Preparing Teens With Autism For The Future

Last week National Autism Awareness Month began with new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting estimates that 1 in 68 children in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  The new estimate is roughly 30 percent higher than previous figures reported in 2012 of 1 in 88 children.

Adults With Autism

The increase leads to a burgeoning societal need; the population of adults of college and working age with autism is also growing. Through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act  ("IDEA") younger children with autism are entitled to a free and appropriate education, however this level of support lessens as adulthood approaches.

At age 22 most young people with autism "age-out" of the public school system. While sensitivity, openness and support for having disabled college students and workers have increased tremendously in the last few years, much of the focus has been on physical disabilities rather than mental disabilities.

Studies show that most adults will continue to work at home into their adulthood and, if they are lucky, will find part-time and minimum wage work.  Studies also show that only one-third will find jobs or go to college. For those in the middle range of autism, adulthood can present many challenges; the disability isn't considered severe enough to get major support, but they will often have difficulties finding and keeping work or completing college.

"We Need To Do More"

Last week on a segment that ran on The Today Show, Dr. Cecelia McCarton, founder and CEO of the McCarton Center for Developmental Pediatrics in New York, acknowledged that with the two year 30% rise in diagnosis, " we need to do more." In a Q&A that followed with Dr. McCarton on Facebook, she revealed, "most resources currently are devoted to the younger child while there is little attention paid to the older individual with autism. There is a growing awareness of this at the federal, state and city level but as with all things, it is going to take time to develop the necessary programs to help these individuals."

Further, HealthNewsDigest.com published a guide last week for "Autistic College Students promoting Empowering Leadership: A Systems Change Guide for Autistic College Students and Those with Other Disabilities," which is available for free download from the Autistic Advocacy. Linda Walder Fiddle, founder and executive director of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, which co-produced the book, says: "Our mission has always included developing resources for adults living with autism to help them achieve their goals and have fulfilling and productive lives." She adds, "the opportunity to attend college provides some individuals on the spectrum with a pathway for achieving their goals, and it is our hope that this never-been-done before guidebook will enable them to more successfully navigate it."

Clearly there is a growing population of people on the autism spectrum that are now attending college or college classes as adults, and some estimates are that nearly 35% are currently able to do so. As more students with autism attend college, new opportunities and challenges associated with higher education have emerged. While universities have been working to accommodate special needs students since the 1970s, much of this has focused around physical accessibility rather than the needs of those who live with neurological disorders.  For instance, students on the spectrum face challenges not only in the classroom environment, but also confront sensory issues in dormitories and social exclusion from campus activities, as well as accommodations for and acceptance of behavioral eccentricities.

Becoming Specialists

According to Maura McCullough, Director of Career and College Counseling at Pinnacle School, a Greenwich Education Group School, individuals on the spectrum have sensory differences, which require school and work environments, which are adaptive and calmer.  High school students on the spectrum need to identify not only their preferred interest areas, but mostly importantly, a skill area, which will allow them to become a specialist.

A key component on the path for development for students with autism is the identification of interests and capabilities; examples include actuarial science, programming, mathematics and science research. Through career testing, and a professional interpretation of results, a student's skills, temperament and personality can be matched with careers and college majors thereby giving them insight as to the best options to pursue before applying to college.

Career Counseling

The process helps students to accurately identify their interests, preferences, personal styles, and abilities and how these relate to specific career fields, occupations and college majors. This type of testing and analysis is not available through Naviance®, a software resource commonly used by students for college planning and career assessment.

Students at Pinnacle School are assessed through comprehensive career testing and the vocationally significant attributes that the student possesses are identified and explored through career counseling. The Strong Interest Inventory®, the most powerful career assessment available, enables students to make career choices,  identify a college major and develop a career plan. The MBTI® is the world's most widely used personality assessment. It helps students to better understand themselves, how they are motivated and their interactions with others.

For more information, please email Maura McCullough at: MMcCullough@greenwichedgroup.com. Maura is a Licensed Professional Counselor with National Counselor Certification. She in certified in the Strong® and MBTI(R).

About Pinnacle

Pinnacle is an accredited, co-ed, independent day school for students in grades 3-12 who are diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (High Functioning Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, PDD-NOS), Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NLD), and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). At Pinnacle, students with average to superior cognitive ability thrive in a challenging academic environment while addressing social and life skills in an individualized, integrated, community-centered, research-based program. Pinnacle focuses on "the whole child," and creates a safe, supportive and nurturing learning environment where children develop friendships, master skills and pursue goals.