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The Cost of Literacy for Autistic Adults
Today, more than ever, literacy agencies nationwide are being called upon to assist adults with low literacy. Literacy Statistics “48 million adults lack basic reading, writing, and math skills beyond a third-grade level” (Literacy Facts, 2023). If every adult in the US functioned at...
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The Importance of Personalized Support and Care for Autistic Adults
People with autism have the potential for growth at every stage of life. When providing care for autistic adults, know that every moment and interaction can make a difference in their well-being and independence if you understand how they learn. Many of the people who receive support at The Summit...
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The Power of Person-Centered Planning in Supporting Autistic Adults
Everyone wants to be heard and supported in ways that truly resonate with them. For adults with autism, this means having a voice in how their lives are shaped, and person-centered planning is the key to making that happen. It’s a process that ensures individuals are at the heart of their own...
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Tapping Into Strengths: Empowering Autistic Individuals to Self-Advocate in the Workplace
Up to 85% of autistic individuals with a college degree are unemployed or underemployed (Autism Society). This often is attributed to a variety of factors, including differences in communication and challenges in reading social cues and making eye contact, all of which are an integral part of the...
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Building Self-Advocacy Skills in Autistic Young Adults
Adulthood is the time when teachers and parents can no longer advocate for their children the same way they could during the school-age years. Much of it becomes the responsibility of the adult. At the beginning of my career, I had the opportunity to develop an evidence-based curriculum in...
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Empowering and Supporting Women with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Women with autism spectrum disorders present with a complex social and behavioral profile that can differ from men. It is important to understand some of the diagnostic differences between women and men so that we can help empower women with autism spectrum disorders not only to address their...
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Strategies for Autistic Adults to Achieve Greater Independence and Well-Being
The transition from childhood to adulthood can be a scary and difficult life experience for most people. It can be even more challenging for those diagnosed with autism and their families. This phase of life brings a blend of excitement and uncertainty, and the road to achieving greater...
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A Maze of Red Tape: My Experience with Benefits and Bureaucracy
Though I was diagnosed as autistic in my infancy and can remember as far back as when I was four years old, I never realized I was different until the second grade, when I was shuffled between special and regular education, when I made the fateful decision to become fully integrated into the...
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Embracing Neurodiversity: A Social Revolution of Autism and New Perspectives
Over the past 25 years, I have noticed a movement that has been gaining momentum, aiming to reshape societal views and acceptance of autism and the broader community of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). If I could name this movement, I would call it Embracing...
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Are Therapy and Accommodations Sufficient for Autism Empowerment?
Please note: The terms Aspie, ASD/Neurodivergent, and Autistics will be used to refer to people with Autism. A quick Google search for “supporting” or “empowering” Autistic people brings up pages recounting our impairments and suggested accommodations in education and employment. In the...
