title: Easing the transition to secondary education for children with autism spectrum disorder: An evaluation of the Systemic Transition in Education Programme for Autism Spectrum Disorder (STEP-ASD).
abstract: In mainstream education, the transition from primary to secondary school ('school transition') is difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder, being marked by high levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties. The Systemic Transition in Education Programme for Autism Spectrum Disorder (STEP-ASD) is a new, manualised school transition intervention. We investigated its feasibility and efficacy for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (N = 37; mean age = 11.47 years; mean IQ = 85.24) using an unblinded, non-randomised, controlled design. Teachers found the intervention feasible and acceptable. Children receiving STEP-ASD (n = 17) showed a large (Cohen's d = 0.88) reduction in school-reported emotional and behavioural difficulties, whereas controls (n = 20) showed a slight increase (d = -0.1) (p = 0.010). These encouraging findings suggest the value of STEP-ASD as a low-intensity intervention for reducing problem behaviours and distress in children with autism spectrum disorder as they transition to mainstream secondary school.
authors: University College London (UCL), UK w.mandy@ucl.ac.uk.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Mandy
authors: Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK.
authors: Marianna
authors: M
authors: Murin
authors: UCL Institute of Child Health, UK.
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Baykaner
authors: UCL Institute of Child Health, UK.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Staunton
authors: UCL Institute of Child Health, UK.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Cobb
authors: Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK.
authors: Josselyn
authors: J
authors: Hellriegel
authors: UCL Institute of Child Health, UK.
authors: Seonaid
authors: S
authors: Anderson
authors: UCL Institute of Child Health, UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Skuse
mesh_terms: D000076363:Academic Success; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012574:Schools; D066107:Social Skills
keywords: autism spectrum disorder; clinical trial; education; intervention; school transition