Project Team

Elizabeth McGhee Hassrick, PhD A.J. Drexel Autism Institute (AJDAI)

Brigid Garvin, Ed.S. NCSP A.J. Drexel Autism Institute (AJDAI)

Bridget Sweeney Blakely, PhD School of Education

Troy Finamore Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Andrew Stutzman ExCITe Center at Drexel University

Paul Phan ImpactSix LLC

Abstract

Team IEP is a cloud application designed to improve transition outcomes for autistic youth (ages 13-21) in urban districts by engaging youth, their parents, teachers and clinicians in the iterative, collaborative and synchronized implementation of transition goals on their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Using network intervention science, we will design a youth and parent Team IEP intervention, based on consultation, coaching, and ecosystem team building strategies to improve IEP transition goal attainment and youth and parent outcomes (Figure 1). Key ‘change’ features include (1) individualized youth-focused onboarding and work-flow routines for transition goal coaching and self-advocacy skill development, (2) parent onboarding, IEP goal coordination and IEP advocacy supports and (3) school team collaboration around IEP goals. All features are designed to impact key ASD youth outcomes (IEP goal attainment, self-determination), parent outcomes (empowerment, transition success) and school team outcomes (transition success) AND provide youth IEP teams with advantages over current software competitors. Using customer-driven lean start-up methodological approaches, we have conducted our first round of customer discovery (n=25 interviews) and completed a minimal viable Team IEP app. In close partnership with our first customer, the NYC District 75, we will co-develop Team IEP 4.0, through three spiral designed sprints, using the $173,276 Coulter grant funding. By the end of the proposed grant, we will have a viable, integrated urban district Team IEP app and RCT results of comparison outcomes, ready for testing at a larger scale after we have secured follow-on funding.