Improving Outcomes for Adults with ASD by Targeting Meaningful Skill Acquisition Goals: A Review of the Literature and Available Assessments and Curricula

Abstract

Outcomes in adulthood for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are poor in every area assessed (e.g., postsecondary education, employment, living arrangements, health and safety). As such, it is critical that interventions target the best outcomes across the lifespan and improve the overall quality of life. Given that targeting meaningful skill-acquisition goals can help affect positive changes in these outcomes, the intention of this paper was to conduct a systematic literature review of the research examining what has been done to improve the quality of goals written by educational and behavior analytic practitioners. However, the literature review yielded so few references that the focus of this paper shifted to an examination of available assessment and curriculum tools that help practitioners to write meaningful goals. Implications and recommendations for guiding clinical practice and research questions are discussed.T