Spectrum Innovates Pathway: Preparing Autistic Students to Enter Higher Education and Careers in Advanced Technological Fields

Spectrum 创新途径：为自闭症学生进入高等教育和先进技术领域的职业做好准备

• 批准号: 2000670
• 负责人: Patrick Waters
• 金额: $ 59.98万
• 依托单位: NFP NEXUS INC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-08-15 至 2023-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2000670&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Spectrum; Innovates; Pathway; Preparing; Autistic

Based on recent estimates, about 1 in 60 children born in the United States are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Speaks (autismspeaks.org) currently reports that as many as 90% of autistic individuals are unemployed or underemployed. To address the autistic community's employment needs and the forecasted shortage of technicians in the aeronautics industry over the next twenty years, nfpNEXUS, Inc. will partner with Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, Inc. to develop and implement the Spectrum Innovates Pathway project. Design of this Pathway is informed by the findings of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2018) on best practices for learning, as well as recent research that has led to modified and new cognitive models for autism. The Spectrum Innovates Pathway will support autistic students who share a common passion for aeronautics. The primary goal of the Pathway is to prepare autistic students to succeed in higher education and to enter the workforce in advanced technician roles. This project will provide full immersion of autistic students in a STEM learning environment designed to support them as they acquire the knowledge and certifications needed for their entry into advanced technical careers. The project will develop and implement a bridge year for autistic students who have completed their high school requirements. The project will leverage experiential learning to support students’ acclimation to the collegiate and work environments and development of critical life and practical skills. A robust recruitment process for students will increase awareness of the availability of the advanced technician options for autistic individuals. Students will be included in a cohort for the duration of the program, which is expected to contribute to creating a supportive learning environment. Student projects will model real world challenges to reinforce existing knowledge and skills. Industry partners will serve a dual role as advisors on emergent work force skills as well as identifying and promoting opportunities for autistic individuals in the job market. The Innovation Hub at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology includes the Maker Space, Composite Prototyping Center, Robotics Lab, Flight Simulators, and Air Traffic Control Simulators. This Hub will inform and drive the project and its methodology. Dissemination strategies will include postings about project activities and results on the project website and the Autism Speaks website, as well as through local workshops and presentations at conferences. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

根据最近的估计，大约每 60 个美国出生的儿童中就有 1 个被诊断患有自闭症谱系障碍，自闭症之声 (autismspeaks.org) 目前报告称，多达 90% 的自闭症患者处于失业或就业不足状态。考虑到未来二十年航空业的就业需求和预计的技术人员短缺，nfpNEXUS, Inc. 将与沃恩航空学院合作和 Technology, Inc. 开发和实施 Spectrum Innovates Pathway 项目。该路径的设计参考了美国国家科学、工程和医学院 (2018) 关于最佳学习实践的研究结果以及最近的研究结果。 Spectrum Innovates Pathway 为自闭症学生提供了经过修改的新认知模型，该通道的主要目标是帮助自闭症学生在高等教育中取得成功。该项目将为自闭症学生提供完全沉浸在 STEM 学习环境中的机会，帮助他们获得进入高级技术职业所需的知识和认证。该项目将利用体验式学习来支持学生适应大学和工作环境以及发展重要的生活和实践技能。在该项目期间，学生将被纳入一个队列，这将有助于创造一个支持性的学习环境，学生项目将模拟现实世界的挑战，以加强现有的知识和技能。沃恩航空技术学院的创新中心包括创客空间、复合原型中心、机器人实验室和飞行中心，担任新兴劳动力技能顾问以及为自闭症患者寻找和促进就业机会的双重角色。模拟器和空中交通管制模拟器。该中心将为该项目及其方法提供信息和推动，包括在项目网站和自闭症之声网站上发布有关项目活动和结果的信息，以及通过当地研讨会和会议进行演示。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划重点关注推动国家经济发展的先进技术领域的技术人员教育。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用评估结果被认为值得支持。基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。