Project Description:
PROJECT GOAL: Convene a partnership to develop a plan for the creation of an innovative, actionable pilot project focused on providing supports for young adults on the autism spectrum that result in their successfully transitioning from college to employment or graduate school.
TIMELINE: This is a one-year grant which will end August 31, 2021. It is hoped that a competition will be held to fund some of the pilot projects, but that funding is not guaranteed.
THE ISSUE: National data suggest that university students with autism often struggle to secure employment in their chosen fields after graduation. Research has found that colleges need to provide better career supports designed for these students.
WHAT WILL THE PARNERSHIP ACCOMPLISH? At the end of the grant, there must be a clear, detailed written plan for a pilot project that is ready to be implemented. All aspects of the plan must be fully developed and all needed agreements must be in place. The primary focus of the pilot will be Emory University, with some planning also taking place at UGA and GSU. The work of the partnership is to develop a plan, not to implement a pilot project.
WHAT INFORMATION DO WE NEED? We have very little information about students with autism after they graduate from Georgias colleges, about the supports offered to students attending Georgia colleges, or about policies/services that help or hinder successful transitions. We will conduct a comprehensive review and analysis (CRA) to answer these questions.
HOW WILL THE PARTNERSHIP WORK? Our work will be based on the Collective Impact framework. Collective Impact is a structured way of working together to create social change. It requires us to develop a shared vision; to agree on how success will be measured; and to have ongoing communication, clear roles based on our strengths/interests, and backbone organizations that provide support. It is critically important for the partnership to give power and voice to current and former students with ASD in planning the proposed pilot.
WHAT ORGANIZATIONS WILL SUPPORT THE PARTNERSHIP? The grant was jointly submitted by the Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD) at UGA and the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at GSU. The Emory Autism Center (EAC) and the ARC Georgia also are participating as backbone organizations.
WHAT DO THESE BACKBONE ORGANIZATIONS DO? IHDD is responsible for overall project management and program evaluation. CLD will lead the CRA and provide logistical support to the partnership. The ARC Georgia will facilitate the partnership meetings, and will communicate with partners and monitor the progress of workgroups between meetings. EAC is responsible for all communications, negotiations, and agreements at Emory University, the primary pilot site.
