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GPS Mapping of Community Participation Patterns in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
The presence of meaningful daytime activity is one of the most important factors contributing to quality of life for adults with ASD (Tobin et al., 2014). Yet little is known about how adults spend their time, whether they consider their daytime activities meaningful, and if they feel connected to the community.
Objectives:
This study used Global Positioning Systems (GPS) measures to better understand where and how adults with ASD spend their time, how they interact with their community, and whether they feel connected in the community.
Methods:
Participants carried GPS trackers to capture time away from home, distance traveled, and locations visited for seven days. Travel diaries completed by participants or caregivers provided context for GPS locations. Follow-up interviews asked participants which locations were most important, where they felt most productive, where they felt they belonged the most, and if they felt part of the community. Results were combined with caregiver-reported adult outcome survey data to explore the role of communication skills, living situation (independent, with family, group home), and employment status on community participation.
Results:
Table 1 contains demographic and community participation outcomes for 23 adults aged 21-50 years across the spectrum (47% had ID) who completed the study. GPS measures of average time away from home was just over 5 hours per day although 39% had at least one day during the week they did not leave home. Number of unique locations visited during the week ranged from 5 to 59 (average=18.6). The individual’s space occupied in the community area (“activity space”) averaged 87.57 sq. mi., with social/recreational locations contributing to the largest spatial presence in the community. Social/recreational locations were also most frequently (52%) identified as “most important” and where participants wished they spent more time. Most participants identified home as where they felt they belonged the most (65%) and vocational locations as where they felt most productive (65%).
Most participants (83%) reported feeling part of their community, primarily due to feeling known by others in the community. No significant differences in feeling part of the community or any of the GPS participation outcomes were present by employment status or conversation ability. Qualitatively, those who lived in group homes or had family exerting significant effort in planning activities visited multiple locations during the week, while adults who were driving independently but unemployed averaged less than two hours away from home per day. These patterns were present across different geographic regions.
Conclusions:
Most individuals in the current study were involved in several activities in locations throughout the community area and felt connected to their community through personal interactions. Individuals traveled great distances to participate in social/recreational activities and rated these locations with high importance. Those who were unemployed or had less conversation ability were still engaging in the community in ways that were meaningful to them. Findings suggest that adults with good conversation ability but were unemployed had limited participation and may need more support services. Increased social/recreational opportunities for adults in the community are needed overall.