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A qualitative study of specialist schools' process of eliciting the views of young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders towards planning for their transition to adulthood
[Thesis]. Manchester, UK: The University of Manchester; 2017.
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Abstract
A systematic review of the literature that explored the processes and perceived effectiveness of qualitative methods used to elicit the views of young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) about their educational experiences was conducted. Studies that were identified and screened using a trialled evaluation checklist and synthesised using the PRISMA guidelines identified data collection methods that were perceived to be useful. Limitations such as the over-representation of participants who were able to engage in verbal discussion and the lack of detailed description and evaluation of data collection methods were also identified. A multiple case study research was then conducted to explore two special schools' processes of eliciting the views of secondary school-aged pupils with ASD about their transition to adulthood and its perceived effectiveness. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with the school's staff and an observation of a transition meeting were gathered and thematically analysed individually, then compared and contrasted within school level. The findings revealed that both schools' processes of eliciting young people with ASD's views about transition to adulthood is a long process which involves three phases and is underpinned by a person-centred ethos. Perceived strengths and limitations of the process were also identified. Dissemination of the study's findings will include presentations and consultations with key stakeholders such as mainstream and specialist secondary schools and local authority post-16 steering group to explore the utility of the findings in different contexts. Collaboration with other educational psychologists (EPs) will also be conducted to explore this study's implications in the way they support schools in eliciting the views of young people with ASD.