National Core Indicators and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Putting the Data in Context
We are excited to announce this upcoming webinar in the Sarah Taub NCI Webinar Series: National Core Indicators and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Putting the Data in Context on March 10, 2016 @ 2:00PM Eastern Time.
Presenters:
Valerie Bradley, President of Human Services Research Institute
Ari Ne’eman, President and Co-founder of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
The nature of public services and supports for individuals with I/DD generally and autistic individuals* specifically has changed in the past half century. Legislation such as the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – as well as other laws, rules, decisions of the Supreme Court and other federal courts, and findings, services, and supports – has contributed to the improvement of the quality of life for autistic individuals. These reforms have resulted in the growth of community-based settings that aim to encourage “full inclusion and integration in the economic, political, social, cultural and educational mainstream of American society” (Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, 29U.S.C.794).
However, autistic people do not appear to have benefited from these sweeping changes to the same extent as those without an ASD diagnosis. Previous research has shown that autistic individuals have poorer adult life outcomes in areas such as independent living, employment, relationships, and community inclusion. These negative outcomes are likely related in part to functional impairments in communication and social interaction. Research has shown that formal supports that are individualized and comprehensive are related to quality of life for autistic adults; however, there are disparities in access to such supports.
Despite the growth in demand and delivery of these supports, there are significant gaps in understanding the role that services and supports play in facilitating person-centered outcomes. To understand how to best design services and supports for autistic people, the differences in their outcomes and the potential causes must be examined.
This webinar will use the National Core Indicators data to examine the demographic characteristics and outcomes for adults on the autism spectrum who receive services from state I/DD systems. Policy and research approaches will be suggested based on the findings. These recommendations will build on the data to address the need for services and supports that encourage inclusion, integration, autonomy and decision-making, productivity, and independence.
Please note that there are limited spaces available in this webinar so we recommend signing in early on March 10th and organizing with colleagues to view together. The webinar will be recorded.
To access webinar (no registration is required)
https://hsri.adobeconnect.com/nci_asd/
To access audio for the webinar, please use following:
866-503-4560
Participant code 582-973-7639
If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before:
Test your connection: https://hsri.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
*Within the autism and Autistic communities, a wide variety of different linguistic preferences exist, with many individuals on the autism spectrum preferring the use of “identity-first” language rather than “person-first”. Within this webinar, we will alternate between “person on the autism spectrum” and “autistic person”. See http://autisticadvocacy.org/home/about-asan/identity-first-language/ for more details.