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Remote Work Expands Career-Exploration Opportunities
Understanding the benefits and challenges associated with technology has always been central at Tech Kids Unlimited, and the COVID-19 pandemic demanded even deeper exploration. Tech Kids Unlimited (TKU) is a NYC-based educational non-profit specializing in teaching technology and computer science...
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Using Cell Phones to Increase Independence in the Community for Young Adults with Autism
All individuals deserve to be active members of the community in which they reside. However, independent societal participation for young people with disabilities, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who also have a secondary disability diagnosis (e.g., intellectual disability)...
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How Physical Distancing Brought Us Even Closer Together
Five years have passed since I last wrote about our social recreation group CASY Sparks, previously known as Project CASY (Community Autism Socials at Yale) in the Spring 2016 Issue of Autism Spectrum News. CASY began to flourish in 2016 with the establishment of the Daniel Jordan Fiddle...
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New Book Offers Firsthand View of the State of Public Policy for the Field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in New York
Leaders in intellectual and development disabilities (I/DD) are in the crosswinds of a crisis because of the lack of clarity and predictability about New York State’s timing and direction of managed care. The result of trying to plan for vulnerable persons served is obvious and unacceptable: The...
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Cultivating Independence Through Technology
Is it possible to live independently with a disability? This question is often a source of concern for those with a disability like autism. However, it is important to remember that independence can look different for everyone, and technology can play a valuable role in fostering independence. At...
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Increasing Inclusion in Biomarker Research
A new study being conducted by researchers in the McPartland Lab at the Yale Child Study Center is using technological advancements to bring biomarker discovery research to minimally verbal and cognitively impaired autistic individuals. These individuals have historically been underrepresented in...
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The Scene Cue: A Tool Delivered via Mobile Technology for Improving Independence in Direction-Following
The introduction of visual supports can often augment spoken language comprehension for learners who are minimally verbal. For example, when directing a learner to put a box into a bag, a symbolate sentence strip of “box in bag” (see Figure 1) could improve understanding assuming the learner...
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Telehealth Services Improve Accessibility for Individuals with Autism
Approximately 1 out of 54 children in the United States live with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).1 My son is one of those individuals, so I know firsthand some of the many struggles that can come with safely accessing health care. Diagnosing ASD early in a child’s development can have a...
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Generalization and Extension of the Skill-Based Treatment in a School Setting
SEARCH Day Program is a private, non-profit school in Ocean Township, New Jersey. Approximately 80 students, ages 3-21, are currently enrolled in the program. The school embraces research-based teaching strategies that are derived from applied behavior analysis while taking a multi-discipline...
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Ten Lessons in Transitioning from High School to College for Students with Autism and Learning Differences
Going to college after high school, particularly for neuroatypical learners, can be like trying to get from one mountain top to another without a bridge or tools of any kind. Lesson number one is just knowing that: Be prepared for a massive gap between one set of teaching, learning, and support...
