Magazine WAYS SENSORY TOOLS FOR THE FUTURE BATH TIME. Which Type of School is Best for My ASD Child? HOW TO HELP. to Prepare for Adulthood with Autism

Transcription

1 Issue 60 IMPORTANT WAYS to Prepare for Adulthood with Autism WAYS TO MAKE BATH TIME A Splash HOW TO HELP Your Sensory Sensitive Child Dress Which Type of School is Best for My ASD Child? SENSORY TOOLS FOR THE FUTURE

2 Table of contents 9 6 EXPERT WAYS TO HELP YOUR SENSORY- SENSITIVE CHILD DRESS A pediatric occupational therapist shares great tips for dressing a child when hypersensitivity to certain fabrics or surfaces is a challenge. Susan Donohoe, OTR/L 25 AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT AUTISM WITH AMY KELLY An author, motivational speaker, and paraprofessional shares a special AUTISM Interview with Amy Kelly, Director of Family/Community Services for Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health. Derrick Hayes 27 IN MY WORDS: CAN YOU PLEASE HOLD THE STEREOTYPES? A young woman on the spectrum shares her frustration with the way some people view autism. Kaelynn Partlow 12 WHICH TYPE OF SCHOOL IS BEST FOR MY ASD CHILD? A special guide to the many educational options for young people on the spectrum. Gabrielle Benitez 17 THE BEST SENSORY TOYS FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN An excellent selection of toys for children who like movement, oral sensory inputs, and visual stimulation and who have strong tactile sensory needs. Tulika Prasad 21 IN MY WORDS: NAVIGATING THE ABYSS OF AUTISM A 21-year-old man shares his personal journey with autism and his insight on ways to help others understand how people with autism think and behave. James T. G. Link 30 GOODNESS OF FIT: SELECTING THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOURSELF An exclusive excerpt from Mploy: A Job Readiness Workbook for parents, educators, and professionals working with students transitioning into independence. Michael P. McManmon, EdD, Michele Ramsay, EdD, Jennifer Kolarik, BS Psychology 36 AMAZING WAYS A WEIGHTED BLANKET MAY HELP CHILDREN WITH ASD Learn how weighted blankets can help your child with autism relax and get a restful night of sleep. Casey Ames 40 IMPORTANT WAYS TO PREPARE FOR ADULTHOOD WITH AUTISM Excellent tips from the mother of a young man with autism on how to best prepare for the crucial transition to adulthood. Milda Leonard 6 Issue 60

3 AUTISM SOLUTIONS Important Ways to Prepare for Adulthood with Autism By Milda LEONARD Joey started 10th grade this year. He gets dressed for school, pours himself some cereal in the mornings, and can even get himself out the door to catch the bus. This may not seem like much of a feat for a 16-year-old high school sophomore, but Joey has high-functioning autism and falls somewhere on the spectrum. Usually, he needs to be reminded if he has all the items he needs in his backpack, or to cut his soliloquy short in front of the mirror because time is ticking. He operates on his own schedule. If he is late for his special bus, it s not a big deal it waits for me. He is socially deficient, only having friends at school. He spends his days obsessed with Pokémon GO, religiously hunting for them in the afternoon before the sun goes down. Maybe he works in some homework in between. Getting him to complete a few math problems is a struggle. Forget any papers or reports; those are not even part of his Individualized Education Program (IEP) or modified curriculum. Joey is just one example. The reality is, in two years he will graduate from high school. For him, college will not be an option, at least not in the immediate future. What s the next step? How will that work? Most parents of a mainstream child see high school graduation and turning 18 as a joyous accomplishment, as their young adult forges toward the first taste of independence. It s a different story, however, for parents of young adults on the autism spectrum. It s more of a phase two. Parents need to develop a 40 Issue 60

4 AUTISM SOLUTIONS strategy for the way forward as their teenager transitions to an autistic adult. Many of these youths begin their journey into adulthood by stepping off a services cliff. Free supports and services offered to them in school drop off dramatically after they graduate. Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability. Prevalence of autism in U.S. children increased by 119.4% from 2000 (1 in 150) to 2010 (1 in 68). Approximately 50,000 kids with autism are aging out of school each year. That means half a million youth with autism will enter adulthood and potentially the workforce in the next decade. The growing numbers are frightening, as more and more individuals compete for dwindling benefits, services, and opportunities. However, there is solace in knowing that you are not in this alone and neither is your child. For Joey, where will he find his place in the world? What might he be capable of as an adult? Will there be enough opportunities for him to work and succeed? Does he have enough marketable skills and social awareness to make him employable? What type of aid is he eligible for to help supplement any potential income? Will he have another source of income? These are important questions to start addressing. Much like the manifestations of autism, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. If you ve met someone with autism, then you ve met someone with autism. Each individual s capabilities and disabilities vary greatly. But all parents should take a unified approach Start Early Don t wait until your child turns 18 to start exploring options. According to a recent study by Drexel University s Autism Research Institute, two-thirds of young people with autism had neither a job nor educational plans during the first two years after high school. For over a third of young adults with autism, this continued into their early 20s. Most services have a long application process, so it is in everyone s best interest to get a jump on it. Reach Out to Your Child s School, Community, and State Use school resources while your child is still attending. Most high schools have a Transition Specialist that is available to you once your child turns 16. Some schools provide vocational classes or access to external agencies that can teach students how to communicate with co-workers and supervisors as well as engage in a part-time job to develop their skills and take on responsibility. Join a parent advocacy group or a meet up group, or start one yourself. Attend seminars and resource fairs to educate yourself about what options may best suit your child. Find an Advocate If you don t have a legal background, this is a good bet to help you navigate these rough waters. Certain individuals specialize in this type of work, or you can enlist the help of an attorney. These specialists would also be more familiar with any new or incoming state or federal regulations that you may not be aware of and introduce you to services or agencies that are available on national and state levels. Don t Lose Hope To help serve the growing population, new government programs are being rolled out and adopted. For example, the ABLE Act allows people with disabilities and their families to set up a special savings account for disability-related expenses, and the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) helps facilitate jobs to support their future and foster independent living. These programs are still new and underfunded. Note: these programs aren t just for students with autism but anyone with a disability. Keep two simple adages in mind as you begin on this next phase of your journey: A squeaky wheel gets the grease and You can get more flies with honey than vinegar. Sources: A.J. Drexel Autism Institute - NAIR (National Autism Indicators Research) National Longitudinal Transition Study; Center for Disease Control 2014 Milda Leonard is a freelance writer and a parent with a child on the autism spectrum. Issue 60 41

5 Issue 24 October 2014 BACK ISSUES CREATING A COHESIVE HOUSEHOLD TOP 8 PARENT TIPS FOR SIBLINGS HOW DOES THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BENEFIT MY FAMILY? 10 INTERNET SAFETY TIPS LEAH S VOICE A CELEBRATION OF INCLUSION AND ACCEPTANCE Autism - A Family Perspective Issue 46 making the true autism awareness connection 10 Ways to Help Kids increase communication Help your child learn Flexible thinking sensory based intervention can change your child s life The Time for AccepTAnce Issue 48 Kids must move: new online course unlocks learning Temple Grandin encourages asd Kids To live life To The fullest 5 Ways To help your child TransiTion To summer 7 simple Ways To make Travel easier WiTh autism ConneCting and CommuniCating with autism Issue 50 The RighT CuRRiCulum for YouR Child with ASd Top SoCiAl opportunities on The SpeCTRum improving CommuniCATion SkillS AT home 10 ways homeschooling may Be BeST for YouR Child The homeschooling RevoluTion Issue 52 making pokémon go safe promoting a sibling bond When one child has autism smart Ways to Deal WIth sexuality and asd 5 Ways to Improve executive FunctIonIng Celebrating the VoiCes of autism Issue 54 talking with Your asd daughter about puberty 5 Valuable ways to Help Your CHild Manage Meltdowns Helping kids on the spectrum Cope with anxiety expert ways to Handle HolidaY stressors Surviving Family ChallengeS Issue 58 exciting Ways sound and MusiC Can Help development Ways to Help your CHild Make Friends autism-focused Couple therapy Can CHange your life acquiring and improving CoMMuniCation skills For life The GreaTesT Love of all: family