There is a great deal of research about  treatments for people on the autism spectrum. The Life Course Outcomes Research Program takes a different approach. 

Led by Interim Program Area Leader Lindsay Shea, DrPH, MS, the Life Course Outcomes Research Program is the go-to source for information about life course outcomes, the help people need versus the help people get.

The program delivers information that empowers families, communities and organizations to create a world where people on the autism spectrum are valued and supported as contributing members of the community.

The team’s work is officially recognized by peers as some of the most influential in the field, having informed national research agendas and policy decisions.

A.J. Drexel Autism Institute

The Life Course Outcomes Research Program is a part of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, which was launched at Drexel University in 2012. The Autism Institute’s mission is to discover and develop population and community based approaches that will prevent autism-associated morbidity and disability, as well as enhance the quality of life for individuals with autism.

The first research organization to take a public health approach to challenges presented by autism spectrum disorders, the Autism Institute divides its research into three areas:

• Modifiable Autism Risk Factors
• Early Detection and Intervention
• Life Course Outcomes

In 2014, the Autism Institute received a grant from an anonymous donor to help launch its Life Course Outcomes research program.

Drexel University

We conduct our research within the supportive environment of Drexel University. Founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Drexel University is the nation’s 14th largest private university and ranks in the top 100 national universities in U.S. News. Drexel is widely recognized for its focus on experiential learning through its co-operative education program, technology and use-inspired research.

Through its innovative teaching techniques, established centers for community engagement and service, and e-learning expertise, Drexel has both the capacity and the ambition to reach new and underserved populations.