IGNITE is a program of the Autism Society of North Carolina, with founding support from the Evernham Family-Racing for a Reason Foundation. Winter 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 1
Preparing for Life as an Adult By Stacy Hultgren, IGNITE Director As children reach the end of their high school years and prepare for a life on the “outside,” they must make many decisions. Both students and parents greet this transition with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Some of the graduating adults will have a plan; others will not be sure where their place is in the larger world. It is perfectly natural not to know your ultimate goal when leaving high school! Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) might have a hard time finding their paths for a variety of reasons. Maybe it is unclear whether the student can handle the rigors of college, or maybe the young adult has trouble seeing himself or herself as an independent adult. At IGNITE, we work diligently side by side with our members on the challenges they face and the skills they need to help smooth their transitions to adulthood. Our goals are to help young adults with ASD become productive and most important of all, happy, adults. But it takes a village. Here are some of the skills and areas we work on at IGNITE, and ways parents and schools can help. “Functional” or “soft” skills: Truthfully, these skills take a considerable amount of time and so families should work on them when children are as young as possible. Children should learn to answer home phones, use cell phones, check email daily, and respond to people in a reasonable amount of time. Courtesy goes a long way in impressing potential employers! Other functional skills include getting up to an alarm clock (without reminders), taking care of clothing, and cleaning up after themselves. Learning to drive if possible, and if not, learning to use public transportation, is essential; employees must be reliable and punctual. Other important skills include budgeting time, (e.g. estimating how long a task will take and working accordingly), finishing tasks (e.g. wiping the counter until it is clean, not just going through the motions), and using manners (e.g. waiting for others to exit doors before entering). The more responsible individuals with autism are at home, the more responsible they are likely to be at work. Age/situation appropriateness: Clothing choices can be different for people with ASD because of differences in their sensory tolerance and their preferred activities. Shorts and flip-flops are not appropriate in some places; if that is all individuals wear, it is time to get them used to wearing clothes that are more suitable for college, a job, or outings in the community. Closed shoes and pants will bother some sensory-sensitive people, but getting used to them before job hunting begins will eliminate one hurdle. Likewise, they should no longer display a fondness for Sesame Street on T-shirts; it is not age-appropriate and will likely elicit questions about their maturity level (and can tempt bullying or social isolation). Social skills: Many people with ASD struggle with basic social interactions: what to say, how to respond, how much information to share, or how to ask for continued on page 2
IGNITE is a unique ‘peer-to-peer’ community center for young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) offering activities, skills training, and educational workshops that foster social, financial, educational, and employment independence for its members. More importantly, IGNITE offers a social environment where members can connect with others and experience a sense of community. For more information: Stacy Hultgren, IGNITE Director 704-897-8982 shultgren@autismsociety-nc.org www.ignite-davidson.org www.autismsociety-nc.org You can donate to IGNITE online or send a check made out to the Autism Society of North Carolina: IGNITE • 209 Delburg St., Suite 134 Davidson, NC 28036