Autism Services Research Articles

The Transition to Adulthood: A Qualitative Study of Autism Spectrum Disorder From Military and Veteran Parents and Military-Dependent Young Adults.

Given the unique experiences of military service members and their families, military-dependent young adults (18-25 years old) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their military or veteran families experience unique barriers to accessing quality mental health care during the transition to adulthood. In fact, developing services to address ASD challenges for military families is a burgeoning area of interest for the department of defense. However, there is a limited knowledge on the specific needs of military families as the young adult's transition outside of high school and lose supports. The present study conducted 3 focus groups with 16 military and veteran parents, and 3 focus groups with 10 military-dependent young adults to evaluate the needs of military-dependent young adults (17-25 years old) with ASD and military/veteran parents with a young adult with ASD. Parents reported several key topics, including barriers to services (e.g., permanent change of station, recently moving to a state and lacking awareness of the available resources), defining adulthood in terms working in a cohesive family structure, and therapy recommendations for parents and young adults with ASD transitioning to adulthood. Young adults provided key information, including describing experiences with having a parent in the military, difficulty accessing services during the transition to adulthood, and recommendations on therapy for military-dependent young adults with ASD. Military and veteran families with autistic dependents lack access to important mental-health resources. When developing programs for military families and military-dependent autistic young adults, mental health providers should consider the frequent relocations, lack of access to important transition resources, and common military values. The presence of advocates at military bases should be encouraged to help military families navigate autism services in their local community.

From Early Behavioral Intervention to School: A Systematic Evaluation of Parents' Perspectives on the Quality of the Autism Services During the Transition to Kindergarten.

Research emphasizes the importance of seamless transitions from Early Behavioral Intervention (EBI) to school-based services, but formal support during this critical period remains limited, leading to decreased parental satisfaction with autism services. This study aimed to systematically document parents' perception of the quality of services received during the transition from EBI to kindergarten, along with the predictors of this perception. The study adopted a prospective longitudinal design and relied on a validated evaluation framework, the Evaluation of the Trajectory in Autism for Parents (ETAP). ETAP allows to investigate five critical determinants (accessibility, continuity, validity, flexibility, empathy) of service quality, as rated by parents (N = 138 families), which were evaluated at three critical periods of the transition: end of EBI, beginning and end of first year of school. Quality ratings indicated generally positive perceptions but showed small to medium effect size decreases over time; validity had the largest decrease. Predictors of quality ratings and changes in ratings differed by phase of the transition and included child characteristics (gender, age, disabilities, challenging behavior), parent characteristics (maternal origin, fluency in the official language of the province, education level), and family characteristics (number of children). This study's comprehensive analysis of service quality determinants and possible risk and protective factors provides insights into improving support for families navigating the transition to school.Keywords: Autism, Early behavioral intervention, School transition, Parental perception, Service quality, Evaluation framework.

"Everyone should at least get a Kia": Policymaker perspectives on equity of Medicaid among transition age autistic youth

BackgroundThis study examined the challenges faced by transition age autistic youth in accessing Medicaid services, considering the historical focus on children in autism research and services. The study aimed to explore Medicaid enrollment and support for this population. MethodThe study involved Medicaid and Protection & Advocacy (P&A) representatives from states with varying performance levels in eligibility, access, and service use. Discussions with experts focused on waivers, Early, Periodic, Screening, Detection, and Treatment (EPSDT), and barriers to service access. ResultsThe findings highlighted the need to improve service access for transition age autistic youth. States identified the importance of maximizing EPDST utilization before aging out of childhood systems and pursuing waiver enrollment. These insights emphasized the significance of addressing service gaps during the transition to adulthood. ConclusionsThe study's implications for practice are substantial. Policymakers and service providers must acknowledge the limitedservice access for autistic individuals as they transition from child systems. The study emphasized the value of strategies like maximizing EPDST utilization and pursuing waivers to ensure ongoing support for autistic youth during their transition to adulthood. By addressing these challenges, practitioners can better meet the needs of transition age autistic individuals and facilitate their access to essential services.

"I'm His Voice": Parent Perspectives on Obtaining an Autism Diagnosis and Services and the Influence of Personal and Cultural Factors.

To assess caregiver-reported barriers and facilitators to receiving a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and accessing services as well as the influence of personal and cultural factors.Participants included 29 parents whose children had been diagnosed with ASD between January 2019 and November 2021 while receiving primary care at one of two urban, hospital-affiliated clinics. Semi-structured interviews and surveys were conducted between May 2022 and June 2023 in both English and Spanish. Transcripts were coded and themes developed using thematic content analysis. In the survey portion of the study, 80% of parents said the experience of getting the diagnosis was "very easy/somewhat easy," while 28% of parents said the process of accessing autism services was "very difficult." Four general categories emerged from the qualitative analysis: (1) experience getting the diagnosis, (2) service navigation after diagnosis, (3) need for parent advocacy, and (4) perception of condition by others. Parents generally reported positive experiences with their pediatricians, but some felt their concerns were discounted due to personal factors. The most common frustration expressed was difficulty accessing Applied Behavior Analysis therapy after a diagnosis due to long waiting lists, staff turnover and poor quality. Many parents felt that it would be helpful to have a family navigator to assist with paperwork, insurance complexities, and service access. Parents reported many challenges obtaining an autism diagnosis as well as accessing services. Widespread system change will be required to meet the needs of families equitably and effectively.

Self-Reported COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Acceptance and Hesitancy Among Autistic Adults in Pennsylvania: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Survey Data.

The autistic population is rapidly increasing; meanwhile, autistic adults face disproportionate risks for adverse COVID-19 outcomes. Limited research indicates that autistic individuals have been accepting of initial vaccination, but research has yet to document this population's perceptions and acceptance of COVID-19 boosters. This study aims to identify person-level and community characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccination and booster acceptance among autistic adults, along with self-reported reasons for their stated preferences. Understanding this information is crucial in supporting this vulnerable population given evolving booster guidelines and the ending of the public health emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. Data are from a survey conducted in Pennsylvania from April 11 to September 12, 2022. Demographic characteristics, COVID-19 experiences, and COVID-19 vaccine decisions were compared across vaccination status groups. Chi-square analyses and 1-way ANOVA were conducted to test for significant differences. Vaccination reasons were ranked by frequency; co-occurrence was identified using phi coefficient correlation plots. Most autistic adults (193/266, 72.6%) intended to receive or received the vaccine and booster, 15% (40/266) did not receive or intend to receive any vaccine, and 12.4% (33/266) received or intended to receive the initial dose but were hesitant to accept booster doses. Reasons for vaccine acceptance or hesitancy varied by demographic factors and COVID-19 experiences. The most significant were previously contracting COVID-19, desire to access information about COVID-19, and discomfort with others not wearing a mask (all P=.001). County-level factors, including population density (P=.02) and percentage of the county that voted for President Biden (P=.001) were also significantly associated with differing vaccination acceptance levels. Reasons for accepting the initial COVID-19 vaccine differed among those who were or were not hesitant to accept a booster. Those who accepted a booster were more likely to endorse protecting others and trusting the vaccine as the basis for their acceptance, whereas those who were hesitant about the booster indicated that their initial vaccine acceptance came from encouragement from someone they trusted. Among the minority of those hesitant to any vaccination, believing that the vaccine was unsafe and would make them feel unwell were the most often reported reasons. Intention to receive or receiving the COVID-19 vaccination and booster was higher among autistic adults than the population that received vaccines in Pennsylvania. Autistic individuals who accepted vaccines prioritized protecting others, while autistic individuals who were vaccine hesitant had safety concerns about vaccines. These findings inform public health opportunities and strategies to further increase vaccination and booster rates among generally accepting autistic adults, to better support the already strained autism services and support system landscape. Vaccination uptake could be improved by leveraging passive information diffusion to combat vaccination misinformation among those not actively seeking COVID-19 information to better alleviate safety concerns.

Experiences of Family Peer Advocates Supporting Black Families Raising Autistic Children

Professionals play an important role in when and how families access autism services. Black families often experience disparate access to autism services compared to White families. Family Peer Advocates (FPAs) are professionals who have personal experience with the diagnostic process, school-based supports, and community-based services, and provide training and support to families. Understanding the experiences of FPAs may help researchers and practitioners better address the needs of Black autistic children and their families. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore FPAs’ experiences providing autism-related services and resources for Black families with autistic children. We conducted focus groups with 32 FPAs from two agencies in one southeastern state. Three themes emerged from our inductive data analysis regarding FPA experiences: (a) serving multiple roles; (b) working with “zero resources”; and (c) variations in racial responsivity. Given our findings, we call for FPAs to ensure they are considering and responding to the intersecting impact of race on families’ experiences with autism diagnosis and services.

Expanding and developing the workforce to serve autistic people and people with intellectual disability

This paper considers current workforce issues facing psychological professionals working in NHS services, examining the challenges, and identifying opportunities to better meet the needs of autistic people and people with an intellectual disability (PwID) across the lifespan. The aim of this paper is to identify and publicly articulate the need for a coherent approach to guide the practice of psychological professionals when helping autistic people and/or PwID. It should be noted that the scope of the paper is limited to autism and intellectual disability. In addressing these broad groups and their co-occurring conditions and needs, we anticipate that many principles could be applied to other neurodevelopmental conditions. We also note the significant potential challenges in linking intellectual disability and autistic populations, hence have attempted – in drawing together a working group to write this paper – to ensure representation from a range of psychological professionals including those in policy, leadership, and training roles, those working in specialist or generic mental health services and undertaking clinical research across the lifespan.Objectives:■To help define and support clear action so that all sectors welcome and adequately support people with neurodevelopmental differences, including autistic people and/or PwID.■To play a role in the development, planning and evaluation of new psychological professions roles such as the Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAPS) and Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs).■To reflect on the obstacles to recruiting to autism and learning disability services and to propose approaches to developing a sustainable psychological workforce in these areas.■To recognise where good examples of education and training programmes exist to address training, confidence and competence for all psychological professionals working with those who may be autistic and/or have an ID, and consider how to establish a more consistent approach to education, training and CPD across the workforce.■To engage in policy discussions around the current gaps, such as the demand for diagnostic assessments and support which significantly outstrips capacity, whilst highlighting unrealised opportunities, through for example, a systematic approach to training.■To advocate for the need for the voice of autistic people and PwID and their families/carers which is often absent from the design and offer of help.

'We wait and we wait'-caregiver perspectives on autism spectrum disorder services in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

Caregivers of children with autism face significant challenges in navigating health, education and other systems of care to ensure appropriate services for their children. In South Africa, for example, many children with autism are reported to be out of schools and waiting long periods for specialist school placements thus adding to the burden of care for caregivers and raising many questions about equity, diversity and inclusion. Here we performed a qualitative study using focus groups to collect data on the perspectives of caregivers of children with autism waiting for school placement in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. We asked families about their experiences of current autism services and for suggestions to improve service delivery. The main theme that emerged was 'We wait and we wait'. Caregivers expressed high levels of frustration with existing autism educational and other services. Perspectives about services were captured under three categories. The first category, 'The costs of waiting' describes the socioemotional, financial and time costs associated with having a child with autism wait for educational services. The second category 'Barriers while waiting' describes the attitudinal, structural, process and communication barriers experienced by caregivers while seeking services for their children. The final category 'Expecting action' describes attitudinal, service and policy expectations that caregivers felt could improve service delivery. Caregivers provided 10 recommendations for autism service improvements. Caregivers of children with autism waiting for educational services in the Western Cape Province of South Africa expressed dissatisfaction with existing services. Efforts to find solutions to providing services and support to children with autism waiting for educational services and their caregivers should be prioritized.

Workforce perspective on racial and ethnic equity in early childhood autism evaluation and treatment: "The cornerstone of everything we do".

Black and non-White Latinx children tend to receive autism diagnoses later in life and with a higher degree of impairment than White children. The purpose of this study was to learn what is currently helping as well as preventing Black and non-White Latinx children from getting access to autism evaluation and services. We held virtual interviews with 26 experts who work with autistic children and their families, including clinical providers, researchers, advocates, and policymakers/government representatives. From these interviews, we identified four themes that have an impact on equity in autism services: (1) who makes up the workforce, (2) workforce capacity and accessibility, (3) workforce payment structure, and (4) changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings show the need for improved workforce diversity, autism-specific education, payment structures, and additional support for workforce members to avoid burnout. To make childhood autism services more equitable, diversity in recruitment across training levels, cultural awareness, increased autism education for all pediatric providers, and partnerships with caregivers as experts must be prioritized. These investments in the autism workforce will allow professionals in the field to better meet the needs of children and families from Black and non-White Latinx communities and achieve equity in early childhood autism services.

Access and cost of services for autistic children and adults in Italy: a carers' perspective.

Limited information exists on autistic service access and costs in Italy. This study aims to investigate access to educational, healthcare, social, and related services for autistic individuals in Italy as part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder in the European Union (ASDEU) project. Italian carers of autistic individuals completed an online survey regarding services and costs in the 6 months before completion. Three hundred and three carers of autistic people participated in the survey. The majority of those receiving care were children, males, and lived at home with their parents. Autistic adults were often students (17%) or unemployed but willing to work (17%). Employed carers (49%) worked on average 32.23 ± 9.27 hours per week. A significant portion (82%) took work or school absences to care for autistic individuals, averaging 15.56 ± 14.70 days. On average, carers spent 58.84 ± 48.36 hours per week on caregiving duties. Fifty-five of the autistic individuals received some form of support, 5% utilized residential care, and 6% were hospitalized. Thirty-four percent received outpatient hospital care, and 20% underwent some form of autism-related psychopharmacological therapy. School support was primarily provided by support teachers (18.16 ± 7.02 hours/week). Educational psychologists (80.73%), psychomotor therapists/physiotherapists (53.85%), and speech therapists (50.91%) were frequently paid by carers who paid more per hour. Autistic children received support from educators (73.96 hours/week), group therapy (32.36 hours/week), and speech therapists (31.19 hours/week). Psychologists (76.00%) and counseling/individual therapists (89.13%) were often paid by carers. Carers reported high costs for psychiatrists and psychologists, with frequent use of psychiatric services (8 ± 8 times in 6 months). Carers' perspectives on the access and costs of services for autistic individuals in Italy can provide insights into areas for improvement in the delivery of autism services.

A Window into the Use of Post-diagnostic Services for Autism and Parents' Perspective on the Quality of Early Childhood Services Trajectory in a Canadian Province.

The pathway for post-diagnostic services for autism tends to be complex, heterogeneous, and fraught with delays. This situation has repercussions for families' experience with care systems, the quality of early interventions, and family adjustment. To date, studies of parents' point of view on autism services have predominantly focused on the diagnostic phase of the services trajectory. The goal of the present study was to investigate the perspective of parents on autism early childhood services within a public healthcare and social services system in a Canadian province (Québec). Participants were 91 parents who completed a structured framework for the evaluation of the quality of services trajectories, the Evaluation of the services Trajectory in Autism by Parents (ETAP; Mello et al., in Research in Developmental Disabilities 133, 2023). Approximately three-quarters of families received interim services (e.g., punctual speech therapy interventions) for which they had overall neutral-to-positive appraisals but viewed as having comparably low validity and continuity. Although all children diagnosed with autism are entitled to receive early behavioral intervention (EBI) dispensed by the public health and social services system, approximately a quarter of families did not receive this service. Families who received EBI evaluated this service positively on all ETAP dimensions. The empathy (i.e., parent-provider relationships) dimension was rated highest for both interim and EBI services. Some systemic, family, and child-related factors were associated with the perceived quality of services for both interim and early childhood services. Our results emphasize the need for services for children and families as soon as possible, both during assessment and after diagnosis.

Sertraline for anxiety in adults with a diagnosis of autism (STRATA): study protocol for a pragmatic, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial

BackgroundSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to manage anxiety in adults with an autism diagnosis. However, their effectiveness and adverse effect profile in the autistic population are not well known. This trial aims to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the SSRI sertraline in reducing symptoms of anxiety and improving quality of life in adults with a diagnosis of autism compared with placebo and to quantify any adverse effects.MethodsSTRATA is a two-parallel group, multi-centre, pragmatic, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial with allocation at the level of the individual. It will be delivered through recruiting sites with autism services in 4 regional centres in the United Kingdom (UK) and 1 in Australia. Adults with an autism diagnosis and a Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) score ≥ 10 at screening will be randomised 1:1 to either 25 mg sertraline or placebo, with subsequent flexible dose titration up to 200 mg. The primary outcome is GAD-7 scores at 16 weeks post-randomisation. Secondary outcomes include adverse effects, proportionate change in GAD-7 scores including 50% reduction, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, panic attacks, repetitive behaviours, meltdowns, depressive symptoms, composite depression and anxiety, functioning and disability and quality of life. Carer burden will be assessed in a linked carer sub-study. Outcome data will be collected using online/paper methods via video call, face-to-face or telephone according to participant preference at 16, 24 and 52 weeks post-randomisation, with brief safety checks and data collection at 1–2, 4, 8, 12 and 36 weeks. An economic evaluation to study the cost-effectiveness of sertraline vs placebo and a QuinteT Recruitment Intervention (QRI) to optimise recruitment and informed consent are embedded within the trial. Qualitative interviews at various times during the study will explore experiences of participating and taking the trial medication.DiscussionResults from this study should help autistic adults and their clinicians make evidence-based decisions on the use of sertraline for managing anxiety in this population.Trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN15984604. Registered on 08 February 2021. EudraCT 2019-004312-66. ANZCTR ACTRN12621000801819. Registered on 07 April 2021.

Comparing the autism service needs and priorities of Indigenous and newcomer families in Canada: Qualitative insights

BackgroundIndigenous Peoples and newcomers are two of the largest and fastest growing populations in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2022; Zimonjic, 2022). Yet despite this, little is known about their experiences navigating and accessing autism services for their children. MethodTo address this gap, the current study sought to explore the autism service needs and priorities of Indigenous and newcomer families in Canada. A total of 19 participants (9 Indigenous and 10 newcomer caregivers) were selected using purposive sampling to participate in a semi-structured interview. ResultsThe findings revealed that Indigenous families prioritized the need for services in rural and remote areas, tailored information to their needs, and support preserving their cultural heritage. On the other hand, newcomer families emphasized the importance of peer support, quality standards for services and therapies, and support during transition periods. Similarities across both groups indicated the need for addressing the lengthy waitlists for services, which have also been reported in the general population in Canada, having services and professionals place a greater emphasis on the child’s strengths, and culturally safe services and practice. ConclusionThe present findings have important implications for the design and implementation of services and supports which reflect the needs and priorities of underserved communities.

The Influence of Policy on Early Diagnosis and Other Autism Services: a Narrative Review

The Influence of Policy on Early Diagnosis and Other Autism Services: a Narrative Review

Reimagining Support for Autistic Indigenous Children in the United States: Addressing Under-Identification and Service Gaps.

Although the original purpose of this article was to provide a comprehensive review of services provided for autistic children among Indigenous communities in Texas, USA, the authors' encounter with a significant paucity in availability of data and relevant reports on Indigenous services for ASD spurred the choice of a perspective article instead as it allows a more critical view into the pitfalls surrounding the state of autism services. The meager documentation availability presents a dilemma for both researchers and Indigenous communities since it often leads to misrepresentations of data, and limits understanding of existing support systems. This perspective article addresses these issues and serves to highlight the complexity of collecting data among Indigenous populations across the United States. Specifically, it emphasizes the challenges faced in Texas, shedding light on the various barriers such as variations in cultural identity, government trust, cultural awareness, and disability identity that impede data-collection efforts in providing effective services to Indigenous populations. We advocate for a radical transformation in understanding how to approach and report the prevalence of possible ASD autism among Indigenous children to provide effective and tailored services. Ultimately, this transformation aims to secure the necessary data to provide services that effectively complement the existing support systems within individual Indigenous communities to enable their fullest and most equitable participation in society. The discussion calls for a comprehensive roadmap to achieve the goal of increasing Indigenous data collection and availability while the conclusion outlines a suggested roadmap to achieve the goals of increasing data generation and available services to Indigenous communities, and ultimately, improving services for Indigenous children with ASD in Texas and their families.

We adapt as needed: Autism services at liberal arts college libraries

Over the past two decades, researchers have analyzed the role of disability in liberal arts colleges (LACs). While students find LAC faculty and disability service professionals to be a positive influence in their educational experience, these institutions face some challenges in ensuring the best possible education for students with disabilities and, in particular, autism. Building on previous research on autism in academic libraries and the LACs library context, this study analyzes the results of a survey sent to LAC library leaders across the United States. Findings suggest that LAC libraries are well-positioned to serve autistic college students, given their small student populations and ability to provide personalized service. However, librarians and staff would benefit from more training and a more systematized approach to best meet these students’' needs.

Psychometric properties of the mock interview rating scale for autistic transition-age youth.

Employment is a major contributor to quality of life. However, autistic people are often unemployed and underemployed. One potential barrier to employment is the job interview. However, the availability of psychometrically-evaluated assessments of job interviewing skills is limited for autism services providers and researchers. We analyzed the psychometric properties of the Mock Interview Rating Scale that was adapted for research with autistic transition-age youth (A-MIRS; a comprehensive assessment of video-recorded job interview role-play scenarios using anchor-based ratings for 14 scripted job scenarios). Eighty-five transition-age youth with autism completed one of two randomized controlled trials to test the effectiveness of two interventions focused on job interview skills. All participants completed a single job interview role-play at pre-test that was scored by raters using the A-MIRS. We analyzed the structure of the A-MIRS using classical test theory, which involved conducting both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes, Rasch model analysis and calibration techniques. We then assessed internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, and test-retest reliability. Pearson correlations were used to assess the A-MIRS' construct, convergent, divergent, criterion, and predictive validities by comparing it to demographic, clinical, cognitive, work history measures, and employment outcomes. Results revealed an 11-item unidimensional construct with strong internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, and test-retest reliability. Construct [pragmatic social skills (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), self-reported interview skills (r = 0.34, p = 0.001)], divergent [e.g., age (r = -0.13, p = 0.26), race (r = 0.02, p = 0.87)], and predictive validities [competitive employment (r = 0.31, p = 0.03)] received initial support via study correlations, while convergent [e.g., intrinsic motivation (r = 0.32, p = 0.007), job interview anxiety (r = -0.19, p = 0.08)] and criterion [e.g., prior employment (r = 0.22, p = 0.046), current employment (r = 0.21, p = 0.054)] validities were limited. The psychometric properties of the 11-item A-MIRS ranged from strong-to-acceptable, indicating it may have utility as a reliable and valid method for assessing the job interview skills of autistic transition-age youth.

Korean Immigrant Mothers and the Journey to Autism Diagnosis and Services for Their Child in the United States.

This study focuses on the autism diagnostic experiences that Korean immigrant mothers had with their children. Eleven first-generation Korean-American mothers of children with autism were included in the study. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews in Korean. The main five factors (i.e., cultural beliefs and values, language barriers, complex emotions, immigration and navigating systems, and facilitators and assets) that mainly influence the diagnosis process were identified through thematic analysis. Dynamics are interactive within and between the factors, influencing the entire diagnostic process by either delaying or facilitating the identification of a child's autism and the provision of treatment.

Understanding the Effectiveness and Feasibility of a Family Navigator Program for Parents of Children With Autism.

Systems navigation can be difficult, especially for low-resourced families (i.e., families who are "low income" or meet one of the following indicators: mother has a high school diploma or less; primary caregiver is unemployed; or the family receives governmental assistance). Navigators may help families access services; however, the training of navigators is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of Supporting Parents to Access and Navigate Services (SPANS), a program to develop navigators. Altogether, 19 low-resourced parents of children with autism participated in SPANS. Participants demonstrated significantly improved knowledge about autism services and perceived advocacy for other families and systemic change. There was high attendance, low attrition, high acceptability, and high fidelity. Implications are discussed.

22 Families’ Experiences with Autism Service Navigation and Mobile Application-based Support

Abstract Background Navigating services following an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis is a challenging and lengthy process. Families of children with ASD increasingly experience difficulty locating and accessing services, leading to the inaccessibility of care. These difficulties were further exacerbated by COVID-19 and little is known about families' experience navigating services during the pandemic. Given the complexities of accessing publicly funded developmental services and the lack of a comprehensive platform to navigate available services, prior to the pandemic our research team developed a mobile application, My Autism Passport (MAP), to assist families in identifying publicly available ASD services. Our goal was to determine whether a mobile application would provide families with greater self-efficacy during these challenging times. Objectives The primary objective of our study was to determine the impact of MAP on caregiver self-efficacy. Design/Methods A randomized controlled trial of 34 caregivers of children under 6 years of age who were given a new diagnosis of ASD in the last year were recruited into the study. 17 were randomized to receive MAP. Access to ASD services and parent self-efficacy scores were collected via questionnaires at baseline and then at 6 months from recruitment in both groups. Self-efficacy was measured using the Parent Empowerment and Self-Efficacy Measurement (PEEM). Results Our study consisted of an ethnically diverse group of participants with varying socioeconomic levels. At baseline, participants indicated an overall mean PEEM score of 131.8 (±28.2) in the control arm, and 138.5 (±23.3) in the App arm at the time of diagnosis (p-value 0.6149). At 6 months following ASD diagnosis, the overall score was 123.2 (±35.7) in the control arm, and 137.3 (±33.3) in the App arm (p-value 0.4413). There was a trend towards decreasing feelings of self-efficacy in the control group compared to those with the App who had a stable self-efficacy score. Conclusion Our study indicates that the use of a mobile app to assist service navigation may be helpful for families in self-navigation for autism services. Data collection and analysis are ongoing for one-year post-diagnosis.