The Initiative
The Autism Transition to Adulthood Initiative (ATTAIN) began in 2019 as a multi-phase research project focused on improving outcomes for autistic youth after high school.
Across the United States, more autistic students are exiting high school each year, yet postsecondary education, employment, independent living, and community participation outcomes remain disproportionately low in comparison to other youth their age. These national patterns underscore the need for research that is both rigorous and practically applicable.
Under ATTAIN, we aim to (a) conduct research to better understand what experiences and skills are linked to improved post-high school outcomes and (b) translate this research into meaningful action.
This is not a single study. ATTAIN is an ongoing effort that integrates data analysis, intervention research, and collaboration with community partners to inform transition planning and policy.
How ATTAIN Works
ATTAIN examines the transition to adulthood through two interconnected lenses:
1
Predictors
In-school experiences and skills linked to different outcomes after high school, according to research.
2
Effective Transition Practices
Instructional approaches that build transition-related skills for students.
By studying both predictors and practices, ATTAIN links large-scale outcome patterns with transition program design and evaluation, as well as instructional decisions that shape daily student experiences.
This structure allows the initiative to answer both of the following questions:
- What experiences and skills increase the likelihood of success after high school?
- How can educators intentionally build the skills that matter most?
Project Team: An Inclusive Approach
Academic Researchers
Leslie Shaw, PhD
Quantitative Lead, Principal Investigator
Leslie Shaw, PhD, joined the Yang-Tan Institute at Cornell University in January 2018. Leslie’s work in the field of disability has focused mostly on transition age youth, autistic youth, and collaboration of practices to serve youth and young adults with disabilities. At YTI, she serves as evaluation lead in a project for the New York State Education Development and contributes to research and evaluation efforts on other projects. A quantitative psychologist, she has expertise in statistical analysis and using data to drive change.
Cornell University Faculty Bio
Katie Brendli Brown, PhD
Qualitative Lead, Interventionist
Katie Brendli Brown, PhD, is a Research and Evaluation Associate for the Yang-Tan Institute at Cornell University. Katie is also a Fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FAAIDD), a distinguished honor recognizing her contributions to the field of IDD. Her research interests include promoting positive postsecondary transition and adult outcomes for people with IDD and self-determination. At YTI, Katie serves on multiple research projects focused on autism, postsecondary transitions, and employment.
Cornell University Faculty Bio
Community Researchers
All components of ATTAIN are informed by people with lived experience and professional expertise in autism and transition to adulthood.
The initiative collaborates with:
- Autistic adults
- Parents and families
- College autism support program staff
- Transition professionals
- Policy experts
Earlier phases of ATTAIN included consultation with a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel which included a young autistic adult, a policy maker with disability expertise, an employer, and a parent of an autistic youth. Today, using an inclusive research approach, Community Researchers actively collaborate in shaping research questions, reviewing tools, and interpreting findings. Thus, these community researchers guide every step of the research process, in alignment with the disability rights mantra “Nothing About Us Without Us”.
This approach ensures that ATTAIN research reflects real-world priorities and practical realities.
