Hiring People with Disabilities as Direct Support Staff – AHRC NYC Advance & Earn Provides Training and Support for NYC Youth With and Without Disabilities

“He has this desire to learn.” “I knew he was personable and had the temperament for the job.” These are the words of some AHRC New York City staff describing Alex DeCarlo, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) who brings a unique perspective to his colleagues and the people with...

How to Advocate Successfully at School for Your Child with Autism

You want what’s best for your child with autism, but you’re not a teacher or a speech and language pathologist. How do you get the school’s special education team to listen to your ideas? What do you do if you suspect your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) is failing...

Autism Advocacy Advice for Families of Color

Autism occurs equally in people of different races, ethnicities, and income levels, but autism services are not distributed equally, according to research. As a group, children who are Black, Hispanic, Asian-American, or low-income often receive fewer therapies and services for autism.1-2 They...

A Call to Action: The Need for Advocacy in Healthcare Access in Autism

Although specific estimates vary substantially, autistic children and adults have a higher prevalence of comorbid medical conditions than those reported in non-autistic individuals. Among the most commonly reported comorbid medical conditions are neurological disorders, including epilepsy,...

Webinar: Preparing for Puberty in Children with Autism

In this recorded webinar, Cora Taylor, PhD, discusses puberty in individuals with special developmental needs, including: Helping children understand and prepare for body changes associated with puberty Encouraging good hygiene Understanding public/private behaviors Handling issues...

Working to Prevent Suicide in Youth with Autism

This article contains information about suicide and suicide prevention. For help 24/7, please call or text the U.S. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. After being bullied at school, the preteen boy came to believe that no one would care if he died. His therapist, whom he had been seeing for...

Autism and the Troubling Risk of Suicide

This article has information about suicide and suicide prevention. For help 24/7, please call or text the U.S. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Few people used to think about the risk of suicide among people on the autism spectrum. Researchers rarely studied it. Primary care doctors did not...

Sex Education for Autistic People: Why It’s Not Too Much to AASK

One of the most vivid memories I have of growing up is when I had my first period. I was 12 years old, and I can still see my mother standing in the bathroom doorway, her face filled with amazement and delight. “Amy, you’re a woman now!” Confusion etched itself in lines across my...

Marriage Proposal Carries Consequences

Jayson Valles recalls the first time he saw Cecilia Primera. That was 12 years ago during AHRC New York City’s Sunday Trip program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He knew immediately that Cecilia was different than other women. He introduced himself to her and...

Robin Davies-Small Named Yes She Can Executive Director

Yes She Can Inc., a White Plains, NY-based non-profit dedicated to providing job training, mentorship, and life skills for young women with autism, is pleased to welcome Westchester County resident Robin Davies-Small as its new Executive Director. Davies-Small takes the reins of the organization...