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The Ever Changing Landscape of Higher Education: An Opportunity for Students on the Spectrum
Changes in the college-aged population in the United States are among the evolving opportunities for higher functioning individuals on the autism spectrum. According to the U.S. Census, from 2015-2065 we will see about a 2% drop in the percentage of 18-24 year olds. Two percent sounds like a small...
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Building Comprehensive, ABA-Informed Services in an Adult Residential Setting
Throughout the United States, services for school-aged children with Autism have been bolstered by IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Of the services IDEA has made available, those informed by the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA) are gaining broad recognition as the...
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Asperger’s Skill Building Network: Practical Strategies for Transition and Change
Due to social skills deficits, the transition into life after school can be especially difficult for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, particularly those higher functioning individuals who required fewer supports in high school. With the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders increasing...
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Five Steps to Help Young Adults Transition to Independence
There are many services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, but Jewish Child Care Association’s Compass Project is unique because we specifically target the period when an adolescent/young adult transitions from high school to the next step. While school districts support families and...
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Using Summer Vacation to Build College Readiness Skills
Heading to college in the fall? Summer vacation is the perfect opportunity to work on the skills you’ll need to succeed in college. Whether it’s understanding the way your disability affects you, navigating new environments, using an ATM machine, making your own doctor’s appointments, or...
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Summer Bridge Programs: Opportunities to Maximize Transition Success
Summer is right around the corner. Every year parents are faced with the same dilemma regarding what to do with their child on the autism spectrum while school is not in session. There are a variety of activities a child could engage in. The problem is finding the right one that suits your...
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Setting the Stage for School: A Guide for Parents
It is an extraordinary milestone when any child enters school for the first time. This event is often marked with excitement, anxiety, ambivalence and tears of fear and joy for both the child and his or her family. Entrusting the care of your child into the hands of another can be anxiety...
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Transforming Transitional Programs
Walking onto a college campus is the first step to adulthood and true independence. This step can cause excitement, fear and anxiety for most young people. For students with learning disabilities and on the autism spectrum, these emotions are magnified. It is a new world of unchartered territory...
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What You Need to Know Before Your Child Transitions to School
Although it is common knowledge that transitions are hard for most children with special needs, transitions can also be difficult for their parents, especially the transition from services in the home to services in the school. Under the age of three years, children are cocooned in their own...
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The Transition into Adulthood: Guiding Families Toward Successful Outcomes
One of the favorite things in my role as Director of Admissions and Family Services at Melmark is talking with parents about their children and helping families maneuver the complicated web of supports available to them. One of the most challenging parts, however, is helping families understand how...
