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Self-Determination in Autistic Transition-Aged Youth without Intellectual Disability
Brianne Tomaszewski1, Laura G Klinger2, Cara E Pugliese3,4
1TEACCH Autism Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB#7180, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7180, USA. Brianne_Tomaszewski@med.unc.edu.
Abstract:
Self-determination refers to an individual's capacity and opportunities to act as a causal agent in their own lives to make choices, decisions, and set goals. The current study examined self- and parent-reports of the AIR Self-Determination Scale in transition-aged autistic youth (Based on stakeholder preferences, we use identity-first(autistic) or neutral language (on the autism spectrum) (Bottema-Beutel in JAMA 3:18-29, 2020)). Autistic youth completed depression and executive function measures, and parents rated their child's social-communication and executive function difficulties. Despite differences between youth and parent reports, both youth and their parents reported lower self-determination skills (capacity) than opportunities to practice self-determined behaviors. Both depression and executive function skills were related to self-determination capacity, highlighting potential intervention targets for transition-aged youth to facilitate increased self-determination and potentially improved adult outcomes.
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