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How Spectrum Designs Foundation Pivoted to Support First Responders and Healthcare Providers
Six or so weeks ago, when the COVID-19 crisis ramped up and then effectively halted life as we know it, the team at Spectrum Designs Foundation was on schedule to break previous sales records, offer more individuals with Autism paid employment opportunities and open the doors to our anticipated new...
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How We’ve Always Done It
I remember the day exactly. It was an unspectacular Sunday and I was headed to the last job I would ever take working for somebody else. It was a low-paying, hourly, management position for an animal nonprofit and just about the only benefit of the job was that I was in charge of making the...
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Mobilizing to Maintain Continuity of the Yes She Can Training Program
Yes She Can provides a job skills training program for young women with autism and related social and learning disabilities. The program is implemented at Girl AGain boutique where clinical professionals and business managers coach trainees in all aspects of running the business. It has been a...
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What Do Change in Schedules, Virtual Meetings, and Face Masks Have in Common?
The Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted daily life for almost every person around the world; especially daily routines. Routines are a good thing, since the predictability can be comforting. For many, changes to routines are frustrating; but are usually seen as positive, creating novel changes. But...
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Transitioning an ABA Company to Telehealth Service Delivery Model
Working for a company that provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, we were always tied to insurance companies’ untouchable rule: if you are not with the client face to face, you are not entitled to reimbursement and your time is not valid as service delivery. As Executive Director of...
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Using Telehealth to Create a Virtual Community for Adults with Autism
During March 2020, many community-based programs for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) needed to make the difficult decision to suspend in-person services for the safety of all stakeholders. The unexpected interruption in daily operations led to an immediate concern for the overall quality...
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Maintaining Best Outcomes for Students in a Congregate Care Setting Amidst a Pandemic
COVID-19 posed immediate and unprecedented challenges to organizations providing intensive behavioral services in a congregate care setting to children and adolescents diagnosed with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities. The evolving discoveries about the novel virus and how to combat...
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Understanding and Mitigating Challenges Faced by the Healthcare System when Treating Children with ASD and Problem Behavior
Meeting the healthcare needs of the heterogeneous population of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses a unique set of difficulties for an already burdened healthcare system during a pandemic such as the current COVID-19 crisis. Children with ASD experience the same childhood illnesses...
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Stronger Than We Think: The Advantages of Neurodiversity in the Face of Adversity
COVID-19 presents huge challenges and added layers of vulnerability for children and adults with autism and other special needs and their families. Some experience more adversity than others because of race and social class. However, it is my belief that neurodiversity has some built-in advantages...
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Cover Up for Safety! Suggestions for Mask Toleration for Individuals with ASD
During this difficult and unpredictable time, everyone is faced with new challenges. These challenges may be exacerbated for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). School and daycare closures and a decrease in employment, among other changes, have caused a significant disruption to daily...
