What the #$%^ Do we do now?

1. An Academy for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Asperger's, ADHD, and other Executive Functioning Deficits. Providing clinical, case management, education, and employment services to help students live independent lives.

2. What the #$%^ Do we do now? “Options for Adults with Asperger's, Autism, or Learning Disabilities”

3. Overwhelmed and anxious?

4. Parents often wonder: • Will my child ever live on their own? • Will my child ever have a job? • Will my child ever live a “normal” life? • What will happen to my child when I die?

5. Learning outcomes 1- Learn how to make a transitional plan. 2- Identify transitional services that are available. 3- Understand the basics of government services. 4- Guidelines for looking at residential programs 5- Have a basic understanding of support services

6. Post-Secondary Decision Making Steps: • Start by coordinating with the school on their existing transition plan. • Explore what you like to do. • Identify the skills you use when you’re doing the thing(s) you enjoy. • Think of fields broadly. A field of work is far more than a single job. It is an area in which many jobs or trades are possible. • Learn as much as possible about the qualifications required for fields that interest you. • Find people who work in your field of interest and learn from them. Research future opportunities. • Identify your obstacles. What is going to make certain opportunities difficult if not impossible to achieve. • Identify what services and support services can help you towards your goals. • Take the next step in pursuing your educational or training program in the career of your choice. • Adapted from Zvi and Axelrod: National LDA February 2013

7. Methodology of Transition

8. Some Potential Options after High School Include: • Gap Year program • Post-Secondary Specialty School • Vocational School • Two year College • Four Year University • Apprenticeship • Part-time Job • Full-time Job • Volunteer/Leisure Activities

9. Services for adults with LD, autism and asperger’s

10. Government Services State/Local • Medicaid • Housing • Food stamps • State programs for uninsured adults • Vocational Rehabilitation Federal • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) • Medicare • Department of Labor – “Occupational Outlook Handbook”

11. State/local services • Medicaid • A federal system of health insurance for those requiring financial assistance that is administered state by state. • Housing Assistance • Financial assistance for housing programs based on income, disability, or age. Most common examples are apartments owned by housing authorities or supplemental rent. • Food stamps • A voucher issued by the government to those with low income, exchangeable for food that is administered state by state. • State programs for uninsured • Supplemental programs for those who do not qualify for Medicaid, Medicare, or are in the process of applying for social security.

12. SSDI vs SSI socialsecuirty.gov

13. Case study

14. Case Study cont.

15. Helpful hints • Before you gather your documents you can see if you will qualify at www.benefits.gov/ssa/home. • Gather up all documents that you have received through the years from schools, testing, and any papers that might include a diagnosis. • Apply at www.socialsecurity.gov. • Include specific examples that demonstrate their disabilitythroughout the application. You need to paint a picture for the examiner. • Be persistent and assume you will have to go through the appeal process. • If you qualify for SSDI you will automatically receive Medicare and if you qualify for SSI you qualify for Medicaid. • US Dept. of Labor has a website that identifies job growth areas and the education required for those jobs. The web address is http://www.bls.gov/ooh/.

16. Helpful hints • Benefit applications are free. • Apply for benefits even before they are needed as certain services have long wait lists, such as housing which can have wait lists as long a year or more. • United Way 2-1-1

17. Residential/Day programs For adults with LD, autism and asperger’s transitioning into adulthood can be very difficult. Residential/Day programs can help with this transition. Picking a program can be difficult. We will share a residential program model to serve as a guide for this process.

18. Residential/day program model • Employment • Education • Case management • Therapy • Social Skills Training

19. Questions to ask when looking for a program Additional questions: • How do parents best communicate with the staff? • What expectations are there for the parents? • How do staff and parents work successfully to best help the student? • What does success look like at your organization? • How do you address the individual needs of each student? • What do you do if and when your organization is not a good fit for the student? • What are some of the common challenges new students face? • How can parents help in getting the student more involved with programming? Typical questions: • What services are provided? • How long is your program? • What does a typical student schedule look like? • Who is on your staff? • What needs do you address and how do you address it? • What are is the cost? Are there grants and/or scholarships? • What room arrangements are provided? And what furniture is included? • Do you provide medication administration? • What medical services are provided or are available in the area? • What programming is provided during the evening? Weekends? • What food is provided? • Do you provide social skills training?

20. Sampling of Adult residential programs • Berkshire Hills Music Academy • Casa de Amma • Center for Independent Living • Chapel Haven • Foundations for Independent Living, Inc. • Horizon School • Independence Center • Minnesota Life College • Moving Forward Towards Independence • Options for College Success • OPTIONS Transitions to Independence • PACE • St. Louis Life • ScenicView Academy • UCLA Pathway Program • Vista

21. Support Services Support services can be essential for when you are waiting for a residential program, after you’ve completed a residential program, or if you have decided a residential program is not the best fit. Support services include: • Local mental health agency • Case management • Therapy • Psychiatric services • Groups (for parents and children) • Hospitals • Research Universities • Local mental health agencies • Accessibility services if attending college • Parental trust • Long term care facility

22. Local mental health agency Local mental health agencies are typically available to those with Medicaid. These agencies often provide: • Case Management • Therapy • Clubhouses • Short term intensive residential treatment • Psychiatric services • Housing

23. Groups Support groups for parents • Local groups provided through mental health agencies, schools, hospitals, and universities. • Groups started by parents • Online support groups • Autism spectrum support group • www.msnusers.com/autismcommunitydedicatedtomakingadifference • Oasis Asperger Syndrome and Information and Support • www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger • Unlocking Autism • www.unlockingautism.org

24. Summary • Though the maze may be complicated there are services throughout the lifespan. • Explore several arenas to meet the needs of your loved ones. • Understanding services is important, sometimes difficult, but can make a big difference in quality of life. • It is possible to navigate and find a great residential/day program. • Solutions are as varied as each individual.

25. Contact Information Ryan Hawks, CTRS RyanH@svacademy.org Nathan Jensen, LPC NathanJ@svacademy.org Ryan Miller, LCSW RyanM@svacademy.org • svacademy.org • info@svacademy.org • 5455 N. River Run Dr. • Provo, UT 84604 • Direct: 801-226-2550 • Toll free: 866-723-6420