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Scaffolding Communications Skills for Elementary Students with Autism
When I decided to teach elementary Autistic children, my first task was to query many teachers as to their students’ learning styles. One size doesn’t fit all. Some students with autism learn visually, others need to listen intently, some draw, and others need to write things out. In most...
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Partnering with the Community to Provide Information and Resources Related to OPWDD’s New I/DD ID Cards
By now, some of you may have heard about OPWDD’s (Office for People with Developmental Disabilities) new I/DD ID cards for individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities in New York State. These standardized cards are available upon request and can be a very useful tool in bridging the...
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Creating Community for Adults with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities
Navigating the road to adulthood is rocky for many people. But for young adults on the autism spectrum, the challenge is particularly tough, particularly for creating a community for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Social isolation can pose a significant challenge for these...
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Community Engagement Through Integrated Community Living Options for Adults with Autism
With the increasing prevalence of autism documented in children over the past two decades, there is growing alarm about what will be needed for these children as they grow into adulthood (Anderson & Butt, 2018). Indeed, there are adults living with autism right now with unmet needs due to...
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The Importance of Community-Based Instruction for Individuals with Autism Across the Lifespan
When looking toward the future, most parents hope their children will be happy, healthy, and enjoy a satisfying quality of life. For families with a child with autism, this desire is no different. The Autism Society of America identified nine key indicators to consider for assessing and improving...
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Home-Based Services as a Means to Increasing Community Engagement in Individuals with Autism
Community engagement is a broad term that is informed by an ecological perspective that one’s behavior is impacted by larger social, cultural and physical environments. Community engagement has been defined as “the process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated...
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Dental Care and Autism: What You Should Know
Going to the dentist can be nerve-wracking for anyone. However, for a child with autism, dental care can be a much more difficult experience. An overload of sensory elements can make going to the dentist overwhelming and scary. Luckily, choosing the right dentist, knowing what to expect, and...
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Strengthening Community Engagement with Vocational Training and Employment for Young Adults with Autism
We want our students with autism to be able to answer the question, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” Vocational training and employment provides a sense of belonging, improved quality of life, community inclusion, and a paycheck. Historically, however, employment rates for adults...
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Incorporating Social Skills Beyond the Teaching Environment
When striving for independence with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), families, Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and other professionals may immediately think of decreasing problem behavior such as screaming or off-task behaviors or increasing specific skills such as...
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How to Build a Satisfying Recreation Program for Adults with Disabilities
Andrew Auerbach, 63, has been going on weekend recreation trips with Chapel Haven Schleifer Center in New Haven, CT, since he arrived at the recreation program for adults with disabilities in 1977. Andy, who grew up on the Upper West Side of NYC, holds two part-time jobs during the week, so the...
