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Olivia Bliss Ed.D., is a 2025 graduate of the Ed.D. program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University.

Dissertation Committee:

Cristy Sugarman, Ed.D., Committee Chair

Gary Delanoeye, Ed.D., Committee Member

Paul Stillman, Ph.D., Committee Member

Keywords

Social and Emotional Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Autism, Neurodiversity Paradigm, Postsecondary Outcomes

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Autistic young adults are disproportionately excluded from postsecondary education and employment opportunities, with significantly lower rates of college completion and higher levels of unemployment than their non-disabled peers. While social and emotional learning (SEL) has been widely promoted as a vehicle for student success, research on how emotional intelligence (EQ) shapes the postsecondary experiences of neurodivergent individuals remains limited. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study explores how emotional intelligence competencies influence postsecondary outcomes and satisfaction among autistic young adults. Participants completed the Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Assessment (SEI), and their results were analyzed alongside demographic and outcome data. The second phase employed in-depth qualitative interviews and a focus group, incorporating participatory action research (PAR) methods that positioned autistic individuals as co-researchers. Findings revealed that participants demonstrated emotional insight and reflective thinking, but often developed these skills through experiences of exclusion, trauma, and masking, rather than through inclusive educational design. The study supports transformative SEL grounded in equity, identity development, and empowerment. The research underscores the need for school-based practices that move beyond deficit-based frameworks. Specifically, instruction (a) must disrupt internalized stigma and masking; (b) validate diverse pathways to “success”; (c) normalize and scaffold advocacy, and (d) embed strengths, interests, and values into transition planning.

Comments

ORCID No. 0009-0007-7177-9137

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