Research

This poster presentation analyzed the effects of the CASP  Weekly intervention group for 4 autistic students at CUA. The group was shown to significantly increase community connection, as measured by an in-house questionnaire. Additionally, there were trending significant decreases in autistic symptomatology, as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale. While there were no significant changes in other domains assessed, including self-determination, social skills knowledge, and executive functioning, all individual participants demonstrated improvements. As more students enroll in the weekly group intervention and more data is collected, there may be more statistical power to detect significant effects. 

This poster presentation evaluated faculty and staff feedback to the CASP Faculty Training Workshops. The responses indicated that 95% of attendees agreed they would recommend attending CASP workshops to their colleagues. Other responses showcased that a large majority found the workshop to be relevant, valuable, and educational, showcasing the program's utility. Faculty and staff free response answers indicated that future workshops should be focused on implementing communication and motivational strategies with autistic students. Additionally, utilizing role-play and vignette activities within workshops was recommended.  The CASP leadership team will be sure to implement this information in future faculty sessions. 

This presentation conducted during University Research Day 2024 details insights and motivations for launching CASP, as we as an overview of the program.