AUTISM IN TRANSITION

Drawing A Blank: Improving Comprehension for Readers on the Autism Spectrum

2011-03-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

The Autism Society of Los Angeles is pleased to announce the newest book from AS LA Vice-President Emily Iland, Drawing A Blank: Improving Comprehension for Readers on the Autism Spectrum.

More information about this event is available at http://readingautism.com/

Emily shared some important information about Drawing A Blank and what inspired her to write it:

"Reading comprehension can be a challenge for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) of all ages. In spite of strong decoding skills (the ability to sound out words or even read fluently), many readers with ASD struggle to understand the meaning of what they read. The breakdown can occur with single words, sentences, or longer stories. The reader with ASD may not know the meaning of words that are key to understanding bigger ideas. They may struggle to read between the lines or “extend” beyond the text to infer meaning. They can have difficulty analyzing and applying the meaning of material they have read. Readers with ASD often fail to relate personally or emotionally to the text. These types of comprehension issues stem from and relate to the social, communication, behavioral and cognitive features of autism. In fact, this pattern of good “reading” and poor understanding is so common in ASD that the term hyperlexia is now being used to describe reading comprehension disorder in people on the autism spectrum."

"My son Tom was a precocious young reader who read just about anything with ease and great intonation. I did not realize for a long time that his level of understanding lagged behind his strong decoding skills. His struggle with comprehension became more evident as he progressed through elementary school. As the academic content become more complex, the disconnect between reading words and understanding the meaning became clear. Examples included answering abstract questions about stories (i.e. Why did the woman cut off her hair?), or writing imaginative essays ("What will your life be like in the year 2050?). Frustrated as we worked on his homework, Tom once said to me “Mom, if it hasn’t happened to me my mind is like a blank page.” This insight helped me understand that while a person with hyperlexia is able to read words, the words do not necessarily convey meaning. Key ideas are not recognized and captured. As a result, when the person is asked about what was read, he or she "Draws A Blank" and is unable to respond."

"It can be hard to identify and measure the comprehension problem, which means that many readers with ASD are not getting the help they need to become good reading comprehenders. Many readers with ASD mask the fact that they do not understand by relying on facts or good memory. Many parents spend countless hours working on homework with their children with ASD to help them understand. In fact this can also mask the fact that the child does not understand without the additional support.

This situation, so familiar to individuals on the spectrum and their families, inspired me to look for answers and direction. This book is the result of three years of research. Not every intervention technique is a good fit for readers on the spectrum. Methods that work for others, like students with learning disabilities, may not be appropriate for readers with ASD. Drawing A Blank focuses on evidence-based practices and promising methods to improve comprehension that are a good match to the learning profile of readers with ASD. Examples include thematic reading (reading three different stories on the same subject) and using the synonym feature on a word processor to quickly find the meaning of an unknown word in context."

"The ultimate goal is to help people with ASD overcome comprehension issues and realize their potential. I hope that Drawing A Blank will be an excellent guide for parents, teachers and professionals who are looking for effective techniques and good ideas to build comprehension skills."

Drawing A Blank is available from AAPC publishers and all major book sellers.

Transition to Adult Living: An Information & Resource Guide

2011-01-08T17:44:00.000-08:00

Transition to Adult Living is terrific resource designed to help young adults and their families transistion from high school into post-secondary education and vocational training. Published by the California Department of Education, prepared by the California Services for Technical Assistance and Training (CalSTAT), and authored by Diana Blackmon, EdD, Transistion to Adult Living is full of important information regarding IEP legal requirements and best practices, student and family development, IEP foundations for secondary transiton, collaborating with agencies, career preparedness, and much more.

Click here to download:
http://www.calstat.org/publications/pdfs/transition_guide_07.pdf

You may also order a booklet for free by mailing a request to:
California Institute on Human Services
5789 State Farm Drive
Suite 230, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Attn: Transition Guide Request.

The CalSTAT website is also an excellent resource: http://www.calstat.org/

If you need any addtional information, you may always contact the Autism Society of Society of Los Angeles. We are happy to help!

Transition Planning 101 - Presentation by Emily Iland at the Vista Del Mar Conference

2010-11-21T17:29:00.000-08:00

On November 18, 2010, Emily Iland spoke at the Vista Del Mar Adult Transition Conference called "Innovation, Intervention, Inspiration: A Journey of Hope". Below is her power point presentation covering the basic elements of a successful transition plan.

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need additional information.

Welcome to Autism in Transition

2010-10-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

I'm Susan Levy, I'm Susan Levy, President of Autism Society of Los Angeles, and I want to welcome you to Autism in Transition.

This blog was created as a result of the experiences of many people in their personal journeys in navigating the complex world of adult transitions. This forum was created as a place for everyone within the autism community, including individuals, parents, family members, and professionals, to locate information to help shape a successful future for anyone they know with an autistic spectrum disorder. We envision this to be a place for everyone to connect and unit, where everyone's voices can be heard and questions answered. Our Transition Conference in April 2010 was a huge success, yet those who attended still wanted and needed more information. This is the forum where we hope to accomplish that goal.

The task of looking towards the future of a child can be daunting for any parent. Add to this picture a lifetime developmental disorder like autism and this task becomes even more difficult. Quality of life issues surrounding employment, friendships, and independent living can become huge hurdles for a young adult with autism. And almost always, it becomes the parent's responsibility to help their son or daughter overcome any of these hurdles.

Adult transition planning is much like preparing for an earquake. An comprehensive earthquake preparedness plan covers any and all issues that will happen after the earthquake strikes. This includes knowledge of building escape routes, having enough food and water to last several days, a generator in case of a power outage, and a plan on how to contact out-of-town loved ones in the event lines of communication are down. Once all these issues are adequately addressed, it is easier to manage after the event of a major earthquake. Preaparing a successful adult transition plan is similar. It includes everything that an adult with autism will need to successfully transition into their community after he or she exits their high school, training program, or college.

It is important for parents to remember that the planning process goes well beyond academics. A comprehensive transition plan must also address such issues as independent living skills, prepartion for a variety of housing options, social skills, communication skills, self-advocacy skills, transportation, and employment readiness. This is inclusive of all individuals on the autism spectrum regardless of their level of functioning or the label of their diagnosis. This includes individuals with Asperger's Syndrome and high-functioning autism.

The fact is clear that many young adults with autism successfully graduate from high school. It is also clear that an overwhelming majority do not have the necessary skills to successfully go on to higher education and live and work in their communities after they exit their free and appropriate educational institution. ASLA Executve Director, Caroline Wilson, can attest to how difficult this can be. She has an adult son and an adult daughter on the autistic spectrum.

Caroline is extremely knowledgable about autism support services and thought that her work as both a nurse and an advocate for parents with children with autism would be enough to help her successfully plan for the future of her own children. But even with her background, she now knows that she did start implementing transition plans soon enough and what she did put in place fell short of what either of her children needed. Unfortunately, her experience is not unusual or exceptional. Most parents find themselves in similar situations when they have to start implementing plans for their own children.

ASLA will be publishing future articles covering all aspects involved in preparing a transition plan. These are a list of the some of the most important topics:

Legal issues including Social Security, conservatorship and special needs trusts

Social skill issues including relationships, friendships and dating

Employment and workforce readiness

Self advocacy and problem solving skills

Post-secondary education

Residency options and independent living skills

Our goal is to publish an article per month with contributions from all members of the autism community including our Board of Directors and professionals serving young adults with Autism as well as parents, family members and individuals on the spectrum.

ASLA thanks you for your interest in Autism in Transition. We welcome your input so please feel free to send us your comments, concerns, and suggestions. We are looking foward to the discussions to come!

We're Launching on November 1st!

2010-10-04T19:03:00.001-07:00

Check back for our official start!