Read more about: Transition to adulthood
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.
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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Cheryl Cohen, M.S., director of online and community programs at the Interactive Autism Network. discusses the latest research, including her own, 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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Ariana Viscione, age 23, is an outspoken advocate for herself and others.
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The speaker for our sixth webinar is Mary E. McDonald, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA associate professor in the Department of Specialized Education at Hofstra University and interim associate executive director of Long Island Programs for Eden II/Genesis. In this webinar, McDonald discusses how to prepare children and teens with ASD for adulthood. This webinar is 60 minutes long.
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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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For parents and adults with ASD finding and maintaining employment can be difficult.
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Research into autism in the teen years is in its infancy.
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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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The transition to college can be even more challenging for students with autism.
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Daily living skills are essential to adulthood. Difficulties with everyday activities such as bathing, cooking, cleaning and handling money could drastically reduce an individual’s chance of achieving independence in adulthood
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