My name is Peter Sciabarra. I am a doctoral student at the University of San Diego, School of Leadership and Education Sciences. I am currently conducting research in support of my dissertation involving a comparative evaluation of autism support and resource organizations and how they serve the needs of high functioning adults on the autism spectrum. I am also the parent of a twenty-year-old young adult with high functioning autism.
My research is being guided by my Dissertation Committee Co-Chair; Dr. Anne Donnellan, Ph.D. Dr. Donnellan is the founder and Director of the Autism Institute at the University of San Diego. You have been identified as someone who may be interested in completing this survey and potentially as a follow-on interview candidate.
Your participation will be purely voluntary and anonymous. Your identification will not be disclosed unless you provide specific written authorization to me stipulating that I may identify you by name for involvement in this study. Additionally you will not be contacted unless you specifically indicate your desire to be interviewed as part of my research. Please note that despite the "essay boxes" appearing small they can expand to accommodate a much larger volume, so feel free to write as much or as little as you desire in the essay fields - all input is valuable.
I believe this research is important to assist in adding to the body of knowledge concerning supports for young adults with autism. We know of no other survey of this type that aims to assist in identifying needed supports for this growing community of young adults (age 18-29) with autism.
Please note the survey is designed to be taken either by a young adult with autism (I) or the parent of a young adult with autism (descibed here as "My family member with ASD").
I thank you in advance for your consideration of my request. I may be reached at the following:
Peter J. Sciabarra
858.353.4381 (Cel)
858.509.5833 (W)
psciabarra-10@sandiego.edu
University of San Diego IRB approval number: 2011-10-021