Autism and the Transition to Adulthood: Success Beyond the Classroom

Autism diagnoses in young children increased dramatically in the 1990s—and now those children are young adults on the verge of a challenging transition to the real world. Every school and program will be ready to help with this groundbreaking practical guide, straight from the author of the acclaimed bestseller Life Beyond the Classroom and two community-based autism experts.

Professionals who work with young adults will get hard-to-find information on how specific social, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics of people with autism affect the transition to adulthood, exploring potential challenges and traits that can be powerful assets. Then they'll get a complete guide that walks them through every aspect of transition planning, including planning for employment and postsecondary education:

• conducting skillful assessment to determine a young person's individual career goals, job-related strengths, and independent living skills
• using well-designed instructional supports, routines, and spaces in inclusive classrooms
• implementing positive behavior support to help young adults with autism succeed in school and at work
• providing community-based instruction at naturally occurring times, so it's easier for students to learn and generalize new skills
• showing students and their families how to make the most of SSA disability benefits
• assisting students with college preparation, from choosing a college to managing academic and social demands
• using supported and/or customized employment strategies to help young people establish satisfying careers that play to their strengths
• helping young people develop critical life skills they'll use across settings
• unlocking the benefits of community services and programs, such as vocational rehabilitation programs and Centers for Independent Living

Compelling stories throughout the book illustrate how successful transition planning improved the lives of three diverse teenagers, and the practical forms, checklists, and suggested resources and links help readers put the proven strategies into action. A must for every member of the transition team—including general and special educators, transition specialists, employment specialists, and counselors—this is the ultimate resource for supporting the goals, dreams, and future success of young adults with autism.

Help young people with autism develop critical life skills in key areas:

• social skills
• health and safety
• work habits
• money management
• mobility
• recreation and leisure
• personal appearance
• and more!

Carol Schall, Ph.D., Director, Virginia Autism Resource Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Post Office Box 842020, Richmond, Virginia 23284

Dr. Schall is Assistant Professor of Special Education and Disability Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been learning from and supporting individuals with autism for more than 25 years. Dr. Schall is involved in supporting individuals across Virginia through her work as the director of the Virginia Autism Resource Center. She is well versed in completing functional behavior assessments and using positive behavior supports to develop comprehensive plans for individuals from a person-centered approach. Dr. Schall is a nationally known speaker. In addition to her speaking engagements, she provides consultations to schools, families, and community services providers who support individuals with autism or related disorders. Dr. Schall’s research interests include the use of psychotropic medication by individuals with autism spectrum disorders and training for parents and professionals who work with individuals with developmental disabilities. Dr. Schall is listed in the 2005 and 2006 editions of Who’s Who in America and was honored by TASH with their Positive Approaches Award.

Elizabeth Evans Getzel, Ph.D., is Director of Postsecondary Education Initiatives with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has extensive experience conducting research, evaluation, and training in the areas of transition planning for secondary students with disabilities, postsecondary education for students with disabilities, and career planning/employment for individuals with disabilities. She currently directs approximately $3 million of grant-funded projects focusing on supported education in postsecondary education, career development for college students with disabilities, faculty professional development focusing on universal design principles, and secondary education transition services. Her research interests include secondary education transition planning, self-determination skills of college students with disabilites, and effective services and supports for college students with disabilities. Ms. Getzel serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disabilityand is on the editorial boards for the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation and The Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education She has authored or co-authored journal articles and book chapters on transition, career development, postsecondary education, and employment. In addition, Ms. Getzel has presented extensively at state, national, and international conferences and at meetings on her projects and research areas.

William Grant Revell, Jr., M.S., M.Ed., served as a research associate at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. He has extensive experience in the areas of policy analysis and funding related to state and national implementation of community-based employment supports for individuals with significant disabilities. He has served as a project director for a variety of national technical assistance and research projects, including the National Supported Employment Technical Assistance Center. He also worked for 15 years for the Virginia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency as a counselor and as the state-supported employment program supervisor.

Pamela Sherron Targett, M.Ed., has worked in the area of disability and employment since 1986. For 22 years she oversaw the day-to-day operations of a fee-for- service supported employment program that assisted individuals with significant disabilities with going to work. During this time she also worked with schools to develop community-based vocational education programs. Her special interests include transition to work for youth with disabilities and individuals with significant support needs, such as brain injury and autism.

Dr. Wehman is Professor of Physical Medicine with joint appointments in the Departments of Rehabilitation Counseling and also Special Education and Disability Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University. He serves as Chairman of the Division of Rehabilitation Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Wehman has his Ph.D. in Behavioral Disabilities from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

As one of the original founders of supported employment, he has worked closely with business and industry since 1980 and has published over 200 articles and authored or edited more than 40 books primarily in transition, severe disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury and employment for persons with disabilities. He has been the Principal Investigator on 41 million dollars in grants during his career.

As the father of two young adults with disabilities, he brings a strong parental as well as business perspective to his work. He is highly active in speaking to professionals, parents, advocates and businesses on transition and employment for people with autism, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other developmental disabilities. On a daily basis he works with individuals with disabilities, communicates regularly with professionals in the world of business related to disability and diversity, and is active in teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and doctoral students in rehabilitation medicine, special education, rehabilitation and psychology. A major focus of Dr. Wehman's work is on expanding the partnerships with businesses of all sizes so that more persons with disabilities can gain entrance into the workplace and retain employment successfully.

He is a recipient of the Kennedy Foundation Award in Mental Retardation in 1990 and President's Committee on Employment for Persons with Disabilities in 1992. Dr. Wehman was recognized as one of the 50 most influential special educators of the millennium by the Remedial and Special Education journal in December, 2000. He is also Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Marcia Datlow Smith, Ph.D., Psychologist, CSAAC, 8615 East Village Avenue, Montgomery Village, Maryland 20886

Dr. Smith is Assistant Executive Director for Programs and Psychologist at CSAAC, an agency that has supported children and adults with autism since 1979. She has designed a broad range of positive behavior supports that have allowed adolescents and adults with autism and challenging behavior to achieve community living and supported employment. In addition, she has directed federal research grants and worked on federal model program and replication grants for the treatment of autism awarded to CSAAC. Dr. Smith was awarded a Mary Switzer Senior Research Fellowship by the National Institute of Handicapped Research, and, in 1989, her work with autism was recognized with the Governor of Maryland’s Health Care Professional of the Year award. She has made presentations both nationally and internationally and has written book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Smith has authored several books, including Autism and Life in the Community: Successful Interventions for Behavioral Challenges (Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 1990) and A Guide to Successful Employment for Individuals with Autism (with Ronald G. Belcher & Patricia D. Juhrs, Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 1995).