For parents of young adults on the spectrum.

[Fran]

There is some real hope out there. Fran



Aspiritech: "Putting People on the Spectrum to Work" - Meet Founder Brenda Weitzberg

Meet Aspiritech founder, Brenda Wietzberg. Aspiritech - a non-profit organization based in Chicago - is on a mission: To solve the employment challenge of individuals with Asperger's Syndrome and High Functioning autism by aligning their unique abilities with the needs of the business community. The good news is, they're succeeding!

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How to be Sensory Smart in sending your child back to school - Meet author Lindsey Biel

Sensory Processing Issues are present in 80% of children with autism. Diets, noises, smells, clothing material and lighting are only a few of the experiences that can cause issues. But many other children without autism can also be challenged by life's daily exposures.
In this interview, author Lindsey Biel ("Raising a Sensory Smart Child" - Penguin Books) returns to discuss new learnings about Sensory Processing Disorder. And she presents a helpful, sensory-smart plan to prepare your child for a low-stress return to school. Thanks, Lindsey!

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Connecting With Your Asperger Partner - Meet author Louise Weston

Neurotypical Louise Weston has an excellent relationship with her Asperger husband Graham. She'll be the first to tell you it required work. But she's equally as quick to tell you, others can experience the same level of satisfaction in marriage, if one chooses to work on it.
Louise has compiled a book on her experiences and insights as well as those from others in similar relationships. The end product - "Connecting With Your Asperger Partner: Negotiating the Maze of Intimacy" - is chocked full of tips, advice and hope.
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Partners in Excellence - An Autism Therapy Center Meet owner/operator Deb Thomas

I went on the road to Burnsville, MN today to visit an Autism Therapy Center I’ve been hearing a lot about. The company is called Partners in Excellence. It’s dedicated to helping equip our special kids for the world in which they live… and it’s been achieving success. It’s run by a vibrant, positive, dedicated woman named Deb Thomas. In this Autism Hangout Special Report, I let her tell you the story.
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"Developing College Skills in Students with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome" - Dr. Sarita Freeman

Many of our special kids will have the chance to go to college. But as parents will tell you, getting in isn’t the only challenge… or, in some cases, the REAL CHALLENGE. Staying in school requires new skills.
Learning and practicing the right skills and disciplines will assure our students a successful college experience. Today’s autism expert - Dr. Sarita Freedman - has just written the book on this subject. It’s called: "Developing College Skills in Students with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome."

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"Life After High School: A Guide for Students with Disabilities and Their Families"

Meet authors Susan Yellin and Christina Cacioppo Bertsch. These two seasoned professionals have combined their knowledge in a book designed to help those with disabilities prepare-for and succeed-in college and/or their chosen careers. The book is based on real people (case study approach) and is full of helpful resources.

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The Power of Music and Autism (Webinar) - with Donna Williams, Dr. Stephen Shore and Rudy Simone

Finally! I got my three favorite "poster people" for "how to thrive with autism" together at one time to talk about our favorite subjects: Music and autism.
Each of these incredible people have personal stories describing their use of music to connect to the world. Hear these fascinating experiences and much more as we all talk about the power of music and autism.
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[Fran]

Part 2


"Ask Dr. Tony" - Special Edition (July 2010)

In this installment, Dr. Tony talks about Gluten free Casin free diets (worth the effort?), the loss of the term Asperger's (what that means) and a few of the last questions from the "July 2010 - Ask Dr. Tony" Program.

"Ask Dr. Tony" - July 2010 Questions

Dr. Tony Attwood returns to Autism Hangout to answer YOUR questions about autism.
In this installment, Dr. T. addresses communications issues, meltdowns, best recesses and more. Don't miss the insights. And fun!

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"Ten Minutes with Temple" - An Autism Hangout "Beyond the Headlines" Report

In the world of Autism, Temple Grandin is a legend. She has singularly contributed more to science's knowledge of autism than any other one individual. There's a reason she's #23 on Time's list of 100 Most Influential People... and that Hollywood is producing movies about her.
After her speaking engagement at a Future Horizon's conference here in Minneapolis today, Temple and I had an intense, 10 minutes conversation. We touched on a number of her favorite subjects including autism as a gift, preparing future autists for successful careers, her movie, key learnings about autism and more.
What a remarkable human being.
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"Our Goal is to create 1,000,000 Jobs for People With Autism" - Thorkil Sonne - CEO, Specialisterne

Meet Thorkil Sonne, the remarkable CEO of Specialisterne, a Copenhagen-based company that hires people on the spectrum for their formidable skills.
Specialisterne (it means "specialist") tests software. The requirements to working there: Must be detail-oriented, must have the ability to focus for extended periods of time, great memory helpful but not necessary. And must be interested in working in a much needed and appreciated capacity. Is it any wonder the Harvard B-school is using Thorkils' business model as a case study?
Meet the inspiring man and hear his plan for creating 1,000,000 jobs for our special people - people on the spectrum.

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"Artists and Autism" - A Facebook Group. Meet founder Jeffery Kellen

Aspiring writer Jeffery Kellen went looking for a safe place for people on the autism spectrum to post and display their creative work. He found none. So he created one on Facebook.
"Artists and Autism is solely dedicated to promoting autism awareness through the arts. Submissions may come from anyone on the spectrum or from their neurotypical family members and friends. The purpose of the site is also to uplift, encourage and inspire all of those around us by our God-given talents and to nurture those abilities to their fullest extent."
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Dr. Nelson Mane on Hemispheric Integration Therapy

Meet DAN doctor Dr. Nelson Mane. He's also a chiropractic specialist in orthopedics and neurology. In this report, Dr. Mane describes the use of Hemispheric Integration Therapy... and the successes he's seen with autism and associated conditions.

 

[1 Day At a Time]

Wow Fran,

Thanks for the information. I can see I'll be busy for a while! Every day, I gain a little more hope for difficult child's future.

Valerie

 

[totoro]

Wow is right! Thank you as well. I have a bunch of people to pass these on to. Looks like more reading and watching for me!

 

[Fran]

After not finding much, to find this treasure chest of info has been refreshing.
I'm hoping that the push towards not having an expectation that our young adults should just live in isolation with their parents, living off of SSI is refreshing. Some of our kids will(possibly my son) but it shouldn't be the expectation. It's a waste of human potential.
Hope this helps someone here to keep looking for their young adult.

 

[DammitJanet]

I have GOT to find a way to get Billy who just has some minor deficits out of my house. I wish I could find some sort of apartment place that was fairly low income but had a resident assistant around to make sure he actually did more than go to work and come home. He has to go buy food, clean the house, do dishes, make more than hot pockets ya know? He would be happy to just live on the computer and eat microwave food and be a hoarder.

 

[Marguerite]

A lot of this is too US-specific, but I should be able to glean some useful information from this. Thanks, Fran.

On the topic of music and autism, a cousin of mine did a lot of pioneer work in this area back in the 70s and 80s. He was working mostly in the UK with a little overlap in Australia. It's ironic, because I now believe this cousin was Aspie. He died a few years ago, too late to talk to him about it. But I have a family reunion coming up in a couple of months. I'm hoping to talk to people there about autism in general and this gifted cousin in particular. My sister remembers him sitting at the dining table, in his mid teens, writing an orchestral score down onto manuscript. No instrument, just him, a pen and the manuscript. And something playing in his head...
Soon after difficult child 3 was diagnosed, I tried to make contact with this cousin but he had apparently become a recluse. difficult child 3 was showing similar early music tendencies as I remember my aunt telling me about cousin when he was a baby. I remember telling my mother that I thought difficult child 3 was showing tendencies like cousin; my mother said, "Oh glory be, I hope not!"
A biography has been written about him, I'm trying to get a copy but I gather there is a lot of inaccuracy, at least about our family. My sister has read it. I need to read it too, before the reunion. It was an authorised biography, I gather the author talked to my cousin at length and from what I know, would have got a highly colourful and somewhat creative version of events, as HE wanted to recall them...
But he did some good work with kids and music, he was trying to use music to open the door for autistic kids, was enthralled by the reactions of some of them. Long before I knew autism was going to be an issue in my life, I remember talking to him about it. I was barely out of my teens myself.

I've commented that people on the spectrum tend to find one another. I wonder how many therapists and researchers are drawn to autism because of a similar personal connection?

Marg

 

[Fran]

Janet, I'm laughing about microwaving hot pockets. difficult child lived off of those. He has moved on to sandwiches for lunch. My plan is to help him with a menu and a corresponding grocery list.
I know in order for this to work, he will need a structure around his days that is his choice to follow or not to follow. It will be the deciding factor. Janet, you may want to put him on the list for the Carolina Living and Learning Center in Pittsboro. It's a long waiting list but at least it's something. You will need to get him evaluated and diagnosed. The fact that he works is probably indicative of his ability to function. Social groups are out there but you have to be diagnosed. Once he is more socialized then he may connect with a roommate.

Marguerite, you sound as if you have a colorful family with lots of talents. I have found that the people who gravitate to a specialty have been touched by that specialty. People who work in psychiatry seem to have someone or some experience that make that field their life pursuit. Same with cancer or AS. Hopefully,
that gives them some empathy and some insight into how disorders affect others.