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Tailored Professional Development for Licensed Care Staff to Support Community Living for Adults with Autism
Across the next decade, we can expect a 123% increase in the number of youth with autism transitioning out of school-based services (IACC, 2017). These increases have placed a growing demand on the service systems supporting transition-aged youth and adults and magnified the need for effective and...
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Preparing Autism Service Providers for Natural Disasters and Other Emergencies
When confronted with an emergency, people with autism spectrum disorder are at a greater risk for injury or death than their neurotypical peers. Many autistic children and adults lack safety awareness or the ability to follow basic safety rules. Even if they have these critical skills, each...
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Autistic Lived Experience: A Song Request at a High School Dance That Backfired
Had I known then what I know now, the DJ calling the shots at this dance would not have heard this request despite how much I loved the song in question. It comes down to the fact that context matters, as do the hidden rules of the social situations in which we find ourselves. These realities often...
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Establishing and Promoting Self-Care Within a Human Service Agency
In an industry faced with post-pandemic staffing shortages, the question of how to promote self-care and decrease burnout among autism service providers has become more critical than ever before. Burnout can be defined as a work-related illness that results from ongoing psychological stress (Leoni...
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Unspoken Injuries: Supporting Health Professionals Coping With Client Loss
“I was delighted to get my first consultant job working in an in-patient [psychiatric] unit… In my second week, I had my first patient die by suicide. In my third week, I had my second patient die by suicide. In my third month, there was a very distressing…death by suicide on the...
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The Increasing Popularity of Telehealth Services for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often find it challenging to visit the doctor’s office due to a variety of sensory, social, and communication barriers. The sights, sounds, smells, and textures commonly found in a doctor’s office can be overwhelming and can trigger...
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Interdisciplinary Approach to Obtaining a Medical Diagnosis for Individuals With a Complex Behavioral Profile
Individuals with complex behavioral and medical profiles require an interdisciplinary approach due to multiple specialized areas of need. This approach allows interdisciplinary teams to efficiently address multiple presenting needs simultaneously and comprehensively (Boivin et al., 2021). This...
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Innovative Recruitment Campaign Launched in NY State to Address Direct Support Professional Workforce Shortage
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) provide crucial services for more than 125,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, all across the state. The important roles that DSPs serve cannot be understated; I see it every day in my interactions and visits to...
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Empowering Autistic Job Seekers Through Mentorship
When it comes to job search and employment, autistic adults may face specific challenges, including difficulties with social interactions, executive functioning, and communication. Additional obstacles include employer bias and a lack of understanding. These issues create significant barriers to...
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The Neuro-Strength-Based Support Framework: A Collaborative, Strength-Focused Approach to Autism Interventions
Autism remains an enigma to some despite decades of research and a plethora of interventions aimed at addressing its myriad facets. Historically, interventions have been crafted to mitigate perceived developmental, sensory, and behavioral deficits without a solid foundation in the bio-neurological...
