Lesson #10: "Plan For The Life Ahead: High School and Young Adulthood" In this final episode of 10 Lessons, Dr. Rick summarizes the lessons covered throughout the podcast, and speaks with three families about how they each navigated their children on the spectrum through high school and beyond. Other areas of discussion include Diploma vs Certificate, Guardianship, and College.

Show Notes

Organizations and Support Groups

Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): ASAN is a community organizing, self-advocacy, and public policy advocacy and education organization for autistic youth and adults, run by and for autistic adults.
Asperger/Autism Network (AANE): AANE offers support groups for autistic teens, parents, and adults, providing both free and fee-based options, with financial assistance available for some groups.
Autism Empowerment: Autism Empowerment works with individuals, families, and professionals to help people with Asperger Syndrome and similar autism spectrum profiles build meaningful, connected lives.
Autism Support Center (ASC): ASC services are for families with children or young adults who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Transition to Adulthood and Employment:

U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services: This office provides a transition guide to postsecondary education and employment for students and youth with disabilities.
Social Security Administration's Youth Resources: This page connects youth and young adults with disabilities to important resources and information to achieve education, career, and life goals.
Ticket to Work Program: This program supports career development for Social Security disability beneficiaries age 18 through 64 who want to work.
PACER's National Parent Center on Transition and Employment: This center educates parents on several aspects of the transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities, including finding a job, employment supports, and disability rights.
The Center for Pursuit: This organization provides customized employment planning and assistance for transitioning youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), autism, and other similar conditions.
WorkMAP Employment Coaching: AANE offers free WorkMAP coaching for post-high school autistic young adults (between the ages of 18 and 30) with employment-related goals in certain areas.

Other Helpful Resources:

Autism Resources Miramichi Inc. (ARM): ARM offers helpful free resources to individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, their families, community support workers and professionals throughout Northumberland County.
Exceptional Lives: Exceptional Lives offers a free Resource Directory, a searchable online database of disability programs and providers, and free How-to Guides.
Know Yourself Series: This series offers free resources (videos, PDFs, worksheets) to support autistic teenagers in understanding what being autistic means to them.
Adult Autism Health Resources (AAHR): AAHR has more information on legal matters, common medical conditions, communication strategies and many other topics.
Autism Social Space: The National Autistic Society provides Autism Social Space, which is free for Autistic adults to join and provides a safe space to meet like-minded people.

Great Reference:

Pelicano E, Unsa F, et al (2022) A capabilities approach to understanding and supporting autistic adulthood. Nature Reviews/Psychology. Nov, Vol 1 624-639 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363286009_A_capabilities_approach_to_understanding_and_supporting_autistic_adulthood/