Making a Smooth Transition to Adulthood, with Autism
Although the road to adulthood can be bumpy for people with autism, Joseph Beno has moved smoothly from high school to employment and owning a car.
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Get the latest autism updates from SPARK, including information about genes and ASD research, webinars, and personal stories from our community.
Our ‘genes’ page provides short, easy-to-understand descriptions of genes linked to autism. Under ‘research’, you’ll find the latest updates from SPARK and other autism studies. In our ‘stories’ section, families, scientists and others share their journeys. In our monthly webinars, speakers from the autism community provide useful information for families and people with autism. All are welcome–invitation links are issued in our monthly newsletter. If you have suggestions for webinar topics, please email us at webinars@sparkforautism.org.
Employment and ASD: Preparing for the World of Work
In this webinar, Ernst VanBergeijk, a professor at Lesley University, discusses employment and job trends for people with autism, skills that help individuals with autism gain and retain jobs and how employers and co-workers can create an autism-friendly workplace. This webinar is 60 minutes long.
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Helping Students with Autism Navigate Back-to-School Time
Returning to school after summer vacation can be hard for any child. For a student with autism, this time of year can be especially stressful. Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have trouble adjusting to change. In fact, “insistence on sameness” and “difficulties with transition” are symptoms of ASD. A new classroom, schedule, teachers, classmates, or new school can trigger distress far beyond the typical back-to-school blues.
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Teens and Screens: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Cheryl Cohen discusses the latest research on how teens with ASD use technology in their day-to-day lives. She also talks about the barriers teens with autism encounter using the Web and parents’ concerns about online safety and screen time. Her discussion also includes an update on various technology careers for individuals with autism.
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Autism Heroes: Ariana Viscione
Ariana Viscione, age 23, is an outspoken advocate for herself and others.
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“Adulting”: Effectively Preparing Individuals with ASD
Mary E. McDonald discusses how to prepare children and teens with ASD for adulthood.
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Meet Darnell Carr Newsum
Darnell Carr Newsum has two children with autism, each with unique strengths and challenges. By participating in SPARK, she hopes researchers can uncover some of the causes and supports for her children and many others.
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Rocky Road: The Career Paths of People with Autism and their Parents
For parents and adults with ASD finding and maintaining employment can be difficult.
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Autism in the Teen Years: What to Expect, How to Help
Research into autism in the teen years is in its infancy.
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Finding a College Program for Students with Autism
Regardless of where a student falls on the autism spectrum, there is a U.S. college program for him. But it probably will take some research to find the right fit. Here are some resources and tips that can help.
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