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Being Smarter with Smarter Tech: YAI Center for Innovation and Engagement
Technology is an essential part of all of our lives. It can have a profound impact, whether allowing us to connect with family; reminding us to take medication; or keeping us safe at home, at work, or on the road. The coronavirus pandemic has only highlighted the centrality of technology for...
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Developing Confidence and Standing Up for Myself
After I lost my mom to dementia, I had very little confidence in myself. I had no voice. People would express their opinions and I would never tell others my perspective because I had no confidence. I could not stand up for myself. If I tried, I would wind up crying instead. I let myself get...
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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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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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Supporting the Transition to Employment for Adolescents with Autism
Graduating from high school and transitioning to the world of work is an extremely important and exciting milestone. However, for many young adults with autism obtaining and maintaining employment can present some unique challenges. Unfortunately, despite the vastly increasing numbers of...
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Set Up for Success: Vista Life Innovations’ Three-Step Employment Model
Employment can be a source of anxiety for both individuals with disabilities and their families. The rate of unemployment or underemployment for those with autism in the U.S. is particularly high compared to those with other disabilities or the general population (Ohl et al., 2017). Despite the...
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The Connection Between Transportation Access and Future Employment
I have given countless driving seminars, and in all of them I talk about the importance of discussing the impact of driving and transportation on employment. It is my belief that potential employment opportunities must always be discussed with the individual’s transportation options in mind....
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Perspectives From Two Adults Living Independently in the Chapel Haven Community
Brave, Bold Kimber By Kimber Marchesi Kimber Marchesi came to Chapel Haven Schleifer Center from her hometown of Darien, CT in 2013. She learned how to live independently while enrolled residentially in Chapel Haven’s REACH program, graduated and now lives in her own apartment in the community,...
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Tools for Growth: Facilitating Community Living Skills Opportunities in Preparation for Independent Living
Graduating high school, going to college, finding an apartment, landing that first job, getting married - these are all exciting milestones associated with the transition from high school to independent living. For adolescents with autism, formal planning for this transition begins at age 14 with...
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A COVID-19-Inspired Housing Solution for Our Autistic Daughter
For many years I’ve been thinking about how and where our daughter Samantha (now 30) could live independently. She doesn’t belong - nor does she want to be - in a group living situation and she is not yet ready to live on her own. After surviving 5 years of roommates at Landmark College and...
