About the Center

The Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CSESA) is a research and development project funded by the U.S. Department of Education that focuses on developing, adapting, and studying a comprehensive school-based and community-based education program for high school students on the autism spectrum.

CSESA is a five year project that brings together experts in autism, secondary education, adolescence, and implementation to work in collaboration with high schools, families, adolescents with ASD, and community members to improve high school experiences and post-secondary outcomes for individuals on the autism spectrum.

CSESA is a research and leadership center. Our research activities have included focus groups, two pilot studies, and a large randomized control study in public high schools in three different states. Our leadership activities include publishing articles, presenting at state, national, and international conferences, and creating resources that can be used by individuals on the autism spectrum, families, practitioners, and community members.