Measuring the Effectiveness of Transition Services for Saudi Students with Autism

Abstract

This research assesses the feasibility of transition services received by students with ASD in Saudi Arabia to vocational training, life skills, college and university experiences, and employment supports. In a quantitative survey method, data were obtained from 200 students with ASD and caregivers to evaluate the services as to post-secondary outcomes such as employment, education, and independence. The results indicate the shortage of available services especially for the preparation to the higher education and employment which corresponds to high unemployment rates and low level of independence of the sample. Therefore, there is a reasonable demand for radical changes in transition services and the use of methods that will take into consideration the specifics of the Saudi Arabian context. Thus, the results presented contribute to the discussion of the issues concerning the transition of persons with ASD to adulthood, especially in non-Western countries.