Effect of a 9-Month Internship Intervention for Military Dependents With ASD

NCT04001790 | Completed Results

• 2 other identifiers: HM20008778CDMRP AR150172
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aims of the project are: 1. VCU will modify the Project SEARCH Plus ASD Model to meet the needs of military dependents with ASD. 2. VCU will implement the intervention based upon the Project SEARCH plus ASD Supports manual and will measure fidelity of implementation. 3. VCU will measure the impact of the intervention on the social communication, behavioral adjustment and employment outcomes of the military dependents who participate compared to an equal control group who do not receive the intervention. Aim 1 is accomplished, and Aims 2 and 3 have been implemented. The Project SEARCH program is currently in its second year at the 773rd Mission Support Group, Joint Base Langley Eustis, Fort Eustis site. Additionally, all recruitment activities were completed for the second cohort of the project, with a total of 14 treatment group participants and 21 control group participants across the two cohorts thus far. In addition, all collaborating agencies have signed the memorandum of understanding. The relocation and deployment plan is currently is being piloted.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Transition to Employment; Employment; Project Search Plus ASD Supports

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Competitive Integrated Employment Rates

  Increase in number of participants engaged in Full or part time work for minimum wage or higher with the same wages and benefits accorded to non-disabled workers in the same position and fully integrated with co-workers and customers without disabilities.accorded to non-disabled workers in the same position and fully integrated with co-workers and customers without disabilities.

  baseline to 18 months

Study Arms (2)

Project Search + ASD Supports

EXPERIMENTAL

Project SEARCH is an intensive 9-month job training program where youth with developmental disabilities in their last year of high school are embedded in a large community business such as a hospital, government complex, or banking center where they rotate through three 10-12 week internships within the business learning marketable skills, social communication, and adaptive behavior in the business setting. In order to meet the unique needs of youth with ASD, Wehman, et al. (2014) enhanced the Project SEARCH model by adding autism supports to the original model. Those added supports were: 1) on-site, intensive, systematic instruction using the principles of applied behavior analysis, 2) on-site support and consultation from a behavior/autism specialist, and 3) intensive staff training in ASD and the Project SEARCH Model.

Behavioral: Project Search plus ASD Supports

Business as Usual

NO INTERVENTION

Business as Usual means these youth remain in their high school programs as determined on their individualized education plans

Interventions

Project Search plus ASD Supports BEHAVIORAL

Nine month job training program embedded on Fort Eustis military base.

Also known as: PS+ASD

Project Search + ASD Supports

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 21 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Has an ASD
• Between 18 - 21 years old
• Seeking community based employment upon graduation from high school
• Attends participating school
• Eligible for funding through the Virginia Department of Aging and Vocational Rehabilitation
• Has personal independence
• Is able to pass a drug screen and felony record check and immunizations up-to-date for employment purposes
• Is military dependent or connected

You may not qualify if:

• Unable to provide consent or assent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Virginia Commonwealth University: lead
• United States Department of Defense: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia, 23284, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Whittenburg HN, Schall CM, Wehman P, McDonough J, DuBois T. Helping High School-Aged Military Dependents With Autism Gain Employment Through Project SEARCH + ASD Supports. Mil Med. 2020 Jan 7;185(Suppl 1):663-668. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usz224.

  PMID: 31498390 RESULT

Related Links

• website describing project

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Carol Schall
• Organization: Virginia Commonwealth University

cmschall@vcu.edu

8048286979

Study Officials

• Paul Wehman, PhD

  Virginia Commonwealth University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Carol M Schall, PhD

  Virginia Commonwealth University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This is a randomized, wait-list controlled study of the efficacy of the Project Search plus ASD Supports Model (PS-ASD) in 32 adolescents and young adults aged 18 to 21 with autism spectrum disorder. Approximately 32 subjects will be enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to treatment or wait-list control groups.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 20, 2019
• First Posted: June 28, 2019
• Study Start: May 11, 2017
• Primary Completion: May 19, 2021
• Study Completion: May 19, 2021
• Last Updated: December 9, 2024
• Results First Posted: December 9, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: End of the study and will be available indefinitely
• Access Criteria: Researchers with access to the NDAR database

Locations

US (1)