Transition from school to work for students with autism spectrum disorders: understanding the process and achieving better outcomes.

Individuals and their parents frequently turn to pediatricians, adolescent medicine specialists, and psychologists to answer questions about the course and outcomes of their disorder. This article provides a description of the characteristics of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in adolescence and early adulthood. It also describes essential elements of high school programs designed to increase positive outcomes for youth with ASD and provides detailed information about various employment support models. Finally, the implications of transition programming for medical specialists and psychologists are discussed.