Addressing a Gap in Healthcare Access for Transition-Age Youth with Autism: A Pilot Educational Intervention for Family Nurse Practitioner Students.

Dorothea et al. (2019) ran a small pilot RCT. They tested a short class for family nurse-practitioner students.

The class taught how to give medical care to autistic youth who are leaving pediatric care. Students took surveys before and after.

After the module, students knew more, felt more confident, and held better attitudes. All gains were small but positive.

The results hint that even a brief lesson can ready future providers for this gap in care.

Beamish et al. (2021) saw the same pattern with teachers. An online autism course lifted teacher confidence, yet classroom practice stayed flat. Both pilots show that knowledge and self-efficacy rise first; real behavior change may need more support.

Kuhn et al. (2022) extend the idea into high schools. Their Transitioning Together program reached families, not just providers, and success hinged on prior family engagement. Dorothea’s nurse focus and Jocelyn’s family focus fit together: train both sides for smoother hand-offs.

Williams et al. (2024) targeted the same age group but taught youth, not providers. Their virtual interview training yielded medium skill gains and higher employment six months later. Pairing Dorothea’s provider training with Williams’s client training could amplify outcomes.

If you work with teens or young adults with autism, you know primary-care visits can be rocky. Ask your local nurse-practitioner program if they include autism transition content. Offer to share Dorothea’s free module. A one-hour class today may save your client a crisis tomorrow.