At a special session of the 2014 Autism Society of America annual conference in Indianapolis, CSESA gathered important input from young adults on the autism spectrum, their families, employers, school professionals, post-secondary service providers, and others regarding the needs of high school students with ASD. As over 70 participants considered how to better equip students, schools, and communities, four critical issues emerged during the session, each of which research also has identified as essential to address in order to promote optimal outcomes for students with ASD:

1. Employment
2. Post-High School Education
3. Self-advocacy and independence
4. Relationships.

Based on their experiences, successes, and forethought, participants provided several real-world Action Steps for high schools to address each of these four critical issues.

Read more about these four issues and the action steps the group generated to help high school students with ASD be better equipped for life in and after high school.

Thanks to our partners at the Indiana Resource Center for Autism for helping with group facilitation during this event.