Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jul;51(7):2531-2537.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04660-8.

Examining Environmental Predictors of Community Participation for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Dara V Chan  1 , Mark R Klinger  2 , Kelsie A Adkisson  3   4 , Laura G Klinger  2   5
Affiliations

Examining Environmental Predictors of Community Participation for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Dara V Chan et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

A geographic information system (GIS) approach systematically assessed whether population density and distribution of community resources contributed to caregiver reported community participation outcomes for 124 adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Regression analyses examined whether GIS measures predicted community participation in areas of social activities and use of services, while also accounting for adult age, conversation ability, and daily living skills (DLS). Results indicated that in addition to person factors of greater DLS and better conversation ability, access to specific community features, such as bus stops, contributed to improved participation. Unexpectedly, population density where one lived made minimal contribution to participation outcomes, except in getting together with friends outside of organized activities.

Keywords: Adults; Autism spectrum disorder; Community participation; Geographic information systems (GIS); Services.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest Dara Chan has received research grants from The Autism Science Foundation, the Organization for Autism Research, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Junior Faculty Development Award and the University Research Council. Laura Klinger received research grants from Autism Speaks (#8316) and the Foundation of Hope.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Example of participant home location mapped in ArcGIS with community features within 0.5, 1, and 2 mile radii
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Population density map in GIS with participant home locations, and an example of a densely populated area zoomed in
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Badia M, Orgaz B, Verdugo A, Ullan A, & Martinez M (2011). Personal factors and perceived barriers to participation in leisure activities for young and adults with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32(6), 2055–2063. - PubMed
    1. Barton MS, & Gibbons J (2017). A stop too far: How does public transportation concentration influence neighbourhood median household income? Urban Studies, 54(2), 538–554.
    1. Cameto R, Wagner M, Newman L, Blackorby J, & Javitz H (2000). National longitudinal transition study II (NLTS2) study design, timeline, and data collection. SRI International; Menlo Park, CA. https://nlts2.org/studymeth/nlts2_sampling_plan2.pdf.
    1. de Smith MJ, Goodchild MF, & Longley PA (2007). Geospatial analysis—A comprehensive guide (3rd edn). Leicester, UK: The Winchelsea Press. Retrieved from https://www.spatialanalysisonline.com/output/.
    1. Des Rosiers F, Thériault M, Voisin M, & Dubé J (2010). Does an improved urban bus service affect house values? International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 4(6), 321–346.