This pilot study aimed to investigate the activity participation of young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) living in Taiwan. Eleven young adults with HFA, their caring adults, and 11 matched typically developing youth were recruited across Taiwan. The Adolescent and Young Adult Participation Sort-Taiwanese version (AYAPS-T) was administered to all three groups to compare the activity participation. In addition, youth with HFA identified activities in which they desired to participate and barriers hindering their participation. The results of this study suggest that youth with H FA had lower participation rates in activities across different domains than their typically developing peers. Youth with HFA were able to identify the activities they desired to do and the barriers hindering their participation. No significant differences in participation were found between the results reported by the caring adults and youth with HFA. Occupational therapy practitioners may work on eliminating the personal and environmental barriers that impede participation as youth with HFA transition out of secondary school.
Administration Department in Taiwan. (2011). Report of physical and mentally disabled citizens living and demand assessment survey. Taipei, Taiwan: Author.
2.
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2002). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain & process. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56, 609–639.
3.
ArnettJ.J. (2001). Conceptions of the transition to adulthood: Perspectives from adolescence through midlife. Journal of Adult Development, 8, 133–143. doi:10.1023/A:1026450103225.
4.
Baron-CohenS.HoekstraR.KnickmeyerR., & WheelwrightS. (2006). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ)—Adolescent version. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 343–350.
5.
Baron-CohenS.WheelwrightS.SkinnerR.MartinJ., & ClubleyE. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 5–17.
6.
CaspersenC.J.PereiraM.A., & CurranK.M. (2000). Changes in physical activity patterns in the United States, by sex and cross-sectional age. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32, 1601–1609.
CoxN.B.ReeveR.E.CoxS.M., & CoxD.J. (2012). Brief report: Driving and young adults with ASD: Parents' experiences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 2257–2262.
11.
CrossonB.BarcoP.P.VelozoC.A.BolestaM.M.CooperP.V.WertsD., & BrobeckT.C. (1989). Awareness and compensation in postacute head injury rehabilitation. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 4(3), 46–54.
12.
EavesL.C., & HoH.H. (1997). School placement and academic achievement in children with autistic spectrum disorders. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 9, 277–291. doi:10.1023/A:1024944226971.
13.
EavesL.C., & HoH.H. (2008). Young adult outcome of autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 739–747. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0441-x.
14.
FarleyM.A.McMahonW.M.FombonneE.JensonW.R.MillerJ.GardnerM.CoonH. (2009). Twenty-year outcome for individuals with autism and average or near-average cognitive abilities. Autism Research, 2, 109–118. doi:10.1002/aur.69.
15.
FarmerL. (2011, November). Library services for youth with autism. Paper presented at the conference of the International Association of School Librarianship, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
16.
GhaziuddinM.GhaziuddinN., & GredenJ. (2002). Depression in persons with autism: Implications for research and clinical care. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32, 299–306. doi:10.1023/A:1016330802348.
17.
Gordon-LarsenP.AdairL.S.NelsonM.C., & PopkinB.M. (2004). Five-year obesity incidence in the transition period between adolescence and adulthood: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80, 569–575.
18.
HillierA.FishT.CloppertP., & BeversdorfD.Q. (2007). Outcomes of a social and vocational skills support group for adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 22, 107–115. doi:10.1177/10883576070220020201.
19.
HiltonC.L.CrouchM.C., & IsraelH. (2008). Out-of-school participation patterns in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 554–563.
20.
HowlinP. (2003). Outcome in high-functioning adults with autism with and without early language delays: Implications for the differentiation between autism and Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33, 3–13. doi:10.1023/A:1022270118899.
21.
HowlinP. (2004). Autism and Asperger syndrome: Preparing for adulthood (2nd ed.). London, UK: Routledge.
22.
HowlinP.GoodeS.HuttonJ., & RutterM. (2004). Adult outcome for children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45, 212–229.
23.
KanneS.M.ChristS.E., & ReiersenA.M. (2009). Psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial difficulties in young adults with autistic traits. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 827–833. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0688-x.
24.
KimJ.A.SzatmariP.BrysonS.E.StreinerD.L., & WilsonF.J. (2000). The prevalence of anxiety and mood problems among children with autism and Asperger syndrome. Autism, 4, 117–132. doi:10.1177/1362361300004002002.
25.
LinL. (2009). Pilot study: Caregiver burden and life-span issues of autism in families of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in Taiwan. Journal of Disability Research (Taiwan), 7, 291–311.
26.
LiuM. (2008). Screening adults for Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism by using the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) (Mandarin version). Bulletin of Special Education, 33, 73–92.
27.
LugasJ.TimmonsJ., & SmithF. (2010). Vocational rehabilitation services received by youth with autism: Are they associated with an employment outcome?Research to Practice Brief, (48). Retrieved from http://www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=309
28.
MoxonL., & GatesD. (2001). Children with autism: Supporting the transition to adulthood. Educational and Child Psychology, 18, 28–40.
29.
NelsonM.C.StoryM.LarsonN.I.Neumark-SztainerD., & LytleL.A. (2008). Emerging adulthood and college-aged youth: An overlooked age for weight-related behavior change. Obesity, 16, 2205–2211. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.365.
30.
OrsmondG.I.KraussM.W., & SeltzerM.M. (2004). Peer relationships and social and recreational activities among adolescents and adults with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34, 245–256.
31.
ReimerB.FriedR.MehlerB.JoshiG.BolfekA.GodfreyK.M.BiedermanJ. (2013). Brief report: Examining driving behavior in young adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study using a driving simulation paradigm. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 2211–2217. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1764-4.
32.
ShattuckP.T.NarendorfS.C.CooperB.SterzingP.R.WagnerM., & TaylorJ.L. (2012). Postsecondary education and employment among youth with an autism spectrum disorder. Pediatrics, 129, 1042–1049. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2864.
33.
ShattuckP.T.OrsmondG.I.WagnerM., & CooperB.P. (2011). Participation in social activities among adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder. PLoS ONE, 6(11), e27176. Retrieved from http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0027176. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0027176
34.
ShattuckP.T.WagnerM.NarendorfS.SterzingP., & HensleyM. (2011). Post-high school service use among young adults with an autism spectrum disorder. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 165, 141–146. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.279.
35.
SheppardE.RoparD.UnderwoodG., & van LoonE. (2010). Brief report: Driving hazard perception in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 504–508. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0890-5.
StoddartK.P. (1999). Adolescents with Asperger syndrome: Three case studies of individual and family therapy. Autism, 3, 255–271. doi:10.1177/1362361399003003004.
38.
StuckiG.CiezaA.EwertT.KostanjsekN.ChatterjiS., & UstünT.B. (2002). Application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in clinical practice. Disability and Rehabilitation, 24, 281–282.
39.
StuckiG.EwertT., & CiezaA. (2002). Value and application of the ICF in rehabilitation medicine. Disability and Rehabilitation, 24, 932–938.
40.
TantamD. (1991). Asperger syndrome in adulthood. In FrithU. (Ed.), Autism and Asperger syndrome (pp. 147–183). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
41.
TaylorJ.L., & SeltzerM.M. (2011). Employment and post-secondary educational activities for young adults with autism spectrum disorders during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 566–574. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1070-3.
42.
VanBergeijkE.KlinA., & VolkmarF. (2008). Supporting more able students on the autism spectrum: College and beyond. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 1359–1370. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0524-8.
43.
WangH.Y., & BergC. (2013). The development of Adolescent and Young Adults Participation Sort—Taiwanese version. Occupational Therapy International, 20, 124–133. doi:10.1002/oti.1344.
44.
Woodbury-SmithM.R.RobinsonJ.WheelwrightS., & Baron-CohenS. (2005). Screening adults for Asperger syndrome using the AQ: A preliminary study of its diagnostic validity in clinical practice. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35, 331–335.
45.
World Health Organization. (2001). International classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/classifications/icf/en
46.
WuT.Y., & PenderN. (2002). Determinants of physical activity among Taiwanese adolescents: An application of the health promotion model. Research in Nursing & Health, 25, 25–36.
