-
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Unique People Services Creating Community Connections
On a sunny day in August, on a typical tree lined suburban street in Queens, NY, a knock opens a neighbor’s door. “Are you coming?” asked a client of Unique People Services (UPS). UPS was holding an open house to introduce the community to their newest neighbors: six women with varying...
-
Two Sides to the Safety Equation: Bridging the Gap Between Police and Individuals with ASD
Given the heightened risk that individuals with autism face when they have contact with the police, this article highlights two valuable safety programs that bridge the gap between police and those with autism to build mutual understanding and improve outcomes in a police encounter. Media...
-
The Importance of Community Social Participation for Adults with ASD
Over the past ten years, researchers have been investigating the quality of life and overall functioning of adults with ASD (Orsmond, G.I., et al., 2013; Billstedt, E., et al., 2011; Robertson, S.M., 2010; Renty, J.O. & Roeyers, H., 2006). A consistent finding across these studies is the...
-
The Importance of Community Involvement in Preventing a Wandering Incident
Approximately 48% of children diagnosed with autism have been reported to elope at some point in their lives, frequently from places that are considered the safest environments for them to be in, such as homes and schools. People who elope place themselves in harm’s way and increase their risk of...
-
Avoiding the Glares and Stares: Dealing with Challenging Behaviors in Community Settings
Ah, victory – another trip to the local grocery store is about to come to a close as you finish bagging up the last few apples for lunches for the week. That is, until half a dozen oranges go rolling past your feet, and you turn around only to notice the bag of goldfish half eaten…the other...
-
Taking Learning Out of the Clinic and Into the Community
When working with youth and young adults on the autism spectrum, professionals and parents are often faced with the daunting task of teaching life skills. These skills can include grocery shopping, stranger awareness, everyday cleaning, and self-care. Youth and young adults often need to be taught...
-
Career Training at Its Best: Roses for Autism
National Labor Statistics as well as a recent National Longitudinal Study (see analysis at www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=341) show disappointing employment outcomes for individuals with autism. For example, less than half were employed at the time of the study compared to over...
-
The Support of Adolescents and Adults with Autism in the Community – How to Establish Community and Life Skills That Will Endure
The United States is on the verge of a crisis as more than 800,000 children identified with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) enter adulthood. Consequently, there are vastly larger numbers of adolescents and adults who need interventions and services than ever before. Unfortunately, the need...
