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Pre-Employment Transition Services for Autistic Youth: What Works?

Once an individual on the spectrum finds just the right crew, they may very well wind up being the glue that holds it together (I actually had a boss in the past year describe me as such, and that was definitely a good day on my end). –Grady Bolding

5 Strategies for Employers to Help Autistic Employees Thrive in the Workplace

A neurodiverse friend of mine who works at Trader Joe's has found that the support of her co-workers and managers has allowed her to truly thrive in her job as a cashier.

Autism and Stereotypes: A Few Tips for Survival

I used to get yelled at a lot when I was younger, especially when it came to homework.

How the Growth Mindset and Multiple Intelligence Theories Can Help Autistic Students Grow

People have always viewed intelligence as a fixed inherent trait. You’re born smart, or average, or you’re doomed to a failed life. Not only that but we use it as a measurable trait to be compared with others. Intelligence is often used in conjunction with academic ability. But

What Works? Evidence-Based Transition Services

As autistic students transition from adolescence to adulthood, it is important that the transition services they access are evidence-based. Researchers have carefully reviewed and devised recommendations for services demonstrating the most effectiveness for helping autistic stud

Job Coaching, Supported and Integrated Employment for Autistic Students

What Does the Law Require? Autistic students have the opportunity to continue their education through age 21. This is guaranteed by federal law. Schools and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) staff should provide job experiences for students and later should have concrete data to he

Mental Health Empowerment: Providing Compassionate and Client-Centered Support for People With Autism

How can stakeholders use principles of self-determination, individuality, and compassion to support individuals with autism and their self-directed mental health care pursuits?

Autism and Dance Therapy

Dancing is a universal language, and many on the autism spectrum can easily learn it.

How to Create Effective Transition Service IEPs for Students with Autism

A Guide for Schools on the IDEA and Rehabilitation Act Requirements Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children with autism spectrum disorders are eligible to receive an individualized education plan (IEP) throughout their education from 3 to 21 years

Why Autistic/ADHD People Are Drawn to Other Autistic/ADHD People

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends I was diagnosed when I was 28. Being late diagnosed, I started to read more about autism and ADHD and suddenly realized so many people I know fit these descriptions. Some old friends, coworkers, and family had these traits! My partner

Creating a Positive Online Experience for Your Student With Autism

Online learning is an exciting and innovative way for children to access their education. Even though it has been around for quite some time, COVID-19 has brought it to the forefront of many teachers’ minds. No matter the setting, educating students requires thought and planning

A Deeper Dive: What Post-Secondary Employment and Services are Available for Students With Autism?

A growing number of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are attending college after they graduate from high school. However, unfortunately, a high number of these students also leave college without graduating, usually because they do not have the necessary support in p

Overview of Transition Services: What Resources and Supports are Available for Students With Autism?

What are transition services? The societal transition from childhood to adulthood is full of stressful events for most children, including deciding between college and work, picking a college or vocation, and graduating from high school. For children with ASD, these transition m

Autism in the Workplace: Advice From the Trenches

Autism in the workplace can have its share of rewards and pitfalls. As with anyone else, one on the spectrum has a lot to navigate when trying to find the right job fit. For some, the learning process may be pretty daunting.

Support Groups for Autistic* Children, Teens, Young Adults and Parents

Support groups and social clubs for children, teens, and young adults with autism provide a safe environment for people with shared experiences to connect and participate in a supportive, understanding community. No matter what your child's or student’s needs are, there are simi

How to Use Video Modeling and Video Self-Modeling to Help Your Autistic Child

Have you ever wondered how we learn new skills–or how most children seem to pick up on the natural progression of getting a haircut, going to the dentist, or brushing their teeth? While many children grasp the typical flow of these activities and automatically learn from watchin

Autism & Drama Therapy: A View From the Spectrum

My journey to the stage (and, lately, behind the camera) was a long one.

Benefits of Online College for Students With Autism

8 Reasons to Consider Distance Learning a nd 8 Great College Choices for Those on the Spectrum

How to Teach Students With Autism Healthy Habits, Life Skills, and Self-Care

While establishing goals for personal hygiene, healthy habits, and effective self-care skills is important for everyone, individuals on the autism spectrum may need additional support when developing these competencies. Research suggests that teaching self-care skills can help i

The Persistence of Time: Managing Time on the Spectrum

Time on the Spectrum Think about time. Does every task take longer if you’re on the autism spectrum, or if you have a child on the spectrum? Does your family have special rules regarding when and how things get done, based on how one particular person experiences the passage of

What Autistic* Teenagers Need to Thrive

When our autistic children grow up and enter the preteen and teen years, their needs change. They will require a new approach and different interventions to help them thrive. What may have worked for them when they were younger, may suddenly not work anymore and even annoy them.

Applying Brene Brown’s Rising Strong to Autism

Building Awareness and Theory of Mind Brene Brown’s illuminating 2015 book, Rising Strong , shows how part of life is handling unexpected situations and dealing with expectations, failures, or disappointments—and finding ways to adjust and cope in spite of struggles. But the goa

Autism and the Transition to Adulthood (Part 2)

Building Social Skills and Maintaining Relationships (This article is part 2 of a 2-part series. Check out part 1 on helping young people with autism build a career and develop independent living skills! ) While emphasis is often placed on awareness of the signs and symptoms of

Autism and the Transition to Adulthood (Part 1)

Helping Young People With Autism Build a Career and Develop Independent Living Skills (This article is part 1 of a 2-part series. Check out part 2 on building social skills and maintaining relationships! ) As young adults on the autism spectrum transition to adulthood, they may

Using Task Analysis to Develop Independent Living Skills

Life is filled with routines. When you’re a student, you have years of repetition in a school setting to learn where to go when you arrive, how to get your lunch, transition in the hallways, and dress out for the gym. You’ve had the support of teachers and family to learn how to

Teaching Tools for Making Friends and Developing Online Relationships for Autistic Individuals

Learning social media skills and dating etiquette can be especially challenging for young autistic adults. This article provides tools for helping to learn new digital social skills for autistic individuals.

Herramientas de enseñanza para hacer amigos y desarrollar amistades en línea para personas con TEA

Aprender habilidades en las redes sociales y la etiqueta de citas puede ser desafiante especialmente para los jóvenes adultos con autismo. Este artículo proporciona herramientas para ayudar a aprender nuevas habilidades sociales digitales para las personas con TEA.

How to Help Autistic People Who May Be Feeling Suicidal

Taking action when someone is suicidal is critical to saving a life. This article will identify warning signs and what you can do to help.

Identity First: On Knowing Who You Are

What is the difference between “people-first” and “identity-first” language with regard to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? How do culture, identity, and statistics play a role in this question? How do you define yourself; how do you prefer to be recognized; and how do you know w

Autism and Teletherapy: It’s Working!

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Twice Exceptional: Untangling the Paradox of Giftedness and Autism

Parents and teachers may wonder if their student is autistic, or is intellectually gifted, or both. “Twice Exceptional”, or “2e,” are the current descriptors for students who have both a disability and intellectual giftedness. The signs and symptoms, however, are often confusing

Autism and Substance Use Disorders: Is There a Connection?

A review of the research, risks, protective factors, and components of addiction, and a preview of treatment options for autistic individuals who struggle with the disease of addiction. 1

5 Diverse Portrayals of Autistic Adults on TV

From Stereotypes to Paving the Way for a Diverse and Authentic Understanding of Autistic Individuals Taking a closer look at Abed Nadir, Hank Rizzoli, Matilda, Drea, and Nicholas In recent years, we have been seeing more diverse representations of autistic adults in the media, i

Teletherapy and Teletraining: A Solution to the Shortage of Qualified ABA Therapists

Concern has been expressed regarding a shortage of qualified Applied Behavior Analysts to meet the demands of a growing ASD population and also about the quality of training available to such providers. The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has increased dramatically

Facing a Critical Shortage of ABA Therapists? Teletherapy Can Help

Is College Right for My Autistic Child?

How can a family best take advantage of available resources and avoid obstacles, to plot a successful post-high-school experience for an autistic child? As Steven Covey wrote in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People , “Begin with the end in mind.”

My Autistic Child is Thinking of Dating and--Gasp!--Sex?!!

Most parents are understandably anxious about the thought of their child eventually dating and becoming sexually active. That anxiety may be even greater for the parents of an autistic child. What’s a parent to do? The goal is to support every young person in healthy, optimal hu

Autism Influencers: Who to Follow

Interested in connecting with people in the autism community? Check out our list of influencers to follow on social media. Social Media is a powerful tool in the way it allows us to connect with friends and family, celebrities, and strangers with common interests from around the

Connected Fitness: A Great Alternative to the Gym for Autistic Teens and Adults

The Five Best Connected Fitness Activities for Autistic People

Autism, Gaming, and Building Social Skills

10 Ways to Build Social Skills Using Online Gaming for Autistic Teenagers Online gaming has been shown to improve social skills in autistic teenagers. It is estimated that more than 41% of autistic adolescents spend the majority of their leisure time playing video games, versus

Finding Fun and Fitness: Exercise for Autistic Children and Young Adults

A growing community of inclusive exercise programs promises that fitness can be a source of fun, rather than one of frustration, for autistic children. By choosing activities that will have a greater likelihood of success for your child, by adapting exercise programs for your ch

From Sleeping in to Prepping for School: Strategies for Avoiding Wake-up Wars

One mother’s tried and true recommendations for helping your autistic child get ready for an early wake-up time once school starts. Are you dreading your "au-some" child's first week back to school because they are used to sleeping in now? Are you wondering how they will shift t

Follow Your Passion: 5 Steps to Finding the Best Career Match for a Young Autistic Adult

1. Follow Your Passion I love flying! All my life I have been interested in anything aviation-related: airports, travel, planes.

Best Free Resources for Homeschooling Your Autistic Child

Cabin Fever? 5 Effective Activities for Students with Autism During Social Isolation or Quarantine

Note: These 5 activities can be done every day, and we recommend that parents create a schedule so that each of these activities takes place at the same time very day when possible. Having a schedule helps keep children with autism feel more secure and reduces anxiety. We also r

Autism and Inclusive Sports

Special Olympics and Unified Sports for Children with Autism Sports are a unifying, fun way for individuals and communities to connect. For individuals with autism, participation in athletic events may be difficult due to the loud, chaotic environments or exclusion from particip

Autism and Dental Care

Going to the dentist can be a cause for anxiety for most of us, but it’s a very different feeling for those with autism. Patients with autism often have difficulty staying still and allowing the dentist to do what’s needed, which is why a loved one should always be present. Ever

Top Work Places Supporting Autistic Adults

Autistic individuals too often have been underrepresented and discriminated against in employment. A 2017 report from Drexel University found that only 14 percent of autistic adults held paid jobs in their communities. Another study found that employment rates for autistic indiv

Young Adulthood on the Spectrum: An Interview with a Friend

Five Research-Based Strengths Associated with Autism

Genius, Attention to Detail, Problem Solving, Memory, and Visual Skills All children, whether or not they are neurotypical, have unique sets of strengths and weaknesses. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often also have some unique challenges to overcome in building r

Six Simple Mindfulness Practices for Kids with Autism

The practice of quieting the mind, otherwise known as mindfulness, is increasingly being practiced across the board – from Google executives to classrooms as a replacement to detention (Bloom, 2016). Mindfulness specifically refers to the practice of paying attention to the pres

Leveraging Special Interests to Help Children with Autism: An Autistic Person* Shares Her Experiences

Having a special interest in something is a major part of the repetitive behavior that comes with autism. In fact, researcher Tony Attwood (2003) found that special interests seem “to be a dominant characteristic, occurring in over 90% of children and adults with Asperger’s synd

Work Environments, Adjustments for Autistic Employees

Advice for entering the job world It is common knowledge that people with disabilities tend to experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. Many employers seem to be unwilling to give disabled individuals a chance when they feel that their company’s success is at

A New Education: Teaching Coding to Students with Autism

Although many students with autism possess incredible talents and abilities, especially related to spatial reasoning, only about 10 to 20 percent of adults with autism are employed (Born, 2011; Kavilanz, 2016). Providing code education to students with autism is not only critica

How To Make Life Easier for a Person Who Uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

As an autistic person, I am very familiar with AAC. I use it, and I am around others who use it too. Because it is AAC awareness month, I thought this was a good opportunity to write about it.

Autism Explained

An Autistic Woman Explains Common Autism Characteristics and Misconceptions Basics- What is autism? Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder. It is a condition that affects every part of a person’s life. Autism is diagnosed by looking at the three ‘pillars’ of autism: Repeti

Transition: A Guide to College Readiness and Applications for Students with Autism

Tips and Strategies for Transitioning to College with Autism Of the roughly 50,000 young Americans with autism who graduate from high school each year, less than 7,000 end up with a college degree (Wei et al 2015). This discouraging statistic has given rise to countless transiti

Career Choices for Autistic People: First Hand Advice

Finding a Job That Matches Your Skills Many people struggle with finding a job and establishing a career for themselves. In addition, there are often multiple applicants for only one job vacancy, which can be discouraging to any jobseeker. However, for autistic people, this sear

My Thoughts on School Experiences and Being on the Autism Spectrum

First Hand Experiences of Being a Student with Autism As an individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I have found myself reflecting on both the challenges and strengths that my differences have brought me. On one hand, I had a rather hellish experience with school for much of m

3 Ways to Build Skills for Transition Now!

Planning for a young adult with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or other special needs to transition from special education to adult services can be overwhelming for children and their parents alike! Many parents are so intimidated by the transition process that they refuse to t

Autism Technology

Over approximately the past 2 decades, with the rise in the prevalence of autism, an entire industry has grown up around treating and teaching children and adults with autism, as well as easing the challenges and improving the quality of day-to-day life for individuals on the au