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. 2025 Jul 22.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-06961-2. Online ahead of print.

The Adaptation and Translation of a Transition Readiness Scale for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Antonio F Pagán  1 , Katherine A Loveland  2 , Ron Acierno  2
Affiliations

The Adaptation and Translation of a Transition Readiness Scale for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Antonio F Pagán et al. J Autism Dev Disord. .

Abstract

Autistic young adults often face significant challenges during the transition to adulthood, yet few tools exist to assess their readiness in a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive manner. This study presents the development and initial validation of the Transition Readiness Scale for Autistic Adolescents and Adults (TRS-A), a brief caregiver- and self-report measure designed to assess key domains of transition readiness. Guided by qualitative input from Latino families, community stakeholders, and clinicians, the TRS-A was piloted with 114 autistic young adults, 66 Spanish-speaking parents, and 48 English-speaking parents. Psychometric analyses supported the scale's internal consistency and construct validity, mirroring the results from the initial development of the measure, with TRS-A scores correlating with adaptive functioning and mental health outcomes. The TRS-A offers a promising way to identify strengths and needs in autistic youth as they prepare for adult roles and responsibilities. Future research should explore its use across broader populations and its predictive value in transition-related interventions and clinical decision-making.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Latino young adults; Scale adaptation; Transition to adulthood; Translation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethical Approval: All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional review boards of the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments. Informed Consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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