# 'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615 "2011-06-05T05:40:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 58
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 11:26am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1141 "2017-09-23T11:26:19Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in eastern Pennsylvania. _ACHIEVA_ is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that supports and empowers individuals with various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. _ACHIEVA_ envisions a community where disabilities are a distinction that makes no difference… > [@](#): > > Tejus Sharathchandra stands in front of the room, a ?Happy 21st Birthday? balloon tied to his jeans, wearing a bright orange ?21 years of being awesome!? T-shirt. > > Dozens of his peers at the UPMC Vocational Training Center on the South Side are singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him, while two large sheet cakes, one chocolate and one vanilla, will soon be cut and served. > > Today could have been a dark day for Tejus and his family. Instead, it is full of singing, cake, pizza with his classmates at CITY Connections East, more cake, kickball and swimming with his teen and young-adult group …and a special family dinner at Taco Bell – a treat he had been anticipating for weeks. > > For months, Tejus’ family had been uncertain if his 21st birthday would mark the end of the intensive services and supports he receives for his intellectual disability and autism. > > For families in Pennsylvania who have a child with an intellectual or developmental disability, a 21st birthday can be an unhappy milestone – an end to the vital services their children receive. > > Until age 21, the care they receive, such as behavior and occupational therapy, is considered a federal entitlement – that is, Medicaid has to pay for it. At 21, that entitlement ends, which can lead to …a sudden cutoff of services and being put on a waiting list until additional funding is available. > > …So Tejus’ birthday isn’t just a birthday celebration – it’s also celebrating that he’ll be receiving what is know as a ‘consolidated waiver’ – meaning the state’s Medicaid program, using a combination of state and federal dollars, will cover all the costs of his care. > > “It’s the rest of his life. It’s his future. I feel like, we’ve solidified that. He has so many options now,” said Kristen Capp, Tejus’ supports coordinator. > > Receiving – or not receiving – waiver funding is often life-altering for families on the waiting list. > > Parents of these children must sometimes leave paid employment to care for their children at home, as Tejus’ mother, Chitra Sharathchandra, did. Now that she knows Tejus will be receiving waiver funding, she is looking to return to the workplace in her field of computer science. > > Waiver funding will allow her son to continue doing data entry and mailing work at the UPMC Vocational Center; cover his habilitation aide assisting him with tasks around the house, accompanying him to …community outings 25 hours a week; and it will cover the cost for him eventually to live outside his parents? home, in a small-group residential setting with other disabled adults. > > Mrs. Sharathchandra said it also has brought her peace of mind: “Can I now stop worrying, that if I’m not here tomorrow, there’s going to be somebody else who can do what needs to be done with Tejus?” > > But not every family is as lucky as the Sharathchandras. > > “I am definitely pleased that Tejus will finally be receiving the home and community waiver services that he and his family so desperately need. However, [the Governor] and his administration need to understand that there are 15,000 Pennsylvania families who are also desperately waiting,” said Nancy Murray, president of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh at ACHIEVA, who has worked for many years with The PA Waiting List Campaign to push for additional funding for families waiting for services. “Some of these families are headed by single caregivers, some by elderly caregivers in their 70s and 80s, and some who have had to give up their jobs to stay home and care for their adult child with a disability.” > > Advocates have pushed for years for the governor and state Legislature to fully fund services and have succeeded in driving down the number of families on the waiting list. However, at a state Capitol hearing in September, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services officials said they will not be able to fund additional spots to take individuals off the waiting list this year. > > Several state legislators said they believed $6.5 million from the state budget they passed in July specifically was appropriated to move 250 people off the waiting list, in addition to 700 graduates from special education programs. > > Ted Dallas, state Department of Human Services secretary, said the cost of providing care to people currently receiving services has increased, and that last fiscal year’s budget left him with a $21.6 million shortfall for services that had already been provided. > > These are services like the aide that enables Tejus to attend the teen and young-adult program at the JCC, where Tejus spent time later on his birthday, playing kickball and getting another treat – cupcakes. Tejus and the other participants in the program, headed by Lynne Carvell, go on excursions to the library, play games, make art projects, generally learn social skills and have a community of peers. > > “They deserve everything that other people have,” she said. Here is a link to photos of _ACHIEVA_’s Early Intervention Preschool Readiness: [Achieva | Home](https://www.achieva.info/ACHIEVA-Early-Intervention-Pre-School-Readiness) (source: [21st birthday is a special celebration for one waiting list family | PA Waiting List Campaign](http://pawaitinglistcampaign.org/2016/12/21st-birthday-is-a-special-celebration-for-one-waiting-list-family/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 9:52am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1142 "2017-09-24T09:52:43Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Pennsylvania. The _Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy_ is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based non-profit riding academy dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding programs and equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The nonprofit is a member of _Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International_ (_PATH_) and the _Pennsylvania Council of Therapeutic Horsemanship_… > [@](#): > > …Situated along Bustleton Avenue on the western edge of Pennypack Creek Park in Northeast Philadelphia is the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy, a non-profit riding academy dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding programs and equine-assisted activities and therapies for children and adults with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. Pegasus operates on Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) property and has a long-term lease to utilize the public trust lands and benefit people with disabilities. > > The facility encompasses both indoor and outdoor areas, which allows Pegasus to provide therapeutic riding programs year-round. As the city’s only full-time therapeutic horse riding program, Pegasus seeks to improve the quality of life for its program participants and their families, offering group and private lessons for riders with disabilities and several specialized programs. > > Pegasus is a PATH International (Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship) Premier Accredited Center and a member of the Pennsylvania Council on Therapeutic Horsemanship. The Pegasus Academy’s dedicated instructors and its more than 90 volunteers provide over 100 lessons per week to people with disabilities, helping riders improve muscle strength, flexibility, motor skills, communication, mental focus, and self-esteem. Pegasus also offers an autism program, a 6-week summer program, a Senior Saddles program for riders ages 55 and older, and an unmounted, equine-facilitated learning program. > > As part of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg on October 21, one of the Pegasus Academy’s therapy horses, Clyde, was honored with the Pennsylvania Therapeutic Horse of the Year Award. Clyde has called Pegasus home for the past 17 years and is considered the heart of the therapeutic riding program, often the first pony that the Academy’s clients ever ride. Through Clyde’s patience, kindness, and unflappable temperament, numerous children have experienced the benefits that can be gained through equine-assisted therapy. > > The Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy offers a variety of programs throughout the year. Visit their website for more information, and stay up-to-date on their programs by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Here is a link to a video from the _Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEYEC3KN2VI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEYEC3KN2VI) (source: [Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy Horse Wins…](http://philaparkandrec.tumblr.com/post/153780847384/pegasus-therapeutic-riding-academy-horse-wins)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 9:11am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1143 "2017-09-25T09:11:31Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Pennsylvania. _Possibilities Autism Center_ is a Ridgway, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that offers Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnostic and treatment services for children through 18 years of age. Treatment options include: occupational therapy, brief treatment mobile therapy, sensory integration therapy, social skills groups for teens and children, and individual therapy. > [@](#): > > [The nonprofit] announced it received a $2,500 donation from Stoltz Toyota Scion, and an additional contribution of $2,500 from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. > > "[The Center] is honored to receive a $2,500 donation from Stoltz Toyota-Scion, said Jack Goga , CEO of Dickinson Center, Inc. > > “This generous grant will support our autism diagnostic and treatment program?Possibilities with offices in both Ridgway and Clearfield.” > > Possibilities Autism Center opened its doors in January of 2010 and provides comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluations and treatment for children thru 18 years of age. > > Since the program’s inception, well over 100 children and adolescents have been served, providing timely services to individuals who might otherwise experience significant delays in gaining access to diagnostic evaluations at tertiary care facilities. > > The Toyota Dealer Match Program enables dealer contributions to make a greater impact on the community. > > Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to non-profit organizations, and has always been guided by a strong belief in serving the communities where it does business… (source: [Stoltz Toyota Scion Donates to Autism Center | GantNews.com](http://gantdaily.com/2011/08/20/stoltz-toyota-scion-donates-to-autism-center/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1144 "2017-09-26T03:44:44Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Pennsylvania. To the northeast, _Autism Intervention Services_, a non-profit based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada provides intensive behavioral intervention to preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorders throughout the province of New-Brunswick. > [@](#): > > Changes coming in just over a month to services provided to pre-schoolers with autism in New Brunswick are getting mixed reviews from parents in the province. > Right now, services for pre-school children with autism are handled by a number of agencies. But by the middle of February one company, Autism Intervention Services …in Fredericton, will be in charge of all the operations. > Company officials say the new approach will implement some key improvements. > > “Working in their natural environment, more supervision for staff, more money to pay staff and equal training throughout the province,” said company director and owner Danielle Pelletier. > Michelle McCaffrey of Hampton, who has a 4-year-olddaughter with autism, welcomes the changes and the ability to retain staff by way of better pay. > “They’ll be with the same person, so you won’t have that in and out,” McCaffrey said. “You’ll get the consistency in the program.” > Pelletier says parents in most areas of the province have been contacted and information is being made available, but says, so far that’s not been the situation in Saint John. > “I do feel that there has been a little bit more of anxiety in the Saint John-area simply because we have not been able to use the same collaborative approach,” she said. > Global News was unable to secure an interview with Stepping Stones, which provides services for pre-schoolers with autism in Saint John. > Pelletier says they have been spending a lot of time trying to make contact. > “On the phone trying to comfort parents, trying to help them understand that this is going to work,” she said. > Many people found out about the changes over the holiday period, which increased the stress of the situation. > “It made communication very difficult,” McCaffrey said. “I know that [Autism Intervention Services] was trying to get the information out to the parents, I know they’re having trouble getting that information out.” > As for concerns over jobs, Pelletier says anyone hired by a previous agency in the province will have a job with her company if they want one. Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sAfZvnOKQs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sAfZvnOKQs) (source: [Changes to services for N.B. pre-schoolers with autism getting mixed reviews - New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca](https://globalnews.ca/news/3165680/changes-to-services-for-n-b-pre-schoolers-with-autism-getting-mixed-reviews/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1145 "2017-09-27T13:01:14Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Pennsylvania. _Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County_ is a Jamison, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit whose mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever… > [@](#): > > Thursday is – the best day of the week – for Nate Whitney because he knows once his school day is over, he gets to spend time with his [Big and Little Autism Support Team] teammates. > > “I feel excited,” said Nate, 8, a Goodnoe Elementary School third-grader. > > The excitement grows each week as it gets closer to Thursday afternoon, Nate said, when he gets to play with Lego pieces, Jenga blocks and other games while talking with his teammates, Emily Panyard, a Council Rock High School North junior and Josee Li, a CR North freshman. > > “Talking is the best way to get to know about people,” said Nate, who was decked out at last Thursday’s session on St. Patrick’s Day in a green T-shirt that read: “Who needs luck when you are this awesome?” > > …The [Big and Little Autism Support Team] pilot program is organized by the Council Rock School District and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County. It pairs Goodnoe students with autism with Council Rock high school students who volunteer to mentor them. Big Brothers Big Sisters uses grant money to fund the project, a spokeswoman said. > > Council Rock serves about 200 students with autism, said Charles Lambert, the district’s director of special services. Goodnoe is a good partner for the program because it serves more than 40 students with autism, program organizers said. > > The Goodnoe students with autism have difficulty with their social interactions and communication skills, and the high school students engage them in activities to work on strengthening those skills, elementary school guidance counselor Stephanie Rothrock said. > > There are 21 members of the [Big and Little Autism Support Team] team, including seven Goodnoe students and 14 district high school students. The program organizers opted to go with a small number of Goodnoe students to get the initiative going, said Caroline Malia, the development director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County. > > Dawn Haaz, a licensed psychologist with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and intern Alexandria Milligan created a curriculum to teach specific social skills to students with autism, Rothrock said. They recruited students from the two Council Rock high schools, provided them with insight on how autism affects children and taught them how to work with the Goodnoe kids. > > Haaz and Milligan supervise each session during which a Goodnoe student is paired with two high school student mentors. The teens usually are involved in other extracurricular activities besides the [Big and Little Autism Support Team] program, and doubling up the number of high school students ensures that at least one mentor is available to meet with the elementary student each Thursday, Malia said. > > Each session of the [Big and Little Autism Support Team] program is divided into two parts, Haaz said. During the first half hour, the teammates work together on a worksheet that explores different situations involving coping skills, friendship and non-verbal communication, she said. > > The second half of the weekly meeting is free time during which the teens and the elementary kids play different types of board games and get a chance to talk. > > “I am going to win!” Jude Belson, a Goodnoe fifth-grader, exclaimed with delight last Thursday when he and his teammate Margaret Zheng played a spirited game of Uno. > > Jude, 10, said he is glad he has two [Big and Little Autism Support Team] teammates, because his other teammate, Leah Frank, was on a marching band trip last week. Margaret met with him Thursday afternoon. > > “This is my big sister,” Jude said, standing next to Margaret, a CR North freshman. > > Jude’s father, Michael Belson, calls the [Big and Little Autism Support Team] program ‘a godsend’ because it helps his son with coping skills. > > “He doesn’t want to leave when the program is over,” Belson said. > > Jude loves working with his teammates, because they give him extra assignments to work on, which he starts tackling as soon as he gets home, his dad said. > > The teen volunteers said the [Big and Little Autism Support Team] experience has proven to be valuable for them, too. > > Josee, one of Nate’s partners, said she plans to pursue a career in education. She volunteered to participate in the [Big and Little Autism Support Team] program to learn more about children with autism. > > “It has helped me see what impact I can have on a child with autism,” the 15-year-old said. > > There are a lot of benefits to the [Big and Little Autism Support Team] program for all the students, Lambert said. “It is another example of how important connections between our students with disabilities and their typical peers are to the Council Rock school community,” he said. > > Rothrock, the Goodnoe guidance counselor, said she strongly encourages other area schools to establish a similar program for their students with autism. > > “I think the [Big and Little Autism Support Team] program is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to make a direct impact on the lives of younger children,” Rothrock said. “The elementary school students look forward to seeing their mentors each week. They are learning valuable social skills and forming bonds with positive role models.” Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajHMLEg2Xp4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajHMLEg2Xp4) (source: [Council Rock students gaining valuable skills on autism support team – BBBSBC](https://www.bbbsbc.org/council-rock-students-gaining-valuable-skills-autism-support-team/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 9:57am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1146 "2017-09-28T09:57:44Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Pennsylvania. To the northwest, _The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario_ (_CHEO_) is a major children’s hospital and university teaching hospital in Ottawa, Ontario, serving Eastern Ontario and western Quebec… > [@](#): > > The government of Ontario has infuriated some parents of children with autism with its plans to stop funding intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) for children older than five. This means children with autism will be eligible only for applied behaviour analysis (ABA), a second form of government-funded treatment. > > But what are ABA and IBI? And why does the government think it’s a good idea to limit IBI therapy to kids under a certain age? > > Applied behaviour analysis > > Applied behaviour analysis uses scientific principles around learning and behaviour to teach people how to develop socially valuable skills such as how to play and communicate with others, and reduce problematic behaviours such as physical aggression. ABA techniques include positive and negative reinforcement, breaking down skills into small tasks for easy learning and prompting specific actions through verbal, visual and other cues. > > For example, a child who needs help learning to brush his or her teeth may first practise unscrewing the toothpaste cap, and move on to learning to squeeze the tube only once that step is mastered. A parent or therapist might encourage the child with prompts such as pointing at the toothpaste or moving the child’s hands to unscrew the cap. > > …In Ontario, ABA therapy for those with autism typically lasts two to four hours per week for two to six months. In that time, the focus is on improving a specific skill. Once a period of ABA training ends, the child may reapply to continue working on a skill or to learn a completely new skill. ABA techniques are used by medical professionals, but can also be applied in the home by parents and in school settings by teachers. > > Intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) > > ‘Intensive’ is the key word here. IBI is based on ABA principles, but instruction generally lasts 20 to 40 hours a week instead of less than four hours. This method also normally takes place over two to three years instead of the two to six month timeframe under ABA. > > IBI is delivered by a trained professional one-on-one or in a small group, whereas ABA techniques can be used by people in the autistic child’s life at home and at school. > > The goal of IBI is to help children with autism catch up developmentally with their peers. "IBI aims to increase the rate of a child’s learning, to bring their skills closer to those of typically developing children, to decrease the symptoms of autism, and to prepare them for an appropriate school setting,’ according to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. > > Why is the government limiting IBI? > > Research indicates that IBI is largely ineffective after the age of five. > > A 2014 report commissioned by the Ontario government on autism services included a review of scientific literature. Most studies indicated that IBI has the best chance of success at an early age, and that the measurable benefits drop significantly if a child undergoes IBI after five years of age. > > At the same time, the government is facing a serious backlog for IBI treatment, with a waiting list of more than 2,000 children as of late 2015. > > The government is arguing that to address both the growing need for autism services and the backlog in IBI and ABA treatment wait lists, it needs to focus resources on those kids most likely to benefit. Therefore, any child age five and older is being removed from the IBI wait list and given a one-time funding grant of $8,000 to purchase eligible community services and supports for autism. Kids over the age threshold currently receiving IBI will eventually be transitioned out of it. ABA services will still be available for children and youth over the age cut-off. > > If IBI rarely works for those older than five, why are some parents so upset? > > Parents? reaction to the announcement has been mixed. > > Autism Ontario, a group that speaks for members of the autism community, welcomed the government’s promise to invest $333 million over five years for autism services and said the intent to significantly reduce waiting times for assessment and treatment is very good news for parents of young children with autism. > > But for families with slightly older children, it added, “this time period may feel heartbreaking and uncertain.” > > CBC reports that 1,377 Ontario children over the age of five are receiving IBI, 835 children in that age group are on the wait list, and 1,331 younger children are expected to turn five while still on the wait list. > > For the families of those 3,500 kids, many of whom have been on the IBI wait list for some time, the prospect of being denied funding for an intensive treatment that has helped some children succeed in school and life is too much to bear, even if the evidence indicates their children are now likely too old to get much benefit. > > At a Queen’s Park media event last week, parent Heather Bourdon gave an emotional account of the sacrifices her family has made to pay $5,000 a month in private IBI therapy for her son with autism, Jacob, who turns five this month. > > “We sold one of our cars, some of our furniture, used all our savings, liquidated the equity in our home, and moved our family of five into a one-bedroom apartment,” she said. > > The government’s announcement has come under fire from its provincial advocate for children and youth, Irwin Elman. He said that while he understands the rationale for phasing out IBI treatment for children older than five, the way the government has decided to implement its plans “does little to engender trust, hope or confidence to families who watch their children inch closer to aging out of a program dependent on early intervention.” > > He added that the $8,000 being offered for children no longer eligible for IBI is inadequate compensation and that the government needs to be clearer on what the treatment alternatives will be for these children. > > “With respect and with the best interests of children in mind,” he said, “the government should grandfather children who were on the IBI wait list and extend the May 1 date of the implementation of its plan until a time that children and their parents can be assured that they will have what they need, when they need it.” Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbgBwu2nyhk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbgBwu2nyhk) (source: [Understanding the difference between ABA and IBI autism treatments | TVO.org](http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/understanding-the-difference-between-aba-and-ibi-autism-treatments)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 8:25am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1147 "2017-09-29T08:25:22Z")
The subject of the last posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Pennsylvania. To the east, _Specialisterne Foundation_ in Delaware, has employment opportunities for Delawareans with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders using its highly successful model. The foundation’s goal is to establish one million jobs across the world for people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and similar challenges… > [@](#): > > When Thorkil Sonne’s son, Lars, was diagnosed with autism, he knew that it would be challenging for Lars to get a job, so he sought to do something about it. So he founded Specialisterne, a program that trains people with autism for IT jobs, in his native Denmark in 2004. Since then, he’s brought Specialisterne to Wilmington – with help from former Governor Jack Markell. > > “He had been thinking ‘Well, if it works in Denmark, maybe we can make it work in Delaware because there are more and more jobs in the STEM sector and there are more and more people being diagnosed autistic,’ so I got on the phone with him and he invited me to Delaware,” he said. > > Markell, Sonne said, set up meetings with local stakeholders. > > “We had never seen political leadership like that before,” Sonne said. (It’s not surprising: Workforce development for people with disabilities was a priority for Markell.) > > The philosophy behind Specialisterne, Danish for ‘The Specialists,’ is that people with autism can be high-functioning and have incredible abilities and talents, but may lack skills allowing them to express themselves and interact with others, so they may be overlooked. > > …Sonne said after getting press exposure in Denmark, parents from all over the world asked him how their children could enroll in a program like Specialisterne, with many responses coming from the United States. > > When the firm first arrived in Delaware, Markell introduced Sonne to Computer Aid Inc. (CAI), an IT services firm based in Newark, who immediately agreed to a partnership, having seen the potential for people with autism to be helpful to their business. > > Specialisterne, which also has a location in New York, has partnerships with many of the biggest technological firms in the world, including SAP, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, as well as the State of Delaware. While Specialisterne picks the candidates, the companies follow the training program, which is a four-week course involving the use of LEGO Mindstorms robots in group work, followed by a presentation at the end. Currently, 200 jobs have been filled in the United States alone using the program, Sonne said. > > In Delaware, Specialisterne has paired with a firm called The Precisionists, formed by Ernie Dianastasis, formerly a senior executive of CAI. In addition to using the training model the firm and Specialisterne developed, The Precisionists have expanded on the original Specialisterne idea and applied it to the hearing impaired and disabled veterans. > > Overall, Sonne said he hopes more companies begin to look at people with autism as innovators. > > “I think the companies need to pay attention to autism and similar diagnoses, because innovation comes from other non-mainstream people,” he said. Here is a link to a short video on the project: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xggc3KSwbWk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xggc3KSwbWk) (source: [Markell helped bring this IT training program for autistic people to Wilmington](https://technical.ly/delaware/2017/01/20/specialisterne-markell-autism/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1148 "2017-09-30T10:43:20Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Pennsylvania. To the southwest, _Autism Health!_ in Beckley, West Virginia is a clinic that focuses on the relationship between poor gut function and poor sleep patterns… > [@](#): > > Thousands of autistic children in West Virginia find themselves stuck on treatment wait lists for years, missing their best chances for improvement as 2- and 3-year-olds. > > Even if they are covered by private insurance, these children have to wait years for openings in the small number of programs in the state. Even worse, children on Medicaid may never receive the care they need since most of the best programs in the state don’t accept Medicaid payments. > > …“Less than 2 percent of any children with autism receive any evidenced-based treatment. So we know that the ability to give these kids the best outcome is really limited by the lack of services,” says Susannah Poe, director of the intensive Autism Delivery Clinic at West Virginia University. > > …Poe says that 2 percent is an estimate the non-profit Mountaineer Autism Project came up with after a 2010 survey of West Virginia Applied Behavior Analysis practitioners like herself about 5 years ago. To be clear, many practitioners think that Applied Behavior Analysis …is the best method for treating autism, if not the only one. So the 2 percent is only referring to kids receiving [Applied Behavior Analysis] therapy. > > “What we know about treating children with autism is that the earlier we can identify children with autism and the more intensively we can offer an individualized treatment plan, the better outcome the children will have,” says Poe. > > …No [Applied Behavior Analysis] therapists in the state are currently taking Medicaid or have been able to successfully bill Medicaid. So when Tom changed jobs and the family lost private insurance, they also lost the [Applied Behavior Analysis] therapy. > > Jill McLaury is founder of the [Applied Behavior Analysis] facility Bright Futures in [Putnam County]. Though the number of board certified [Applied Behavior Analysis] practitioners has more than doubled in West Virginia in the last five years, McLaury says there are still not nearly enough to cover the need. Also, while federal legislation requires Medicaid to cover [Applied Behavior Analysis] services, there is enough red tape that most clinics like hers don’t bother trying. > > “To do Medicaid I would have to be a licensed behavioral health facility and right now I’ve got a waiting list of over 50 families who are private insurance that I’m not able to serve,” she says. “So from a business perspective for me to then have to do a $1,500 application fee, to have a lot more scrutiny over the services – it doesn’t make sense when I’m not even able to provide services to the clients who already have funding.” > > A child takes a play break at the Applied Behavior Analysis Center at the Autism Services Center in Huntington. > > McLaury says the lack of [Applied Behaviour Analysis] providers is not just a West Virginia problem, but a national problem. Every single autism center I contacted had a significant waiting list for services. > > “In West Virginia, even your more populated areas of the state, the families that do have coverage are also still on waiting lists,” she says. “So it’s absolutely going to be more of a problem in more rural parts of the state.” > > …Janet Lintala is the founder of [Autism Health!]. She said kids …come into her office all the time. > > “They can’t sleep, …they have acid-reflux,” says Lintala during a recent interview about her new book. “They’re in quite a bit of discomfort and pain, but they can’t tell anyone that because most of them don’t have their language. And so how they tell us that is through irritability and difficult behaviors. And that’s what ends up getting medicated. We all see the difficult behaviours …and those painful underlying conditions never get addressed. It’s like a merry-go-round they can’t get off of.” > > Lintala, a chiropractor by training and mother of an autistic child, prescribes a combination of digestive enzymes, probiotics, antifungals, improved diet, special supplements and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to her patients. > > In a recent Q & A, Janet Lintala talks with Kara Lofton about her new book The Un-Prescription for Autism: A Natural Approach for a Calmer, Happier, and More Focused Child. The book outlines organizational and coping techniques for caregivers and parents and provides suggestions for addressing some of the co-morbid conditions autistic kids struggle with. In the interview, Lintala and Lofton also talk about the work Lintala does at her clinic Autism Health! in Beckley, including discussing the probiotic and enzyme regimen she has developed and the clinic’s hyperbolic oxygen chamber. > “All we can do is give him some therapies, and try to help him regain his speech or whatever physical problems he might be having and try to ease his symptoms, but you’re never going to cure him,” says Lindsay. > > …It’s worth noting that Lintala is supportive of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, saying that what she does is low-risk and is aimed at different goals than the [Applied Behavior Analysis]. [Applied Behavior Analysis] therapists like McLaury are more critical of Lintala – urging patients to consider their resources and time carefully when deciding which therapies to pursue. > > The Risers clearly feel well served by Lintala’s clinic. They say that they notice huge regressions during periods they are not able to afford the enzymes (which cost around 40 dollars a bottle and last about a month). Despite improvements, they continue to hope for more therapy in general, which they think is most likely to come through the state intellectual and developmental disabilities waiver program. > > …The Autism Services Center in Huntington also has a limited number of residential spots in group homes for adults with severe disabilities. It’s an expensive program to run - costing close to $10,000 a month per resident - but provides a high quality of life to individuals who would otherwise be institutionalised. > > The waiver is awarded to children in West Virginia who have a documented intellectual and/or developmental disability. Currently 4,634 people are on the waiver – the maximum allowed – and more than 1,000 are on the wait list. The average time between when a person is approved for the IDD waiver program and receives a slot is a little over three years. > > “If these children need this waiver and need the support, then where is the immediacy?” says Tom Riser. “Because right now my child is behind; he grows more behind every day. If this is an early intervention – something that is only remedied by early intervention – where is the immediacy on the waiver? Why is it taking three years? Three years to get my child into this program!.” > > The waiver provides a plethora of services for families, including direct care services, day services, respite services and behavior management services. Yet state budget cuts may put the waiver in jeopardy. > > …So you might be wondering, what happens when a child does get the services they need? Well, they might look like Hope. > > …During a recent visit, eleven-year-old Hope smiled at her mother through the door of the treatment room. She is one of the first children Susannah Poe accepted into the intensive Autism Delivery Clinic in Morgantown. Hope was then 5 years old. > > “When she started here she was not potty-trained, she would not eat, she still had a gastrostomy feeding tube in her stomach,” says Sarah Crichigno, Hope’s mother. > > Her family had been to feeding and swallowing clinics, and had tried to get help through Birth to Three. At age five, she only had about 100 words. > > “Since coming here Hopi has transformed into this really blossoming little girl. Who is opinionated, she acts like she runs the show,” says Crichigno. > > At the clinic, Hope and some of the other children are beginning to eat lunch. She is smiling, laughing and posing for pictures. She makes eye contact, is eating, is potty-trained and is able to verbally able to ask for what she wants and tell you how she feels. > > “And that is huge as a parent!” says Crichigno. “When you think of trying to care for a child who can’t tell you what hurts or can’t tell you what they want other than through some non-verbal gestures, and then going to then a child who can tell you “I want some chocolate please, and my head hurts,” it makes a difference, it really does.” > > Hope’s story is, well, hopeful. It’s a success story of what can happen when severely autistic kids get the early, intensive services they need… Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c4dVp6vdh4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c4dVp6vdh4) (source: [Autism Services Lacking for West Virginia Families | West Virginia Public Broadcasting](http://wvpublic.org/post/autism-services-lacking-west-virginia-families#stream/0)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 9:57am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1149 "2017-10-01T09:57:14Z")
The subject of the last couple of posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in Pennsylvania. The _Andy Warhol Museum_ in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania tells Andy Warhol’s story and explores his legacy through the largest collection of Warhol art and archives in the world. It has a new program that makes it a more welcoming destination for visitors with Autism and sensory sensitivities… > [@](#): > > …It’s a toss-up for favorite moment of the morning for 14-year-old Jacob Schmitt: lying on the floor with Andy Warhol’s ‘floating balloons’ dancing overhead, or mashing together blood-red lips and a pastel-colored cat in a collage he crafted in the underground studio of Andy’s museum, The Factory. > > “I feel like myself when I do art,” says Jacob. > > For Jacob’s mom, Jane Stadnik, it’s about something just as powerful: spending two enjoyable hours in a museum with her son. Jacob has autism, and outings to busy public places can be overwhelming for him and those around him. But on this particular Saturday morning at The Andy Warhol Museum, the goal is making teens and young adults like Jacob with sensory sensitivities–and their caregivers–feel welcome. > > “When you come to a program like this, where people are knowledgeable about autism, if he’s stimming [self-stimulating behavior], it’s not a big deal. People go on their way and it makes it so much more of a relaxed experience,” says Stadnik, who made the trip from Ambridge after learning about the free program on Facebook. > > “Art has been really inclusive for Jacob. In math class, he notices that he’s different from other kids. But when he rolls into art class, he’s like everyone else. It’s the same here. Art is an equaliser.” > > This morning’s sensory-friendly program is not unlike most of the museum’s tours that introduce visitors to Warhol’s life, art, and practice. It reveals many artifacts from the Pop artist’s storied life–from his working-class Pittsburgh roots to his New York stardom. It also points to the lasting impact Warhol still has on artists working today, including the global sensation Chinese activist-artist Ai Weiwei. There’s even dedicated time for artmaking, including Warhol’s signature process of silkscreening. > > What is a little different with this tour is the preparation. Knowing that many in today’s group are sensitive to loud noises, bright lights, and crowds, in advance of the visit staff made available a ‘pre-story’ video, designed to inform participants about what they could expect to find at the museum–from the sights and sounds of specific galleries to the location of the bathrooms. > > On each floor of the museum is a quiet area that includes a bench and a box full of calming aids that participants grab as needed: noise-cancelling headphones and sunglasses as well as super-stretchy fidgets and weighted blankets–self-regulating tools that promote focus and concentration, decrease stress, and \*keep fidgeting fingers busy. > > Also on hand for support and conversation: a small team of occupational therapy students from the University of Pittsburgh and Chatham University. > > “It’s not about changing the experience of being at the museum or how Warhol’s art is viewed,” says Leah Morelli, The Warhol’s school programs coordinator who developed the pilot program in partnership with a focus group and advisory committee. “It’s about providing multiple pathways for discovery and a successful experience.” > > …For Johnston, 27, and other adults and children on the autism spectrum, reading facial expressions and nuanced body language is a challenge that art can help them overcome. > > Johnston is no stranger to art museums. An especially big fan of Warhol friend and collaborator Keith Haring, Johnston and his mother, Shawn, say they both enjoy art, how it makes them feel, and what it has to teach them. > > “It’s amazing how art opens him up,” says Shawn, noting that Dale is also active with Manchester Craftsman’s Guild. “I like to make things with my hands,” adds Dale, a common refrain from the day’s participants, all of whom spent about an hour in the museum’s studio doing any combination of three projects: watercolor, collage, and silkscreening. > > In the portrait gallery, participants work in pairs to match the emotions on faces in printed handouts with those in Warhol’s colorful Pop paintings. > “Coming to an art museum, looking at portraits, making portraits, that’s more of an adult way to practice these very important life skills,” says Kelly Ammerman, a teacher at City Connections, Pittsburgh Public Schools’ community-based life skills and independent living program designed for students ages 18 to 21 who have moderate to severe disabilities. > > “Programs like this help get these young people out into the community, engaging with people and in topics that interest them,” says Ammerman, who has accompanied both teens and young adults to sensory-friendly events \*at The Warhol. “It also allows them to get the lay of the land; so, for some, they can feel prepared and comfortable coming back on their own.” > > Twenty-year-old Maximus Chaney was so inspired by Ai Weiwei’s artful protest of placing fresh flowers inside the basket of his bicycle each day while banned from leaving China for 600 days, he vowed to build a bicycle out of Legos, a material also used by Ai. “I might even donate it,” he says. “I know one thing for certain. I’d like to come back [to The Warhol] and bring my grandmother.” > > In an exercise on the second floor, with Warhol’s colorful Pop portraits as the backdrop, program leader Morelli gives the participants photocopies of faces–some expressing happiness, sadness, even indifference–and sends them off in pairs to match the emotions on the paper to those in Warhol’s paintings. > > For ninth-grader Bella, on her first visit to The Warhol from Streetsboro, Ohio, it was a good social exercise. “We knew it would be a great opportunity for a hands-on experience, where Bella could learn and create, and also meet and interact with new people socially, which is always good,” says Bella’s mom, Keri Stoyle, who found the program online while making plans for the pair to come to Pittsburgh to paddleboard and ride bikes. “She’s learning to advocate for herself.” > > Like any gathering of teenagers, there was, of course, talk of music. At Jacob’s mention of his love for Green Day, Chrisoula Perdziola, whose teenage daughter, Eva, has autism and is limited verbally, notes that despite the fact that all five of Eva’s senses are heightened, she loves listening to music–Green Day and Foo Fighters, in particular. “And she likes to listen to it loud,” says Perdziola, laughing. > > …Perdziola remembers opening day of The Andy Warhol Museum in 1994. She still has a Polaroid of herself walking in the front door. That same day she bought a print of one of Warhol’s most famous paintings, Flowers, in the museum store. Four years later, when they were preparing to have Eva, they put the print in her room, and it’s been there ever since. > > “Warhol did a lot of art outside of the box, and kids and adults on the spectrum live outside of the box,” says Perdziola, who works for PA Museums (the state’s museum association), is active in Autism Connection of Pennsylvania, and brings the perspective of a caregiver to The Warhol’s advisory committee for sensory-friendly programming. “For me, The Warhol is a place of acceptance for uniqueness and differences of all kinds. We feel relaxed and at home here. That’s big.” > > Two of the program’s crowd favorites: Artmaking in the museum’s studio, The Factory, and interacting with Warhol’s Silver Clouds. Above right, Dale Johnston tries his hand at silkscreening with help from artist-educator Heather White. > Having Perdziola as an advisor, as well as Jessica Benham–who is autistic, a doctoral student at Pitt, and heavily involved in Pittsburgh disability advocacy as director of public policy at the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy–is important, says Roger Ideishi, associate professor of rehabilitation sciences at Temple University and a national consultant for sensory-friendly programming. He’s partnered with The Smithsonian, the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Warhol, and others. Best practices for sensory-friendly programs within the arts are still emerging, he notes. > > The Warhol is among a growing list of local cultural organizations–Carnegie Science Center, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh–to program specifically with those on the autism spectrum in mind. > > Since 2009, The Warhol has partnered with Wesley Spectrum High School in Whitehall to develop and deliver an intensive in-school art program that helps students on the autism spectrum or with behavioral health issues identify facial expressions, body language, and social cues. The Warhol’s pilot sensory-friendly series, made possible through the support of The Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust, the Allegheny Regional Asset District, and the FISA Foundation in memory of Dr. Mary Margaret Kimmel, is just one part of the museum’s comprehensive accessibility initiative for museum visitors with disabilities. Also available: an inclusive audio guide, tactile art reproductions and signage, and assistive listening devices in The Warhol Theater. > > “What’s great about arts organizations across the country is that they’re recognizing that there’s been a group of people in society who rarely get the opportunities to experience the arts in multiple ways like many of us do–as patrons, as art makers, as art appreciators,” says Ideishi. “The Warhol is really looking closely at how we can capture the strengths of these individuals and help fill wants and needs.” > > What’s success look like? “For the museum, it could be that it’s living and even expanding its mission,” says Ideishi. But he’s the first to note that measuring the outcome may be different for everybody. > > “We hope to see return participants; I think we’d all be happy with that result,” he notes. “At the same time, we could see a family come to a program, stay for only a short time, and think to ourselves, wow, that’s disappointing–only to learn later from the parent that it was the best 20 minutes that family ever spent together > in a public place. So it’s often very individualized, and that’s something organizations need to consider.” > > Where The Warhol is ahead of the curve, he says, is with young adults and adult programming. Benham, who is often asked to advise on programs within Pittsburgh, says The Warhol is a needed leader in this respect. The transition to adulthood for those on the spectrum–in terms of social services, health care, employment, even entertainment–is a growing challenge. > > …As …kids [on the Autism Spectrum] continue to come of age, they’re the next generation of patrons, says Benham. > > Which is precisely the reason she believes occupational therapy students, in addition to museum staff, benefit from spending time immersed in the culture of a population that is part of their clientele. > > “The saying goes, if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic > person,” says Benham. She notes that she had an interesting interaction with one of the occupational therapy students while participating in the program at The Warhol. “It turns out I had one of her family members in a class I teach at Pitt. This interaction gave the student, I hope, a moment to think about the fact that this person who is autistic is just like me, is a graduate student just like me, is human just like me. When people look at me, they often have no idea I’m autistic. There is no one universal physical attribute or singular characteristic for being autistic.” > > Like many of the program’s participants, Benham says, the level of support she may need often depends on the situation and the timing. > > “The Warhol’s staff is learning to interact with all people, and meeting them where they are,” says Perdziola. “And in that, there’s real value.” Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjxlmnWxks0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjxlmnWxks0) (source: [https://www.warhol.org/art-as-an-equalizer/](https://www.warhol.org/art-as-an-equalizer/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 8:37am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1150 "2017-10-02T08:37:27Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the north, _Autism Alliance of Michigan_ is a Southfield, Michigan-based nonprofit whose mission is to lead collaborative efforts across the state that will improve the quality of life for individuals with autism through education, access to comprehensive services, community awareness, inclusion efforts, and coordinated advocacy… > [@](#): > > Ford Motor Co. plans next year to hire an additional 12 to 24 adults with autism, expanding a program with the Autism Alliance of Michigan that has more than 30 other local companies signed on. > > The programs are growing quickly. For the companies, people with autism represent untapped talent, and the jobs mean an opportunity to earn a living for those on the spectrum who have typically been left behind. > > In June, the …automaker launched its pilot program by hiring four adults with autism who have college degrees to work in its product development department at its world headquarters. Those four were on temporary status, but have since been become regular employees at the automaker. Ford originally committed to hiring five employees, but two part-time positions were combined to create one full-time position to accommodate an exemplary candidate. > > “When we started, we wanted to make sure we could do this and do it sustainably,” said Kirstin Queen, manager of diversity and inclusion at Ford. “The program was found to be very successful, and the supervisors have said these individuals brought a new energy that spread to other employees.” > > The challenge of employing an adult with autism, while all are different, usually lies in the realm of social interactions. Employees with autism can lack social skills and social imagination and are often brutally honest, which can come across as rudeness. > > The program was developed with the Autism Alliance of Michigan, a nonprofit founded by Dave Meador, vice chairman and chief administrative officer at DTE Energy Co. Autism Alliance trained Ford staffers how to interact with their new colleagues with autism, including creating direct, concise job functions as well as understanding the employees’ social limitations. > > Ford’s vehicle evaluation and verification test lab participated in the pilot program, and Ford will expand the new hires into information technology and digital innovation departments, Queen said. > > The 60- to 90-day ramp-up process has begun, and the jobs are expected to be filled in January. > > The new positions will require a bachelor’s degree, as did the previous positions. > > Ford receives a federal work opportunity tax credit of $2,400 per adult with autism it hires. That credit, however, does not completely offset the costs of the program, said Colleen Allen, president and CEO of the Autism Alliance. > > Since Ford began its program in June, dozens of other companies have sought similar programs through the Autism Alliance. The organization is working with 38 companies, either on creating programs or are already commencing pilot programs. > > Allen declined to name the other companies as they navigate through their initial pilot programs, but they include 10 banking and finance firms, seven manufacturing companies, three IT companies and others in different industries. > > “The expressed interest has shot through the roof this year,” Allen said. “We’re definitely ahead of the curve nationally.” > > Allen said the only limitation is the organizations’ ability to keep up with demand. Roughly 200 adults with autism are looking to get placed. > > “We’re not in a hurry; we’re not going to just dump someone in an open position,” Allen said. “This is a thoughtful process, and we want to make sure we get it right” to benefit the employee and encourage the company to participate further. > > Autism represents a hefty economic question as more and more of those diagnosed reach working age. It’s imperative that employers in Southeast Michigan, and the U.S., adapt or miss out on a productive population with specialized skills, Allen said. > > Autism’s costs are growing ? estimated at $268 billion annually in the U.S. on treatment and loss of productivity in 2015, rising to $461 billion, or 1 percent of U.S. gross domestic product, by 2025, according to a 2015 study by researchers at the University of California-Davis and the University of Denver. Diabetes and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder are the only diseases that cost more than autism, and neither generally prevents people who have them from working. > > …It’s called a spectrum because the symptoms can range from not understanding nonverbal communication, to lack of empathy, to obsessive-compulsive behavior, to never speaking. Less-severe cases are often called Asperger’s syndrome, but many experts no longer use that term. > > More than half of people diagnosed with autism have average to above-average intelligence, according to a 2014 study. > > Companies are becoming more aware of the benefits of hiring adults with autism, thanks to early adopters like Walgreen Co. > > In 2007, Walgreens opened a distribution center in Anderson, S.C., and piloted a program to employ workers with disabilities – 33 percent of the nearly 300 workers at that time – many of whom had autism. To accommodate workers with autism, managers are instructed to avoid metaphors and use direct instruction and outfit a break room with beanbag chairs and puzzles to calm workers with autism who may feel sensory overload from the loud, often frantic pace of a distribution center, Workforce magazine reported in 2012. > > The Anderson center now employs more than 40 percent with disabilities, and Walgreens opened a similar facility in Connecticut in 2009. > > Allen said Southeast Michigan will be successful when autism hiring expands beyond seeking highly skilled adults with autism and looks to match those in every category with jobs they can do. > > “There’s a perception now that those on the spectrum are these really smart, highly functional people,” Allen said. “Not everyone has three degrees.” Here is a link to a video from the _Autism Alliance of Michigan_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKT7xUmekTc&t=8s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKT7xUmekTc&t=8s) (source: [Ford, others step up autism hiring program | Crain’s Detroit Business](http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20161120/NEWS/161129994/ford-others-step-up-autism-hiring-program)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 7:56am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1151 "2017-10-03T07:56:20Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Ohio. To the north, the _Jack’s Place for Autism Foundation_ is a Southfield, Michigan-based nonprofit dedicated to providing support, education, compassion, and a comprehensive array of services to help families cope with the ‘day to day’ challenges of autism. > [@](#): > > Retired Detroit [Major League Baseball] catcher and current broadcaster Jim Price will be on hand for a charity golf outing Monday in Sterling Heights to benefit a non-profit organization that supports individuals with autism. > > Roger’s Roost sports bar/restaurant is hosting its eighth annual Golf Outing at Maple Lane Golf Course, both in Sterling Heights. > > Proceeds will benefit Jack’s Place for Autism, a foundation created by Jim Price and his wife, Lisa, to provide resources and services for people with autism and families who are impacted by the disorder. > > “We enjoy helping them out and they do a great job,” said Will Funke, a manager at Roger’s Roost, who organizes the outing. “Jim and Lice Price are grateful that we have the event every year. They take time to hang out with the golfers and it’s good thing for the community. It’s a fun day.” > > The Price family established Jack’s Place, a non-profit organization, in 2002 in response to their own experiences with their then-7-year-old son Jack. After the youngster was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the family learned there were few services available and worked to create a vehicle to aid families. > > That includes supportive, educational and referral services, along with community initiatives, grants and scholarships. > > “We constantly seek ways to raise autism awareness,” the Prices said on their website. “Our long-term goal is to create a facility that will provide learning sills, training and long-term living.” > > Jim Price, who was a catcher with the [Detroit Major League Baseball team] when they won the 1968 World Series, and his wife have received support from [various organisations]. > > The golf outing is an annual event for Roger’s Roost, which in the past has supported Toys for Tots and the Michigan Cancer Foundation… > > Monday’s event, which includes a buffet dinner after the outing, has a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The cost is $85 per player at Maple Lane Golf Course, 33203 Maple Lane Drive, Sterling Heights. The cost includes golf, lunch, drink tickets and dinner at Roger’s Roost… Here is a link to a short video from the nonprofit from earlier this year: [Support JACK'S PLACE for Autism Foundation and get something in return! We've put together a catalog of items and plan on expanding our catalog. We've got shirts, pins, bracelets and more. Visit www.jacksplaceforautism.org/store to shop today! | JACK'S PLACE for Autism Foundation](https://www.facebook.com/JacksPlaceForAutismFoundation/videos/vb.380860708698773/1255757697875732/?type=2&theater) (source: [Former Detroit Tiger to attend golf fundraiser for autism support](http://www.macombdaily.com/article/MD/20170818/NEWS/170819593)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:20am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1152 "2017-10-04T08:20:35Z")
The subject of yesterday’s post was the _Jack’s Place for Autism Foundation_, a Southfield, Michigan-based nonprofit dedicated to providing support, education, compassion, and a comprehensive array of services to help families cope with the ‘day to day’ challenges of autism. > [@](#): > > Imagine your job is to tell how many fingers a co-worker is holding up. The fingers change in random order; you need to say out loud how many there are. > > Seems simple enough. > > Now imagine this: air is blasting on the back of your neck and another co-worker occasionally shoves you from behind. Someone waves a strobe light in front of the hand that’s holding up the fingers. And two more co-workers read in your ears: They each read aloud different books at the same time. > > Now how many fingers is your co-worker holding up? > > Jacob Lewkow for Crain Content Studio Detroit > Josh Stokes, right, trains employees at Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn to work alongside individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Stokes, whose presentation is part of an Autism Alliance of Michigan workplace initiative, says he doesn’t want his audience to just hear him: He wants them to experience life with autism, which is why they role-play different scenarios. > This is a scene that Josh Stokes, a 26-year-old individual with autism, recently put to a role-play test at an employer training event led by the Autism Alliance of Michigan. The role-play and event was designed to illustrate some of the workplace challenges - and unique benefits - of individuals with autism. > > Founded in 2009 by Dave Meador of DTE Energy and Steve D’Arcy of PricewaterhouseCoopers, AAoM works to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism through education, access to comprehensive services, community awareness, inclusion efforts and coordinated advocacy. Within that mission is its growing push to impact the state’s unemployment rate and talent gap with an untapped workforce: those with autism. Between 75 and 90 percent of adults with autism are unemployed. > > ?Frequently we hear from businesses that they cannot find reliable employees. We have a talent pool of hundreds of individuals that, by clinical definition, have normal to high intelligence, arrive at work on time, complete tasks efficiently and with attention to detail,? said Colleen Allen, AAoM’s president and CEO. These individuals ?present a business solution with potential of a high return on investment.? > Help for employers > > …50 percent of individuals with autism have normal or above-average intelligence; 12 percent fall in the extremely high IQ range, exceeding the proportion of the typical population. > The mandated federal diversity hiring objective for disability is 7 percent for federal contractors. > Employers receive a $2,400 direct federal tax credit per individual with a disability hired. > Companies typically spend $3,500 to fill an empty position. AAoM’s retention rate is over 96 percent. > 87 percent of Americans say they prefer to give their business to companies that hire individuals with autism, and 92 percent of Americans view companies hiring individuals with autism and related disabilities more favorably than those that do not. > Source: Autism Alliance of Michigan > Expand > A key part of AAoM’s workforce effort happens before the individual with autism ever sets foot in the door. > > As part of the program, supervisors, human resources departments and staff receive training to learn what they can expect from these employees with autism. That training includes a ?What is Autism? presentation by Stokes. > Stokes works full-time as a chef and is studying to be a special education teacher. He was diagnosed at age 7. His presentation is a window to his world and that of others with autism. > > Stokes has given about 40 autism presentations at workplaces throughout metro Detroit. > > ?Individuals with (Autism Spectrum Disorder) are great workers,? Stokes said. ?We have great potential to focus, which makes us incredibly efficient.? > TAPPING INTO UNIQUE TALENTS > Individuals with autism are hired to work in various industries and roles including: > Information technology > Engineering > Marketing > Finance > Business offices > Laborers > Retail > Health > Entertainment > Food > Source: Autism Alliance of Michigan > Expand > There are five things AAoM requests of new employers when hiring an individual with autism: assume they are competent, support their communication needs, be aware of their sensory needs, model appropriate behavior and friendships, and have fun. > > AAoM uses Josh’s presentation to help employers recognize and understand some of the sensory difficulties that some individuals with autism experience. By working with job seekers for many months in advance, AAoM knows these individuals? specific abilities, including frequently a high degree of technical ability, and works with both the individual and the company to best manage them. In addition to social communication struggles, for instance, one core clinical feature of individuals with autism is the need for self-soothing repetitive behavior. A recent individual with autism who was placed in a job was guided to move pennies from hand to hand as a self-soothing mechanism that wouldn’t disrupt co-workers. > > Companies are beginning to recognize the broad range of talents and abilities among individuals with autism and other disabilities. Most companies seek help from this talent pool because of the high levels of unemployment in the group and the fact that a high percentage of individuals with autism have average or above-average intelligence. ?The more big companies do this, the more it becomes the norm and we can really change things,? said Kirstin Queen, manager of diversity and inclusion for Ford. Stokes presented to Ford employees this spring. > Help for employees > > Jesse Sissom > > In addition to its work with the employers, AAoM works with individuals with disabilities to help them prepare to find a job. > > The AAoM database houses about 300 job seekers from Michigan and an additional out-of-state pool of job seekers with disabilities. Jesse Sissom, 32, was one of Michigan’s job seekers on the autism spectrum. Sissom was having a hard time getting through the interview process to find meaningful employment. AAoM helped him prepare for interview questions. > > Sissom secured an interview with Michigan Blood, an independent, nonprofit blood bank that supplies 36 hospitals across Michigan. After AAoM’s coaching, Sissom got the job. > > ?People with autism offer a lot of value to companies,? Sissom said, noting that the position is a good fit for him because of his attention to detail. ?I make sure everything is right because people’s lives depend on it.? > > Attention to detail is just one of the notable strengths an individual with autism brings to the workplace, according to AAoM. Other strengths include visual thinking, systematic information processing, efficiency and disinterest in ?office politics.? > > ?A person who thinks differently is worth more than you can count,? said Tammy Morris, AAoM’s chief program officer… (source: [SPONSOR CONTRIBUTED: At work, with autism - Crain Content Studio](http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170606/custom/629476/work-autism)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:46am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1153 "2017-10-04T08:46:50Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in northwest Ohio. To the north, _Easterseals Michigan_ is an Auburn Hills, Michigan-based nonprofit that provides a wide variety of interventions that help individuals of all abilities, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. _Easterseals Michigan_ offers individualized services implemented by specialized staff for children diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum… > [@](#): > > For Autism Awareness month and beyond, Cassidy Phillips is Easterseals Michigan 2017 Ambassador. Both her extraordinary story and her success as a young adult, will help to illustrate how Easterseals has evolved to meet the needs of the community, with behavioral health programs and services. > > Phillips was born premature. > > She weighed a little more than a pound of butter and was a tad shorter than a dollar bill, as a family photo of her as a preemie shows. Not long after entering the world, her family was told that she had a mental impairment. > > But as she grew, she knew they were wrong. > > “I started to notice things,” said the 19-year-old from Roseville. “I was smarter intellectually, and I talked more than the other kids in my special-needs class.” > > Her mother saw it, too. > > She was told her daughter would never learn, that she would never read or write, but there she was learning all along. Even a friend of the family who had a child with autism questioned the diagnosis, saying maybe it was not a mental impairment but autism. But when Phillips’s mother brought it up at school, her teachers insisted she did not have autism, and who was she to argue? It was early 2000, and parents did not have access to the information available now. So, Phillips carried on, working her way through elementary and middle school, despite her lack of a diagnosis. > > Then she discovered Easterseals. > > Some people associate the organization with the telethon that was once held during Easter weekend (which no longer exists), but for nearly 100 years it has provided comprehensive, emerging and evidence-based treatments for individuals and their families. > > “We offer innovative therapies as well as training, support and education services to create life-changing solutions for those with an autism spectrum disorder …and their families,” said Peggy Goodwin, spokeswoman for Easterseals Michigan. “We are focused on helping them to live, learn, work and play in their communities.” > > Among the services provided is counselling, and it was there that Phillips finally made a connection with someone who could help. “I was still in high school, and I told the counselor, something wasn’t right,” Phillips said. “I told her, ‘I think I have autism and I want to have it looked at.’” > > The counselor agreed, and testing revealed that she did in fact have autism. > > Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by difficulties related to social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication as well as unique strengths and differences. However, challenging it is, Phillips was happy to finally know the truth. > > “I got closure, and I knew I was finally going to get the help I needed,” she said. > > The intensity of the services offered by Easterseals Michigan is based on the individual and family’s needs. Among the programs available to families are home-based interventions, social play groups, parent education and coaching, collaborative consultation with schools, childcare agencies as well as Applied Behavior Analysis …speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. > > “The diagnosis has given her confidence,” said Phillips’s aunt, Vicki Walton …who drove Phillips to the Easterseals Michigan office in Center Line. “She knows who she is now, and she no longer has the limits that they said she would have.” > > “Yeah, there’s no stopping me now,” added Phillips, who is currently attending classes at Macomb Community College. “I was going for my general associate’s degree, but I’m thinking about maybe changing to early childhood education. I love kids, and I used to be a volunteer at my old elementary school.” > > As an Ambassador, Phillips, along with Alex Blauet of Livonia and Jasia Mills of Beverly Hills who were also chosen as 2017 Ambassadors, will attend several fundraising events for Easterseals Michigan… > > “It feels good,” Phillips said of being chosen. She’s looking forward to the events but also in telling more people about her journey, so that they too, can move on with confidence. > > “Even though she was misdiagnosed and had major challenges as a child, she is blossoming as a young adult, and there are many out there who will be encouraged by her story,” Goodwin said… Here is a link to a video from _Easter Seals Michigan_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPBwRMMS3\_g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPBwRMMS3_g) (source: [MCC student with extraordinary story chosen as Easterseals Michigan Ambassador for Autism Awareness Month](http://www.macombdaily.com/article/MD/20170414/NEWS/170419697)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 8:47am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1154 "2017-10-05T08:47:05Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the south, _Pathways_ is a Boyd County, Kentucky-based nonprofit that has proudly served as a community-based centre for individuals with various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. _Pathways’_ mission is to deliver exceptional services in a caring, professional manner… > [@](#): > > Pathways has extended its community outreach in a big way by providing services for families facing autism. > > Lena Harmon, central director for the company’s Kentucky Impact Youth Council, said these services can save families the trouble of being added to long queue lines in Cincinnati and Louisville. > > Harmon said she has heard some families testify having to wait up to 12 months for appointments in faraway cities. > > Mia Moore, mother of Mickey Moore, 7, said, “It’s about time” for these services to come to the area. > > Her son has been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism, for three years. > > Mrs. Moore and her husband, Dale Moore, formerly had to travel to Southern Ohio for their son’s appointments. > > Now, the family is happy Pathways can offer them a simpler and more convenient solution. > > Harmon said services will include comprehensive assessments in determining autism in children and tracking their progress. > > These assessments include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychological evaluations. > > Since these services are fairly new for Pathways, they are being currently being offered at their Landsdowne Drive location in Ashland. > > The company hosted an open house event on Wednesday to help boost community awareness of the program and physically open its doors to families curious about services. > > Currently, the program has a physical and occupational therapy room full of toys, artwork by Pathways consumers and a room for speech therapy. Each are about the size of a typical doctor’s office, but Harmon expects expansion to quickly push them onto their own site. > > Though autistic treatment is not typically associated with Pathways …the new autistic services meet its standard for helping those with developmental disabilities. > > Pathways will host more events in its continued effort to shed light on its new endeavors in treating those with autism. > > …Also, on May 3 Pathways will host a basketball camp for kids with autism. > > …Kids must be registered in advance for the camp before April 28… Here is a link to a video: [4.9K views · 49 reactions | April is Autism Awareness Month! | Pathways Inc.](https://www.facebook.com/pathwaysky/videos/1265931606809534/) (source: [Pathways begins autism services | Local News | dailyindependent.com](http://www.dailyindependent.com/news/local_news/pathways-begins-autism-services/article_dbced01a-2693-587b-b106-fd7532fc65d4.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 5:57am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1155 "2017-10-06T05:57:59Z")
subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the south, _Bluegrass Center for Autism_ (_BCA_) is a Louisville, Kentucky-based non-profit which provides individualized 1:1 ratio programming, including for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the local area. _BCA_’s unparalleled approach to therapy attempts to develop the learning tools and skills that children need by the time they reach adulthood… > [@](#): > > The playground is a childhood staple; one that the Bluegrass Center for Autism wants to make sure their students aren’t missing out on. They just debuted a playground that is designed with kids needs in mind. > Five-year-old Chase Crawford is a very active little boy. > “We named him Chase before we knew all this and we say we named him appropriately,” said Chase’s mom, Shannon Crawford. > As he runs around this playground, he’s doing more than just burning off his extra energy. > “He is non-verbal, he communicates with pictures, so I think the playground is a way for him to come out and express himself,” said Crawford. > This state of the art playground is a new addition to the Bluegrass Center for Autism. Chase is one of about 50 kids served by the center that caters to kids on the spectrum through one on one help. What started as a small group …continues to grow as more and more children are diagnosed with the disorder. > “We’re just seeing hand over fist phone calls, people calling wanting to get on our waiting list,” said Executive Director, Paul Kichler. > While the center has always had a place for kids to play, it didn’t always serve its students needs. > “We had some learners who struggled [with] working and playing with some of the items,” said Kichler. > The new playground is designed with kids needs in mind from the ground up. There’s poured rubber flooring that helps students who might struggle with balance. A swing that latches kids in makes sure kids are safe while they’re playing. While the equipment is similar to that on a typical playground, it also has sensory elements and fosters social interaction, things that can be difficult for some kids on the spectrum. This type of therapy allows students to live up to their full potential. > “We have seen just light-years of improvement since my son started,” said Crawford. > BCA is a non profit and relies on donations. The new play place was made possible thanks to the DREAM Foundation and a handful of other community organizations including Kosair Charities, Park Community Federal Credit Union, the City of Jeffersontown, Louisville Metro Council, Koch Charitable Trust, and the Mildred Horn Foundation > In the week since the playground’s been open, parents and teachers are already seeing a huge difference. > “The bottom line is that our children are benefiting from it. So we have kids of all ability levels that can enjoy it and have time to get outside and play,” said Kichler. > The playground will be formally dedicated later this month… Here is a link to a video: [BCA](https://vimeo.com/86143965) (source: [Inclusive playground opens at Bluegrass Center for Autism - WDRB 41 Louisville News](http://www.wdrb.com/story/32949033/inclusive-playground-opens-at-bluegrass-center-for-autism)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 5:45am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1156 "2017-10-07T05:45:19Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the south, _Families for Effective Autism Treatment_ (_FEAT_) of _Louisville_ is a Louisville, Kentucky-based nonprofit that actively supports and funds autism programs for the entire family. Much of the nonprofit’s work is done by volunteers to assist in growing its support programs and services… > [@](#): > > On Saturday, June 4, [the home of the Kentucky Derby] will support a race of another kind – one with kids and adults instead of thoroughbreds, and it’s a race that supports a very important cause. The legendary racetrack is supporting the 11th annual Outrunning Autism 5K & Fun Walk put on by Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) of Louisville. > The race, which is still open to runners and walkers, will take place at the Parklands of Floyds Fork and begin at 9 a.m. Along with the 5K, there also will be a Vendor’s Village and Kid’s Zone featuring bounce houses, face painting, balloons, music and much more. > “[The racecourse] is such an integral part of our community, and to have their support in raising autism awareness is huge,” says FEAT executive director Deborah Morton in press release. “We anticipate record numbers in attendance.” > > Morton says her goal is to have 1,500 participants in Saturday’s race. > The respect is mutual, as Lauren DePaso, director of community relations for [the racecourse], says they wanted to partner with the organization because of its drive to support families affected by autism. > “By providing creative programs, FEAT’s dedicated staff and community network act as a beacon of encouragement to our city, and we are thrilled to be a small part of their success,” she says. > While early registration is over, you can join the race the day of for $40. Pre-registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Here is a link to a video: [FEAT of Louisville - Autism Awareness Video](https://vimeo.com/50331795) (source: [https://insiderlouisville.com/lifestyle\_culture/churchill-downs-partners-with-feat-for-annual-outrunning-autism-5k-fun-walk/](https://insiderlouisville.com/lifestyle_culture/churchill-downs-partners-with-feat-for-annual-outrunning-autism-5k-fun-walk/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 8:33am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1157 "2017-10-08T08:33:41Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the south is the _University of Louiseville_’s _Autism Center_ at the _Kosair Charities Center_… > [@](#): > > The UofL Autism Center hosted its annual Camp Discovery at the end of July, supported by the Woman’s Club of Louisville! This weeklong camp helps children with autism spectrum disorder discover new friends through fun, educational, and therapeutic activities and typical peers. Camp Discovery’s daily schedule incorporated activities including exercise, play, group socialization, and educational elements to provide a great experience for the campers and their typical peer friends. > Each day featured a theme and special activity. On Monday, the Louisville Science Center helped the kids conduct experiments. Water Day was next with a blow up slip and slide and fun in the sun. Wednesday, the campers rode the train and we had special visits from the Louisville Metro Police Department and the Louisville Fire Department for Transportation Day. > > …The week culminated with Friday’s carnival where families joined in the activities… Here is a link to a video: [https://www.facebook.com/uoflautism/videos/vb.1651122781810089/1928115137444184/?type=2&theater](https://www.facebook.com/uoflautism/videos/vb.1651122781810089/1928115137444184/?type=2&theater) (source: [Object moved](http://www.fundforuofl.org/s/1157/site2014/indexFund.aspx?sid=1157&gid=1&pgid=4587&cid=7718&ecid=7718&crid=0&calpgid=2318&calcid=4152)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 8:33am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1158 "2017-10-09T08:33:40Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. _Community Living in Kentucky, LLC_ (_CLiK_)'s is a Warren County, Kentucky-based nonprofit whose mission is to work collaboratively with participants, family members, friends and community partners in offering individualized supports tailored to each person’s unique needs with the goal of empowering them to make informed choices regarding life decisions, establish and maintain natural supports, and develop competencies that promote inclusion in the life of their community. The nonprofit’s vision is for all participants to be treated with dignity, value, and respect; to support each participant to live life to its greatest potential and be fully participating members of his or her community… > [@](#): > > …Community Living in Kentucky, or CLiK, aims to give parents [of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders] access to services for their children more quickly. > > The Paducah CliK clinic has been around six years, but only recently has the location offered its applied behavior analysis …services. > > According to the clinic director, Sarah Smith, [Applied Behaviour Analysis] is the leading treatment for autism. > > “[Applied Behaviour Analysis] is a research-based approach,” Smith said. “Evidence has shown it is the most effective treatment for autism. It’s a systematic approach to changing behaviors, shaping the non-preferred behaviors to more socially appropriate behaviours.” > > …“Children are being diagnosed more and more, so it’s just more of a need than ever,” Dail said. > > She attributed the increase to better detection and a change in diagnosis criteria over the years. > > Many families seeking treatment have to rely on what’s called the Michelle P. Waiver, which is a program connected with Kentucky Medicaid to help families afford services. > > However, only 10,000 slots are available, and families could be waiting as long as four years for their children to be assessed. > > “We know with autism, early intervention is most important,” Dail said. “Most children are being diagnosed between 2 and 3. Then to have a three or four year wait to get on a waiver, that’s years of progress they could have accessed.” > > Dail said CLiK has found a way to help families access care through insurance, opening a door to get services without being on a waiting list. > > “[Applied Behaviour Analysis] therapy is very expensive if you pay out of pocket, especially if you’re talking about 20 or 30 hours per week,” Dail said. > > The Paducah clinic is one of 12 in the state, the next closest one being in Murray. Since the [Applied Behaviour Analysis] program is so new in the area, there are 10 ABA clients so far, which Smith said was good news for parents in the region. > > “That’s something about us being new in this,” Smith said. “Right now, the waiting time is much shorter than it is typically to get started in [Applied Behaviour Analysis] services.” > > Dail said if a family goes to CLiK today, the waiting time would typically be about four to six weeks to begin services. > > There isn’t a cap as far as the number of children who can be accepted. Dail said some of the clinics across the state see 30 children. Some of those services are provided at home, but most are at the clinic… > > They service about 470 clients throughout the state. > > Both Dail and Smith are excited about their growing [Applied Behaviour Analysis] program. > > “It’s very hard for families,” Smith said. “They want to do everything that they can and help their child the best way possible. [Applied Behaviour Analysis] is huge. It’s a wonderful treatment, and we want it to be easier for families to access it.” > > Families can get more information about CLiK’s services by visiting [clikgroup.com](http://clikgroup.com). Here is a link to a video: [A great kickoff to Autism Awareness Month! CLiK will be lighting it up blue all month long! | Community Living in KY: CLiK](https://www.facebook.com/ClikGroup/videos/vb.183656531776281/949529245189002/?type=2&theater) (source: [Paducah clinic offers autism services -](http://earlyautismproject.com/news/paducah-clinic-offers-autism-services/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 6:59am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1159 "2017-10-10T06:59:22Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. To the south, the _Klingberg Neurodevelopmental Center_ is a Morgantown, West Virginia-based nonprofit that helps children who are having difficulties in the areas of development. It offers multi-disciplinary diagnostic evaluations for children displaying difficulties in the areas of development… > [@](#): > > We homeschooled our first two children in Maryland and things were going along well. But about the time that our second child was entering kindergarten, we became concerned that something wasn’t quite right with our toddler. At 2 1/2, he wasn’t talking, only grunting and pointing. He acted like he couldn’t hear us, so we suspected a hearing issue; but there were other oddities as well. Although we didn’t know what was happening, we were pretty sure he wasn’t developing like the other two had. > > A trip to the pediatrician was not helpful. In fact, we saw several doctors who all told us that nothing was wrong; he was just a late talker. Our gut feeling, however, was that something was wrong. We prevailed in getting his hearing tested, but because of some behavioral issues, we ended up having to go to Johns Hopkins for the hearing test. The results came back perfectly normal, and again, we were told that he was just a late talker and not to worry. > > I believe it was providential that I heard of Thomas Sowell’s book, Late Talking Children. I bought and [read it] …It became clear that this book was not describing our son. Late talking children can still follow instructions, but our Josh didn’t even seem to comprehend what we were saying. About this time we had to move to West Virginia for my husband’s job. Although we didn’t get any better answers from the pediatricians here, my insistence yielded a referral for speech therapy. It was the speech therapist who first realized that yes, there was a problem. By this time, that was not surprising to me. > > The speech therapist referred us to the Klingberg Center in Morgantown where they do multi-disciplinary child development assessments. The specialists at the Klingberg Center diagnosed Josh with autism – with one of the highest scores they had yet seen. > > An immediate referral was made to the Birth to Three Program. Since Josh was nearly three already, those services did not last long. After Josh turned three, strong pressure began to put him in public school for services. But we did not want to send our children to public school! I was tired and upset, and neither of our parents was supportive. One denied the diagnosis entirely and the other told me to put the older children in school so we could attend to the child who needed us more. While it had been a long journey just to find out what was wrong, we soon realized that we had more obstacles ahead. How were we to get Josh proper treatment when I didn’t have a college degree or any training with special needs? I felt totally inadequate, yet my husband offered [a] loving counsel > > …The doctor at the Klingberg Center was hesitant about homeschooling, but he was willing to assist and see how it went. At the time there was a special needs home program through Rutgers University, but the expense was astronomical. I was able to go visit the families involved in that program, and I began reading their recommended material. I stopped homeschooling the older two for two months while I immersed myself in my own education. Josh had been diagnosed in November. By January I had designed my own intervention home program for him. > > A doctorate student agreed to advise me. She was learning about autism at the same time I was – which was a blessing for us. As she studied in WVU’s doctoral program, she was willing to share her growing knowledge with me and use our family as a ‘put it into practice’ opportunity. Josh’s therapy program was 25 hours of one-on-one work every week. We hired college students, trained them in the program, and then had them ‘teach’ Josh 10 hours per week – which was the most we could afford. I performed the remaining 15 hours. The doctorate student (who would later become a practitioner in the Klingberg Center) advised us as I kept detailed records of what was being done and how Josh responded. > > It was intense and constant for well over a year. But when Josh was about 4 1/2, the original doctor from Klingberg told us that we should keep doing whatever we were doing because Josh was considered ‘recovered!’ This was music to my ears from the doctor who had been reticent about a home program and fairly insistent that only public school professionals could treat Josh! A clear diagnosis requires a 25% receptive and expressive language deficit, a 25% social deficit, and certain other associated behaviors. Josh’s percentage was now well below that on each scale! This was huge since Josh had had one of the highest autistic scores ever given at the Klingberg Center when he was diagnosed! And even though persons with autism are never fully healed, we were ready to go into a regular kindergarten homeschool program with only accommodations. I continued to give Josh special attention – his homeschooling was never as easy as ‘regular homeschooling.’ > > Was it hard on the older children? Yes. It was difficult for all of us. My older son particularly had a hard time when attention was diverted from him. But the older two both became a part of Josh’s therapy out of pure necessity. If I was schooling one, the other had to interact with Josh. This proved to be a positive experience for them. Although my oldest was able to read a book to understand Josh’s needs better, they both had to learn that Josh loved them despite the fact that he wouldn’t hug, touch, or communicate with them. It took years to adjust, but it’s been a wonderful learning experience for all of us. My older children are much more patient and compassionate than they would have been had our family life been easier. > > Six years after Josh was born, we welcomed a new baby girl into our family. It was with mixed feelings that I started noticing similar problems with her. By the time we knew she had Asperger’s, I had already learned that God would providentially provide just what we needed! > > So what advice would I give parents of special needs children? Trust your instincts! When you feel something isn’t quite right, be persistent. > > …Side note from Lisa: > > While many in homeschooling circles wish to avoid labeling special needs children, it is still extremely important to have them evaluated by professionals to find out where their difficulties lie. As parents, we need to know how to help them learn efficiently. > > This needn’t single out one child if we’re cautious. For instance, as long as we can address their issues, it’s not necessary to call our children autistic, learning impaired, etc? Their therapy can be called ‘school.’ Our annual assessment can be the same for all our children so as not to single out our special child. But having the diagnosis still paves the way for understanding and helping our children to learn. > > For our family, we called Joshua’s therapy ‘school.’ We never referred to it as therapy. We also tested all of our children with standardized tests, albeit we arranged one on one testing for Joshua. But since we needed to turn in a portfolio review for Joshua, we did portfolio reviews for the other children also. As much as we could, we treated our children equally. Nevertheless, getting Josh diagnosed was essential for his educational success! (source: [301 Moved Permanently](http://www.unitedwaytoledo.org/sites/unitedwaytoledo.org/files/2010_6__Oct_Nov_FINfacts.pdf)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 8:24am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/1160 "2017-10-11T08:24:35Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Ohio. The _Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism_ is a Cleveland, Ohio-based nonprofit where therapists provide individual, classroom, home and school consultation. The _Center_ has also launched the Cleveland Clinic Autism Consulting Group to help other organizations incorporate the Center’s treatment practices… > [@](#): > > …Eighty students at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism’s new Lerner School no longer have to worry about …distractions. They have a school built entirely for them and designed around their needs. > > The 21,000-square-foot facility, a wing on the Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation …is the new home for the center, which had been outgrowing its cramped quarters in the hospital since 1999. > > All that space makes room for 20 more students as well, said Leslie Sinclair, the program’s director. > > And 20 more children means about 20 more teachers, because the school maintains close to a one-to-one student-teacher ratio. The school uses a method known as applied behavioral analysis, which emphasizes intensive one-on-one interaction and group work to analyze and change behavior. > > Sinclair, who has been working with autistic children for 28 years, said the center is a leap ahead for autistic children in Northeast Ohio. > > “It’s really a whole quantum leap in how we think about children with autism and people with autism,” she said. “It is very emotional to see that the world is embracing that our children are capable learners and that, indeed, they deserve the opportunity to be educated in a place that they can benefit from.” > > Construction began on the $8.3 million project in May 2006. The school was funded largely by gifts from Norma Lerner and Mort and Iris November. > > Some of the features at the Clinic’s new school: > > - Covered mirrors. Some children with autism fixate on their image in a mirror, so all the bathrooms have a swinging cover over the mirror to help kids focus on washing hands. > > - Teaching bathrooms. Many autistic toddlers and children have trouble learning to potty train, so the bathrooms are large enough to move a table and chairs in and have lessons close enough to the toilet to prevent accidents. > > - No patterns. The floors are monochromatic and patternless, and each room has only one wall with a single color accent. “What that does is keep them from looking at patterns and instead gives them the opportunity to look at people, and that’s what we’re really after,” Sinclair said. > > - Media room. A room for parents to come and be able to observe their children over a videoscreen for a couple of hours at a time each month without disturbing their progress. > > - Activities of daily living. For older students (there are students up to age 24 at the center), there is a room equipped like an apartment to teach all the things they need to know to live on their own, down to how to make their own bed. Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoWaioQnFQI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoWaioQnFQI) (source: [Autistic students at Cleveland Clinic center move into new Lerner School | cleveland.com](http://blog.cleveland.com/medical/2008/05/autistic_students_at_cleveland.html)) [Previous page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=57) [Next page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=59)