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Thriving During COVID-19: Transitioning to Virtual Programming for Individuals with Disabilities
In this ever-changing health crisis, the world has been altered. Our daily patterns have been changed and the ways in which we connect with and support others has shifted. For those with a disability, maintaining a sense of community and human connection is more important than ever. Organizations...
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Supporting Young Women with ASD Through Transition Services, Employment and Volunteer Opportunities
Over the next decade, approximately half a million young people on the autism spectrum will transition to adulthood (Demer, 2018). When they turn 21, they must leave behind the programming and funding that has supported them throughout their lives, with many families not knowing what to do next....
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The Journey to Self-Determination
The journey to adulthood can be daunting and overwhelming for anyone, especially for young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). As parents, friends, professionals, and members of the community, we play a vital role in empowering our young adults to start their journey to becoming...
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Transitioning Back Home from a Residential Treatment Facility
Enlisting the help of a residential treatment facility can often be the most difficult decision parents of children with autism face, particularly if that treatment center is far from home. Parents who have likely had little to no separation from their child throughout the daily caregiving process...
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Promoting Community Engagement and Social Connections Through Employment and Volunteering
Most parents, at some point, grapple with worry over how their child will fair. Will they be happy? Will they find meaningful connections? Will they find their passion? This is particularly true for parents of children with autism. Added to typical concerns, like “is my adult child eating their...
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There are No IEPs in College: Succeeding with Accommodations
For many students, college is a series of firsts. With independence comes responsibility for many things they previously had assistance with. These firsts are challenging for many, however students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face additional, unique challenges —significant impairments in...
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Gift from Massachusetts Family Will Support Students with Diverse Learning Challenges
Lesley University’s Threshold Program has received a philanthropic gift of $1 million from donors Chris Gaffney and Karen Kames, of Newton, Massachusetts, which will provide scholarships for students and fund a new staff member in the Threshold Alumni Center. Their daughter, Olivia, is a...
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Transition to Adulthood: Many Difficult yet Essential Challenges for Autistics
As a group, autistics are well-known for having difficulty with many kinds of changes in their lives. The transition to adulthood constitutes one of the most difficult and, at the same time, one of the most important that most people ever make. For autistics, then, this transition usually presents...
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Transition Readiness for an Individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Planning for the transition into adulthood for an individual with autism can be a daunting task for both the individual and their family. Most parents begin to query their community providers, support groups, and educational teams about the transition process well into an individual’s secondary...
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Empowering Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
With the implementation of the Employment First Initiative, integrated community employment has become a nationwide focus that is affording greater opportunities for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While we’re moving in the right direction, there is still work to be done. According...
