By Yasmine Bakhsheshi, Social Work
Every week I receive emails about new discoveries and studies within the field of autism–which is really encouraging! It really gets me excited, I’m sure you can relate. There are many valuable resources for children with autism on all different parts of the spectrum. The reality is that those same children grow up to be adults. It is just as crucial that we have valuable resources for our adults with autism.
As my inbox is filled, I am reminded that adults with autism can easily get overlooked. Fortunately, the Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) credential demonstrates competence, regardless of the individuals age. Families can be assured that a CAS therapist, caregiver, or educator is qualified. All populations are different but the Certified Autism Specialist credential is fitting for a variety of age groups. Thanks to Autism Speaks, I have a list of resources for adults that have autism.
Adults with Autism
Autism Speaks Adult Services Resources
Adults living with autism often have difficulty finding information about programs and supports that would allow them to live as independently as possible. Autism Speaks Housing and Adult Services initiative will focus on resources that impact all facets of adult life including employment, housing, and post-secondary education.
www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/adults
Adult Autism & Employment
A guide for vocational rehabilitation professionals, including a synthesis of existing literature, promising practices, and previously unpublished insights and suggestions from a national expert on autism & employment.
A Product of the University of Missouri’s TACE Center.
www.dps.missouri.edu/Autism.html
Aging with Autism
Aging with Autism is dedicated to providing programs and services for individuals with autism as they transition to and through adulthood.
Alliance for Full Participation
Our mission is to dream, plan, work, mobilize and organize with people with developmental disabilities, their families, and supporting communities and organizations to make the promise of inclusion, integration, productivity, independence and quality of life a reality in policy and practice.
www.allianceforfullparticipation.org
American Association on Health and Disability Scholarships
The AAHD Scholarship Program supports students with disabilities who are pursuing higher education. Preference will be given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate/graduate studies in the field of public health, health promotion, or disability studies, to include disability policy and disability research.
APSE: Advancing Employment, Connecting People
APSE is the only national organization with an exclusive focus on integrated employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Our new initiative, HR Connect, offers consultation services to help businesses reach out to and partner with one of the strongest labor and customer pools in the country: the disability community. APSE has chapters in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Our members come from all 50 states and Puerto Rico, as well as several foreign countries.
The Art of Autism
The Art of Autism is a collaborative project which finds places for artists, poets, authors, and entertainers on the autism spectrum to be seen and heard. We offer educational workshops, art exhibits, poetry readings, book signings, and entertainment events. Our newsletter of opportunities goes out to over 150 artists and poets on the autism spectrum.
ASPEN: Asperger Syndrome Education Network
ASPEN is a nonprofit organization that provides education, support and advocacy for families and individuals affected with autism spectrum disorders.
Aspie Like Me: A Diagnosis Story
A blog post from a woman diagnosed with Asperger Syndrom later in life.
Autism After 16
This website arose out of the desire to help adults with ASD and their families make sense of the morass of information and misinformation out there. Autism After 16 is dedicated to providing information and analysis of adult autism issues, with the emphasis on analysis. Anyone can Google “autism + adults” and discover a vast array of programs, documents, and products. Our intention here is to try to help adults with ASD and their families make sense of what’s out there.
AUTISM HANGOUT
Autism Hangout is dedicated to bringing timely, relevant news, resources and hope to those affected by autism. AUTISM HANGOUT provides the Autism Community with an online resource that compiles news, knowledge and personal experiences on how best to thrive with autism.
Autism In Love
A feature length documentary exploring how adults with autism fall in love and manage romantic relationship. Told through personal narratives, the audience is faced with the challenges, triumphs, and the unique human experience of finding and navigating love.
Autism Transition Handbook
The goal of this wiki is to ensure that individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families have access to the most current and comprehensive information on the transition to adulthood.
Berkeley Center College Internship Program
The College Internship Program at the Berkeley Center provides individualized, post-secondary academic, internship, and independent living experiences for young adults with Asperger’s Syndrome and other learning differences.
College Funding for Students with Disabilities
From DOIT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology), this guide to funding a college education includes a list of disability-related scholarships and awards.
www.washington.edu/doit/brochures/academics/financial-aid.html
by Barbara Bissonnette
Disaboom Scholarship Directory
Disaboom recently launched a scholarship directory for students with disabilities. The directory includes over 125 scholarships.
DriveWise and DriveAdvise
This project from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, funded by an Autism Speaks Family Services Community Grant, includes a toolkit and an educational video to facilitate decisions about whether an individual with ASD might consider driving in the future.
www.bidmc.org/DrivingWithAutism
Other Driving Resources
- Teen Driver Source – Parents of Children with Special Needs – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- The Challenge of Driving with Asperger’s – New York Times
- New Study Probes How Teens with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders Approach Learning to Drive – newswise.com
Earning a High School Diploma through Alternative Route
A synthesis report from the National Center on Educational Outcomes, in collaboration with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), supported by the US Office of Special Education Programs.
EdPubs: US Department of Education
Students with Disabilities: Preparing for Secondary Education – Know your Rights and Responsibilities. This publication also explains the obligations of a post-secondary school to provide academic adjustment, including auxiliary aids and services, to ensure the school does not discriminate on the basis of disability.
Federal Student Aid Grant Program
From Disability.gov, this fact sheet provides an overview of the major federal student aid grant programs. The federal government provides grant funds for students attending colleges, including career colleges and universities. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid.
Franklin Virtual High School: GED Test
The FVHS Adult High School Diploma program is simply the LOWEST COST program offered online by a state registered private school. Learn, study, and test online and let our system and support team help you rapidly reach your goals. Upon registration with Franklin Virtual High School, all students over the age of 18 are automatically qualified as a proctor and can opt to “self-monitor” for each quiz or GED test.
www.franklinvirtualschools.com
Funding Education Beyond High School: Federal Student Aid at a Glance
Do you need help paying for a college or for a career or vocational school? This is a quick reference guide to federal student aid programs and how to apply for this aid. Includes a Federal Student Aid Summary Chart.
GET Going Pocket Guide
The GET Going Pocket Guide is a revolutionary travel trouble-shooting tool to help individuals living with Autism and other challenges as they travel independently on public transportation. GET Going (Guiding Everyday Travel) was created collaboratively by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, Easter Seals Project ACTION, Easter Seals Autism and Feeley Consulting to help promote the use of public transportation for community integration so that individuals can safely navigate traveling with confidence.
Going to College: A Resource for Teens with Disabilities
This Web site contains information about living college life with a disability. It’s designed for high school students and provides video clips, activities and additional resources that can help you get a head start in planning for college.
Grants for Individuals: The Disabled
Online Compilations of Scholarships Specifically for Students with Disabilities. Put together by Michigan State University.
staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3disable.htm
GRASP: The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership
GRASP is an educational and advocacy organization serving individuals on the autism spectrum. Founded and operated by individuals with Asperger Syndrome and high-functioning autism, GRASP strives to educate the public about ASDs, provide a supportive environment for persons on the spectrum, and celebrate the unique strengths and abilities these individuals possess.
by Lynn Kern Koegel, PhD, and Claire LaZebnick
Help for Autism
Here you can find Asperger books, in the areas of Employment, Female AS and Relationships where at least one person is on the spectrum. You will also find lists of Asperger traits, research on possible causes and cures of autism, questionnaires, information on diagnosis, benefits and more.
The Hidden Curriculum of Getting and Keeping a Job: Navigating the Social Landscape of Employment
A Guide for Individuals with Autism Spectrum and Other Social-Cognitive Challenges
by Brenda Smith Myles, PhD, Judy Endow, MSW, and Malcolm Mayfield, BS Civil Eng
Jefferson High School Online
Get that job you deserve with the GED that you need!
www.jeffersonhighschoolonline.com
Jobs4Autism
Jobs4Autism is a new website with job success and job failure stories for individuals with autism. Jobs4Autism’s mission is to become a key resource for individuals with autism, their family members, job coaches, and caregivers for sharing job ideas and hopefully finding long-term employment opportunities.
JobTIPS
JobTIPS is a free program designed to help individuals with disabilities such as autism explore career interests, seek and obtain employment, and successfully maintain employment.
Life Skills Guide: Practical Information for the Real World
This 40-page guidebook provides the practical information necessary to succeed as an independent adult. It’s a complete life skills training with 145 essentials covering health, jobs, finances, housing, education, laws, insurance, and social values.
Medicaid.Gov
The first Federal government website devoted to the policies — and the people — of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicaid.gov brings to the forefront the items that States, the health policy community and other stakeholders have said they care about most, including: our Federal policy guidance; lists of pending and approved waivers; highlights of our Affordable Care Act implementation efforts; State-specific program information and data; and improved search capabilities.
National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth
NCLD-Youth uses the five areas of youth development and leadership, learning, connecting, thriving, working, and leading to guide our work. These five areas correspond with 7 of the 8 areas of emphasis listed in the Developmental Disabilities Act (employment, education, housing, recreation, health, childcare, quality assurance, and transportation.)
Out of Step
Introducing a new online tool for people with disabilities. Out of Step is a safe, easy place to grow your business, pursue your passions and promote your talents! Out of Step is an online marketplace and platform connecting people with disabilities to consumers and employers. On Out of Step, people with disabilities can sell products, offer services or post a resume. Anyone can use Out of Step’s marketplace to discover great items, service providers or employees.
PACER Center Transition Resources
Various free downloadable PDF’s on topics related to the transition to adulthood.
www.pacer.org/publications/transition.asp#handouts
Plan for College
Sometimes the toughest part of planning something is just figuring out where to start. Get on track to finding an education and career track that matches your skills and preferences. Learn about all your options – and how you can achieve them!
www.collegeboard.com/student/plan
The Planner Guide
Great tool for Organization and Social Understanding! The application contains 135 Reference Guides that provide information about what to expect or how to do something. They are in a format that includes graphics and text to accommodate all levels of non-readers and readers. Planner Guide is an interactive application for your computer, most SMART Phones (Android, iPhone), iPad, and iPod.
A Primer: Social Security Act Programs to Assist the Disabled
This summary is designed for those who are unfamiliar with the many current features of federally sponsored disability and health programs under the Social Security Act, including the Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) program, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, Medicare, and Medicaid. It provides an overview of the provisions and operations of the programs.
ProtectYourIncome.com: Employment Resources for the Disabled
For millions of people with disabilities, a stable and sufficient job may seem out of reach. Nearly 70 percent of adults who have some type of disability would like to work. That’s a staggering 18 million people who could be joining the workforce. Here you will find resources that could be of assistance to those with disabilities seeking employment.
www.protectyourincome.com/disability-insurance-tips/employment_resources_for_the_disabled.asp
REACH Program at University of Iowa
Realizing Education and Career Hopes (REACH) is a two-year certificate program, offers a living-learning experience where young adults with learning, intellectual, and cognitive disabilities are empowered with the skills necessary to be independent, engaged and contributing members of the community. Students are fully integrated into The University of Iowa collegiate experience while gaining a career-focused education.
Refinance & Mortgage Guide for People with Disabilities
This guide seeks not only to provide the reader with the most relevant and essential resources needed to navigate the myriad of red tape and sometimes rigid processes regularly associated with real estate purchases; it also aims to educate you.
www.refinancemortgagerates.com
Scholarships and Internships for Latino Students with Disabilities
The World Institute on Disability (WID) has a five-year grant to establish the National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities living in the United States, through Proyecto Vision. Proyecto Vision’s website has a list of scholarship opportunities for college students who are Latino and who are living with disability.
www.proyectovision.net/english/opportunities/scholarships.html
Schwallie Scholarship for Individuals with Autism: Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
To support qualified individuals with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome pursuing post-secondary education.
Social Security Online: The Red Book – A Guide to Work Incentives
The Red Book serves as a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals, and counselors who serve people with disabilities.
Think Beyond the Label
Think Beyond the Label is committed to making the business case for employing people with disabilities. We are a partnership of health and human service and employment agencies with federal grants, coming together to build a uniform national infrastructure and approach that connects businesses to qualified candidates with disabilities.
Think College
Doors to college are opening for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in many different ways all over the country. This website is designed to share what is currently going on, provide resources and strategies, let you know about training events and give you ways to talk to others. The information is for transition aged students as well as adults attending or planning for college.
TransCen Online’s School-to-Career Transition Self-Paced Modules
These modules provide an overview and orientation to main concepts, geared to help you understand the basics of transition services.
www.transcen.org/elearning.html
US College Programs for Autistic Students
A list of autism-specific programs around the country to enable students with autism to succeed at the college level.
autism.change.org/blog/view/us_college_programs_for_autistic_students
The Youthhood
Having a Disability When Thinking About Post-Secondary Options.
www.youthhood.org/highschool/lm_disability.asp
We Connect Now
We Connect Now is dedicated to uniting people interested in rights and issues affecting people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on college students and access to higher education and employment issues.
WorkSupport.com
Information, resources and research about work and disability issues.
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