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Motivational Interviewing – A Useful Approach for Families and Counselors Planning for Post-Secondary Transition
Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach which was originally developed to work with substance abusers to assess and facilitate readiness for treatment. Its principles and techniques have been proven effective when dealing with people who are ambivalent about change. Motivational...
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Finding and Evaluating Empirically-Based Interventions
Parents are often overwhelmed with a mountain of information regarding treatments for various symptoms of autism spectrum disorders or their co-morbid disorders. Some publications claim to reverse or even cure autism. Some of these publications and advertisements are well written, logical, based...
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Comprehensive Transition and Post-Secondary Programs – An Emerging Model for Transitioning Individuals with ASDs to Adulthood
For many higher functioning individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, the road to independence and adulthood can be very puzzling. Although the student may possess the intellectual ability and be “otherwise qualified” to attend college or post-secondary vocational training, their...
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The Unique Needs of Students with ASDs Transitioning to College
It has been clearly established that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders have difficulty with transitions. One major transition for a young person is the transition from secondary educational settings to the college environment. It can be overwhelming for any college freshman, but it is...
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Divorce with a Child on the Spectrum
Raising a child on the autism spectrum exposes a family to a whole host of stressors on top of the stressors normally associated with parenting. These stressors can overwhelm a couple and lead to marital dissatisfaction. In fact, there is some empirical evidence that families with a child on the...
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New Source of Funding for Post-Secondary Education
Higher Education and Opportunities Act Allows New Opportunities for Individuals with ASD For the neurotypical population preparing for post-secondary education, a significant rite of passage is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and indicating the colleges...
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The Benefits and Dangers Behind Social Networking
On a daily basis, I walk into the classroom and find my students all glued to the computer screens waiting for class to begin. Before I ask them to log-off so I can begin the class, I quickly glance over their shoulders to see what they are doing online. What I find is that a majority of my...
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Alleviating the Stress of the Post-Secondary Transition
Families with a child on the autism spectrum face adversity and stress on a daily basis. Transitions in particular can be extremely stressful for families who have a child with an ASD. The transition from high school is stressful for families with neurotypical children and is even more so for the...
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Post-Secondary Educational Models Prepare Individuals with an ASD to Enter the Workforce
In the last 50 years, there have been large changes in the labor market. Many of these changes are related to advances in technology- computers, the internet and a specialization of skills. These have fundamentally changed the educational requirements of many entry level positions. In the recent...
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Providing a United Front
As an educator for the past 20 years, I have been afforded a unique view of the parent- student-teacher relationship. As a parent myself I have been on two sides of this triangle. At times, I can honestly say, it has not been easy. I always wanted the best for my child and believed that as a parent...
