College Readiness Stories to Help College-Bound Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Prepare for College

The goal of this project is to develop and evaluate the use of accessible interactive fiction (AIF) stories to provide targeted instruction and improve college readiness skills (CRS) for college-bound students with autism spectrum disorder (CBASD). Project objectives are to: (1) define the requirements of an AIF story which enables students to practice key college readiness skills using any computer/mobile device with a web browser; (2) create at least five stories based on the previous objective; (3) build a web service to capture the student’s progress; and (4) measure the acceptability and usefulness of CRS with a cross-section of CBASD students, improve the student’s CRS, and help the teacher deliver more targeted instruction. Project outcomes include the effective delivery of targeted instruction by counselors and the successful mastery of CRS by CBASD students; assisting students in finding a college appropriate to their individual needs to survive and thrive in college, in turn increasing the likelihood of more students with ASD completing their college studies and graduating; and ultimately accessing greater job opportunities and higher earning potential, economic stability, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.