June 1, 2012

Recently, I have been researching different programs available for teens and adults diagnosed with ASD. As I was continuing my search, I came across a news article from CBS news in New Jersey. What caught my eye was the title of the article, "One in three adults with autism lack professional experience, worrying professionals." The study goes on to talk about how one in three people diagnosed with Autism has had no paid job experience, college or technical schooling nearly seven years after high school graduation. With Autism being diagnosed at a higher rate, we need to keep in mind all of these young adults and adults entering into the working force. I have blogged before about different programs available in different states for teens and adults after they graduate. The programs provide these young adults with the skills needed to find jobs and provide them with basic living skills. Although there are quite a few of these programs, we need more, especially with the growing population of children diagnosed with ASD.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57433744-10391704/one-in-three-adults-with-autism-lack-professional-experience-worrying-experts/

June 1, 2012

I began to research different children's programs available for children diagnosed with Autism. As I was looking through the websites I found one called www.autism-programs.com. The website provides professionals and adults the opportunity for special training for working with children diagnosed with Autism. Professionals and adults can travel to The Netherlands and Florida to attend seminars and training programs. The programs provide the attendees with effective techniques for treating children with autism and teach them how to facilitate positive, nurturing relationships between children and the adults in their lives. The program further educates the attendees how to alter their teaching styles to be more playful and interactive, which is more appropriate and effective.

http://www.autism-programs.com/programs.htm

March 31, 2012

After researching different adult programs for adults with Autism, I decided to research high school programs that are available to teenagers with Autism. I found an article that talks about a high school, Vernon Hills High School, that provides it's students with helping teenagers with Autism make connections.The program was created to help the students positively interact socially and be better prepared for life after graduation. The program also works with students to help develop stress management techniques and learn more effective time management. The students learn by role playing which helps to expand on their students social awareness.
I believe programs like these are a great way to help work with teens diagnosed with Autism develop the necessary skills. The programs provide teens with Autism the skills to be successful in life after high school.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-x-teen-autism-program-20120516,0,6879053.story

May 25, 2012

As I continued look up different websites about adults with autism, I found another article that caught my eye and was very interesting to read. Although I do not have children, I know that parents at one point in their lives wonder, what is going to happen to their child if something happen to them? While reading this article, a mom express those feelings about her 16 year old son who has severe autism and has always needed someone to help him navigate through the adult world. I began to wonder, what does happen to the young adults, or even older adults, who have been diagnosed with Autism and require assistance to live their daily lives? Does the state find a living relative willing to help them or does the state find a group home that would be suitable for the young adult? The article discusses how 1 in 110 people have autism and how we need funding and more research to find out these answers before it's too late. The article references a book that families could look into for further assistance to read about what other families may have done in the past. It's important that we start looking for answers and finding the funding so that when these teenagers do enter the adult world, they are ready to be a key member of society.

May 24, 2012

As I was reviewing over my past blogs, I realized there was one question I had that I did not answer. My question was, what happens to children who are diagnosed with autism and thrown into the adult world? I know that I have discussed different group homes that are available and how some states offer programs but, I began to wonder what happens to adults with Autism? I found this article in the New York Times, and was immediately drawn to what it had to say. The writer made the statement, "with some 200,000 autistic teenagers set to come of age in the United States over the next five years alone, little is known about their ability to participate fully in public life, or what it would take to accommodate them." The writer talks about a boy, Justin, who is trying to find his place in the adult world. The family shares interview experiences and how his teacher from school accompanied him to the interviews. Because of his habits, it was hard for Justin to find a job; a job that understood Justin and what he was capable of.  As stated before, there is around 200,000 autistic teenagers coming of age, are all of them going to benefit from having a teacher help them to find jobs, or help them through the interview process? I wonder what families do while preparing for this time in their child's life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/us/autistic-and-seeking-a-place-in-an-adult-world.html

May 20, 2012

As I continued to read through different websites about programs for young adults with Autism, I found one called Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism. As I was reading through the headlines provided in the website, I ran across one that caught my attention. It stated, "The U.S. Department of Labor has made available approximately $20 million in grants to fund cooperative agreements that will improve the educational, training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities." I found this headline to be exciting and promising. There are so many young adults diagnosed with Autism that graduate from high school, and they themselves and their families don't know what the next step is. And, even if they know the next step, they don't have the funding and, some of the programs don't have the funding, needed to provide their child with whatever he or she needs. The grants are said to be split into ten different grants with funds ranging from $1.5 to $6 million, and will be spent over a 3 year period. Through these generous grants, I hope to see the different recipients use the funds in a wise and positive manner. I would like to see the programs use the money to hire on more employees, therefore, they will be able to take more young adults diagnosed with Autism into their programs.

May 19, 2012

I began to further explore the different programs that states offer young adults diagnosed with Autism and what those programs can provide for that specific person. One program I found is called Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program; it's located in Texas. The program offers services to those students who meet the requirements and, who are graduating high school, an opportunity to receive transition planning services. Throughout the planning period, the students are prepared to move from receiving special education services to receiving vocational services. The program then helps to minimize any delays in the transition from school to employment or independence.

I find these programs intriguing, and I'm constantly wondering what else the school can provide for these children and young adults. I have an Aunt, who has a developmental delay. I know that one of her goals, according to my Grandma, was for her to be able to live independently. After she graduated high school and lived at home for a few years, working at the local restaurant, she moved into a group home. In that group home she lived with two other girls who were diagnosed with similar disabilities. These girls cooked for each other and split the rent and the bills. It was nice to see my Aunt be given the opportunity to live independently and see the skills that she was taught, not only at home but, at school be put into use.


http://www.dads.state.tx.us/tarrc/services/overviewofservicesforchildren.pdf