Self-Perceived Independent Living Skills and Self-Determination as a Method of Evaluating a Residential Program in Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Prior research shows that employment programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) fail to address ASD as a heterogeneous disorder and focus on specific ASD traits associated with difficulty in obtaining and maintaining employment. This study provides descriptive evidence that self-perceptions of self-determination improve in young adults with ASD who participate in a residential program that promotes Wehmeyer and Schalock's essential characteristics of self-determined behavior: behavioral autonomy, self-regulated behavior, acting in a psychologically empowered manner, and self-realization. Qualitative surveys were administered to 60 participants (17-28 years old) on perceptions of self-determination, confidence in independent living skills, and program effectiveness regarding case management and sustainable employment. One-sided t-tests using pre- and post-program responses were assessed. Post- versus pre-program means were significantly higher in participants feeling confident to live alone (p = 0.0059). Findings suggest that programs adopting self-determined behavior may be more effective in increasing self-confidence for individuals with ASD. However, these findings warrant long-term analysis to assess the continuity of program success and sustained employment.

Creating a Pipeline for Minority Physicians: Medical-Student-Led Programming.

Medical School Outreach Programming provides value to medical schools and the community by: (1) fulfilling medical school accreditation requirements, (2) creating pipelines to promote diversity in future healthcare professionals, and (3) providing medical students with opportunities for extracurricular community-level engagement. An Outreach Program initiated at a U.S. community-based medical school provides a medical student-led model with primary goals of improving college candidacy and healthcare career representation for underserved and under-represented minorities in the United States. The Outreach Program also promotes the personal growth and education of medical students.