Life After High School

I have been so busy lately that my blog as been neglected.  I do miss it, but my post this month of Hopeful Parents will explain why.


I so enjoy being a monthly contributor to Hopeful Parents.  The depth of talent of my fellow writers is truly awesome.  Each entry is a unique expression, and the moving stories I read each and every day never cease to impress upon me how fortunate I am to be included with such an amazing group of writers.  Christina Shaver is our founder, and she has done an amazing job creating this wonderful site.  I'm sure everyone the entire Hopeful Parents community feels the same

I'm well aware of the challenges faced by our young adults on the spectrum.  An overwhelming majority do not transition into to happy, successful, and productive members of their communities.  Many are not employed, do not live independently, and do not have a network of close friends and personal relationships.  This is true across the board, no matter what the family's economic status or the quality or the amount of support services that they have received throughout their lives.  

There is a limited amount of research in this area, but the results of these studies are consistent:  many young adults with autism are living unhappy lives isolated from peers lacking meaningful employment that allows them to live independently.  As a parent of a 17 year old with high function autism (a term a really dislike because it tells you nothing about the functioning leave of my son, but I use it for lack of a better word), this fact scares me beyond belief each and every time I think about it.

I  hope that Jacob will find the same opportunity in his life, to secure a job that combines his passions and his abilities as well as serving his community in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling.

Time will tell, but I'm a hopeful parent that he will. 


Comments

  1. Hello Susan,
    Congratulations, CIP sounds wonderful. I am a mother of a thirty-eight year old autistic son. We were told by all the professionals that he would never be able to live alone. They were wrong! Brandon has been living alone for the past 13 years enjoying his independence. I live in the Los Angeles area and so does Brandon. I would love to get involved with CIP. I am a motivational speaker, independent living coach, and author, but best of all I have two adult sons. Please visit my website at http://www.amaliastarr.com I look forward to hearing from you.

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  2. Congratulations Susan, we really have to meet up soon!

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  3. Congratulations on your new position. I am sure CIP will be well received in Long Beach. I have sent you a resume for your consideration and I wish you continued success. D Rene' Norris

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  4. Wow, this is great. I am the mother of a 14 year old diagnosed with Asperger's. We are hopeful he will be able to attend a program such as the one you are building. I look forward to hear more as the program progresses.

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  5. Mazel Tov!

    Could this program possibly provide literacy interventions for math/music/science-smart students who remain functionally illiterate due to language disability? Something like a Kelter Center model?

    Thanks,

    Mom to brilliant but functionally illiterate teen Autist.

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  6. Whitman: Jacob went to the Kelter Center (paid for by his Granddad) for a year & it addressed his reading comprehension issues where he is now at grade level. I don't think CIP could match their level of instruction. But for your teen, perhaps we could incorporate an outside company, like Kelter, as part of his/her schedule if he/she was enrolled in CIP. Feel free to shoot me an email at slevy@ciplongbeach.org. Best of luck to you - I know how challenging being a Mom can be.

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  7. Hi Susan,

    Thanks for the reply. I will write you at slevy@ciplongbeach.org.

    Whitman

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