goal Attainment of IEP progress (Ruble et al., 2012; 2018).

Time frame: Outcomes are assessed at the end of the school year (9 months from start of intervention)

Goal attainment is assessed using psychometric equivalence goal attainment scaling (PET-GAS). Each goal attainment scale used a five-point rating scale: - 2 = student's present levels of performance, - 1 = progress, 0 = expected level of outcome by the end of the school year, +1 = somewhat more than expected, +2 = much more than expected. Half-scores were allowed when raters observed skill levels between two benchmarks. A score of zero represented improvement consistent with the actual description of the written IEP objective. PET-GAS pre- and post-treatment ratings are based on video demonstrations, work samples, and/or data collected by the teacher, caregiver, and/or job coach. In a prior study, two coders independently coded 65% of the goals at baseline and three coders independently rated 35% at final evaluation. Interrater agreement was .94 at baseline and .86 at final evaluation.

Attainment of Postsecondary Goals (Ruble et al., 2019)

Time frame: Once a year (3 months following school graduation)

Postsecondary outcomes will be assessed by parent report of attainment in goals (such as enrolling in a training or college program and living independently; Ruble et al., 2019). IEP goal progress is based on a Likert-type scale questionnaire. Parents are asked to think of where the student was at the beginning of the school year with the specific skill (goal) and rate how much progress has been made to date using a five-point scale (1 'none at all' to 5 'a great deal') for each of the three monitored IEP goals. Because CAST prioritizes the development of goals that represent the pivotal areas of instruction for students with autism-social, communication, and learning/work behavior skills, similar goal domains are selected for the control group students for end of the year progress. In a prior study (Ruble et al., 2019), informants' judgments of goal progress were internally consistent across the three goals (alpha) for the parent measure (α = .81) and the teacher measure (α = .69).

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.

Is it safe to participate?

Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.

Will I be compensated?

Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.

Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?

When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.

Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?

Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.

How long does a clinical trial last?

Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.