Building tailored interventions to promote self-determination in young adults with autism: the TEAM_YOUNG ADULTS program

Objectives: Self-determination is crucial throughout life, yet individuals with autism often experience lower self-determination levels than their peers without disabilities. Thus, practitioners need interventions to support self-determination in people with autism, considering their specific characteristics. The objectives of this study are (a) to present the development of a program for the promotion of self-determination in people with autism, the TEAM_YOUNG ADULTS program, and (b) to assess its effectiveness through a pilot study. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted, with a mixed-methods approach, to assess the effectiveness of the program, combining quantitative and qualitative data. Fourteen participants, aged 17–25 years, were randomly assigned to the intervention group or the waiting list. Instruments were used to measure self-determination in both self-report and proxy-assessment formats. A focus group was also conducted at the end of the intervention to obtain qualitative data. Results: The experimental group reported an improvement in the three dimensions of self-determination: volitional action, agentic action and action-control beliefs. Facilitators and barriers to change were also discussed. Conclusions: Our findings show promising results, indicating that the program may be a useful intervention to improve self-determination in young adults with autism. Implications and future lines of research are discussed.