Families FORWARD
Project Overview
Families FORWARD was a community-based program designed to develop individualized transition planning for families of youth on the autism spectrum. The program was developed in two phases. In Phase 1, input was gathered from service providers and families representing a range of cultural backgrounds and autism-related experiences. In Phase 2, a proof-of-concept trial was conducted to test the program’s effectiveness in improving transition planning and reducing service use disparities across the transition to adulthood for youth on the autism spectrum and their families. The ultimate goal of the program was to improve outcomes for youth on the autism spectrum and their families during this critical developmental period. Currently, I am the lead author on a publication disseminating findings from this project under development.
Roles and Responsibilities
As a Postdoctoral Associate on the project, I led all aspects of research under the direction of Drs. Kristin Long and Gael Orsmond. My responsibilities included:
Developing and refining qualitative interview guides
Conducting semi-structured interviews with a linguistically, racially, and ethnically diverse sample of parents, youth, and community providers
Incorporating feedback into the design of Families FORWARD
Using community-engaged research methods, such as collaborating with a community advisory board (CAB) composed of youth on the autism spectrum and their parents
Coordinating and maintaining IRB review
Designing recruitment materials
Developing feasibility measures
Managing a large research team
Developing and delivering program training to community providers
Leading recruitment and overseeing the trial
Managing and analyzing qualitative data
Disseminating findings through multiple conference presentations
Presentations
Meyer, R., Guan, S., Suswaram, S., Eilenberg, J. S., Wilson, J., Feng, W., Chu, A., & Long, K.A. (2023, August). The influence of culture on stigma and self-blame experienced by parents of youth with autism. American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C. [In-person]
Eilenberg, J.S., Suswaram, S., Gordillo, M., Gabovitch, E., Martin, K., & Long, K.A (2023, May). Community-based research approaches to meaningfully engage racially and ethnically diverse first-person autistic perspectives in qualitative research. International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting, Stockholm, Älvsjö, Sweden. [In-person]
Long, K., Suswaram, S., Kim, Y., Krishnan, S., Paredes Molina, A., Eilenberg, J. S., Wilson III, J. S., Visoso, S., de Lemos, M., Chu, A., Guthrie, K. M., & Orsmond, G. I. (2024, May). Families Forward: Development and proof-of-concept trial of a new program for transition-aged autistic youth and their families. International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, United States.
Invited Presentations
Suswaram, S. (2023, March). Expanding our Research Horizon to Include Autistic Adolescents and Adults. Invited Conference Lecture. Annual Conference at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for Hearing Healthcare Professionals, Philadelphia, PA. [In-person]
Suswaram, S. (2023, March). A Socio-Cultural Perspective on Communication Development in Minimally Verbal/Nonspeaking Autistic Individuals. Center for Autism Research Excellence (CARE), Boston University, Boston, MA. [In-person]