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Meet Kaitlyn Y.… hops in the car with her mom, Julie, to head to their do-it-yourself craft studio franchise that offers individual and group classes to create the latest on-trend designs on customizable decor accessories. Diagnosed with autism at age three, … in the world right now, where would you go? Why? Chicago, to see my aunt and uncle and their dogs. Who are your biggest supporters & how have they touched your life? My sister, Alyson. Ann Deddens (my tutor). Jesse (my job coach). Mike Darling … of advice you can give other parents who have a child/children on the spectrum? Build a village of people that will help support you and your child. We have been so fortunate to have amazing professionals guide us through this journey. We have …

Catching up with Taniya H. … nature of the game on the court, but off the court she was adjusting to life in a new city with new coaches and a new group of teammates.   Today, as one of the senior leaders on the team, Taniya’s tenacious work ethic and passion for the … who she is and what she is capable of in this Q&A.  How important has it been to your personal growth to have found a supportive environment at the University at Albany and a head coach that understands autism and has the connection of her … and can accomplish your goals if you work hard. You can overcome obstacles and be whatever you want to be with the right support system and work ethic.   I take pride in being a representative for the autism community. I feel like as a D-1 …

Sweet Treats… Have Dreams is an Evanston/Park Ridge autism resource agency. Since 2013, ilovesweets has partnered with Have Dreams to support their workplace training program for young adults with autism. At ilovesweets and other area businesses, … business, workplace, and marketing are inspired by individuals with autism and their unique strengths and abilities. Your support allows us to grow and share our gourmet popcorn creations and our caring mission to benefit those with autism. … Spectrum Bakes Spectrum Bakes is a social enterprise dedicated to providing jobs to young adults with autism. A group that faces a 92% unemployment rate. We bake all of our products in small batches, we ensure mouth-watering tastes & a …

Meet Andrew S.… and therapies, his mom says he still faces challenges with finding the right words to hold a conversation and needs extra support with daily life skills. But it’s his strengths and weaknesses that make him who he is. Since her son’s … on or resources to navigate the various challenges that can come with feeling like an outsider. “I’m part of a Facebook group where I’ve heard from many families that they feel alone. I have told them about the abundance of resources at Autism …

Spanish resources help bilingual families in the autism community overcome language barriers … appointment, Berlina Felipe did her research. She had a year during that wait, reading about what to expect and how to plan supports for her son, Alex. “When he did get diagnosed at age 4, even though I was already prepared, it was still hard,” … Both of Jair’s grandmothers, who took care of him when he was young, attended the Spanish classes as well to learn how to support him. “Years later, my mom told us she is so glad that we got all the early intervention,” Gaby said. “And that we … their classes and resources in Spanish. Based on participant feedback, they also sometimes separate dads and moms into two groups to encourage each group to talk more openly. Alex’s family made sure to learn from his providers and school contacts …

Pediatrics journal dedicates supplement publication to autism studies … for Children and Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder,” include both provider guidance and new findings based on network-supported research studies. Some highlights of the research findings include: 93 percent of families of children with autism … therapies, and few of those are receiving the recommended amount. Psychotropic medications are also being used in this age group. Certain racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups experience barriers to getting appropriate autism care and report … obstacles to getting appropriate autism care. Shared decision-making, provider follow-up on service navigation and provider support on weighing service options are potential provider strategies to ensure follow up on referrals for needed services. …

Transition from school-based services to HCBS Waiver adult services… my local County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (CBDD) office based on life skills. I was assigned a services and support specialist who attended my IEP meetings to help with transition planning. By the middle of my senior year, my family … was vocational focused. It included time in a classroom learning office tasks and participating in leisure activities with support, and time volunteering at a local community center which ran a food bank, preschool, and fitness center with a kids’ … to note that the Department of Developmental Disabilities at the state level has announced that they formed a work group to focus on redesigning these waivers in the future .) Waivers can pay for things such as adult day programs; …

Recognizing and preventing sexual abuse… to stay calm, listen carefully, and NEVER blame the child. Thank the child for telling you and reassure him or her of your support. Call for help immediately. If you know or suspect that a child is being or has been sexually abused, please call: … There are a number of treatments for children who have been sexually abused, including: Individual therapy Family therapy Group therapy Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy Child-centered therapy From  American Psychological Association   …

Meet TeeKayy… lost the will to live at this point. This was the most difficult and darkest time in my life, but thankfully I had the support of my true friends. They all had my back and helped me to keep my head up during a time when I needed it the most. I … team. This allowed me to feel like my true self, but also allowed me to hide amongst my teammates and be part of a group that accepted me. It was also the decision that eventually led to me being forced out the closet when rumors started …

Tips for autistic job seekers to find the right job… walking distance, or a ride share. Speak with a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselor in your local area about the supports they can provide you. VR services are designed to help those with disabilities to achieve an employment outcome … , Indeed , ZipRecruiter and others. Join our LinkedIn Autism Employment Network here  and our Employment WINS Facebook group here . Create or Update your resume . Make sure you include your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. … polite and bring a pen and a copy of your resume with you. Practice your interviewing skills in advance. Have a friend or support person help you. Try to make this as realistic as possible. Practice introducing yourself, shaking hands, …