Family Involvement in Postsecondary Settings for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The goal of our study is to investigate family member roles within postsecondary settings for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. There is a paucity of research so this study will add knowledge to the topic. We interviewed 8 disability resource center staff members at community colleges in the northern Illinois region. The main goal of the interview was to find out staff’s viewpoint on family involvement. Some examples of questions asked in the interview are, “Do you have any experiences interacting with family members of students with ASD?” and “Do you offer specific services or programming that includes family members of students with ASD?” The interviews were reviewed and general findings were grouped into themes. Results of the study indicate that staff members generally have positive experiences with family members and thought that involvement supported students’ academic and social transitions into college, as well as their success. The consensus of the study was that family involvement benefitted students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and promoted success in postsecondary settings. These results and the themes will be explained further in the presentation.B.A. (Bachelor of Arts