-
Better Language Comprehension Through Brain Connectivity
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) impairs communication skills, impacting the ability to engage and interact with others. The deficits in communication skills impact classroom performance for students with ASD, since comprehension of the English language is foundational to success within the United...
-
Researchers Link Increased Infant Brain Fluid to Autism
MRIs show a brain anomaly in nearly 70 percent of babies at high risk of developing the condition who go on to be diagnosed, laying the groundwork for a predictive aid for pediatricians and the search for a potential treatment. A national research network led by UNC School of Medicine’s Joseph...
-
The Importance of Self-Advocacy Skills for Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum
Self-advocacy is the ability of an individual to speak on behalf of oneself, and is a critical skill to acquire when it comes to moving towards independence. Self-advocacy includes the quest for finding information, the process of making decisions, seeking help in times of need, understanding...
-
The Soft Skills – A Call to Remember the (Not so Easy) Steps to Success
As we prepare our students for transitions from school to work, we put much emphasis on academics and trade skills. However, more and more, the employers are putting an emphasis on hiring individuals with the right soft skill set. For our students to be successful, we need to assist them in making...
-
Walking the Tightrope: Promoting Success in the Adolescent with ASD
It is tough being an adolescent. Adolescence is a time fraught with changes at many levels. Physically, the body is growing and changing, evolving from the body of a child to an adult, and becoming physiologically capable of bearing children. There is a tremendous surge of hormones that allow for...
-
Autism, Sexuality, and Postsecondary Education
Approximately 50,000 students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will turn 18 (Autism Speaks, 2012) with many high functioning ASD students completing high school in anticipation of enrolling in, and graduating from postsecondary institutions (Camarena & Sarigiani, 2009; Chiang, Cheung,...
-
Developing Independence: Teaching Goal Setting Skills to Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum
Research conducted amongst the broader population has reported that goal setting for independence is a teachable and effective support strategy, yet it is one that remains under-utilized by the Autism community. The ability to live a meaningful life, with as little reliance on others as...
-
Responding to the Changing Needs of Job Seeking Adults and Adolescents with Autism
The process of finding, applying for and obtaining employment is one that is constantly evolving. These changes often present new challenges for adolescents and adults with autism and related disabilities. For providers and clinicians, this means it is more important than ever to evaluate the...
-
The Road to Adulthood: Planning and Preparing for Transition
For families of adolescents with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, planning for the future may seem particularly daunting. Parents are often faced with questions about what lies ahead for their son or daughter as they prepare to “age out” of their school district and...
-
Empowering Parents: Caregiver Support for Youth and Adolescents with ASD
Parents rely on neighbors, friends, family members and other caregivers to provide in-home temporary caregiver support, frequently referred to as “babysitting,” for their children while they attend meetings, run errands, and have some “couple” time away from routine family responsibilities....
