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This Is Me: Using a Personalized, Electronic Transition Tool to Support Self-Advocacy in Transition-Aged Young Adults
For young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)1, transition to post-school life brings with it both new opportunities and new challenges. The transition to post-secondary education settings, vocational programs, community-based day programs, and/or supported living means having to teach all...
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Ten Lessons in Transitioning from High School to College for Students with Autism and Learning Differences
Going to college after high school, particularly for neuroatypical learners, can be like trying to get from one mountain top to another without a bridge or tools of any kind. Lesson number one is just knowing that: Be prepared for a massive gap between one set of teaching, learning, and support...
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Webinar: Introducing Spectrum Innovates Pathway Program
Introducing Spectrum Innovates Pathway Program (SIPP) A new model of transition to higher education and the workforce for individuals on the autism spectrum Spectrum Innovates Pathway Program (SIPP) is a gateway to higher education and the workforce for those whose passions include aviation,...
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Managing Back-to-School Jitters: Tips to Help Children With Special Needs Ensure a Smooth Transition
Remember how it felt as a child before your first day of school? Perhaps you experienced butterflies in your stomach or loss of sleep the night before. You were excited to see your friends, but also nervous about what the new school year would bring. That is exactly how I am feeling about sending...
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A Bridge to Employment
As a student’s remaining time in high school dwindles down to a year or two, school district personnel are challenged to meet the expectations of both students and parents regarding life after high school. Post-secondary education transition brings its own set of challenges while employment...
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The Key to True Success in College and Beyond
Success in college is not guaranteed, especially for autistic students. About 60% of full-time undergraduates receive a bachelor’s degree within 6 years of beginning college at a four-year institution (National Center for Education Statistics, 2020). Only 36% of young adults on the autism...
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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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How Preparing Early Improves Independent Living in Adulthood
It is never too early to prepare for any skill, but especially skills needed to live independently. Many young adults feel that moving out on their own is a rite of passage, whether that be attending college to live in a dormitory, renting their own apartment, buying their first home, among many...
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Your Child’s Right to an Appropriate Transition Plan
One of the main objectives of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is to ensure that children receive an appropriate education that prepares them for further education, employment, and independent living.1 Accordingly, school districts must develop Transition Plans that are...
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Finding Home: Creating a Home that Supports the Individual
Many young adults dread being asked, “What are you going to do after high school?” And this is especially true for those with autism and other disabilities. For many individuals with autism or other disabilities, it can be a big step to leave their family home. Some choose to attend a...
