Transition to Adulthood Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 Bucks County Community College Gilian Lally Cunningham, M.S.,Ed, BCBA Karen Kaplinski, Ph.D, BCBA

Statistics

Statistics

Employability Two completely different tasks involvedTwo completely different tasks involved Get a jobGet a job ApplicationApplication InterviewingInterviewing Decision making – Is this a good job for me?Decision making – Is this a good job for me? Keep a jobKeep a job The harder of the twoThe harder of the two Actual job tasks may be fineActual job tasks may be fine Social navigation can be problematicSocial navigation can be problematic

Core skills needed Work dutiesWork duties Do they have the skills to actually perform the job?Do they have the skills to actually perform the job? Supports available?Supports available? Social NavigationSocial Navigation Office politicsOffice politics Reading social cuesReading social cues Understanding boundariesUnderstanding boundaries Appropriate interactionsAppropriate interactions

Higher education Greater percentage of individual with disabilities are attending colleges and universities than ever before. (Farrell, 2004; Smith, 2007)Greater percentage of individual with disabilities are attending colleges and universities than ever before. (Farrell, 2004; Smith, 2007) Disability services are availableDisability services are available Academic supports (extended exam time, etc.)Academic supports (extended exam time, etc.) What about the social aspect?What about the social aspect? What about choosing courses? Navigating challenges with in those courses?What about choosing courses? Navigating challenges with in those courses?

Higher education Supporting students with AS:Supporting students with AS: Academic advisersAcademic advisers Students do not often ask for help outside of their accommodationsStudents do not often ask for help outside of their accommodations Academic advisers can serve as point personAcademic advisers can serve as point person Topics:Topics: Selecting coursesSelecting courses Selecting a majorSelecting a major Classroom etiquetteClassroom etiquette TestingTesting Meeting with professorsMeeting with professors Time managementTime management (Hughes, J.L., 2010)(Hughes, J.L., 2010)

BCCC Transition to Adulthood Seminar Launched in Fall 2009Launched in Fall 2009 Based on model developed by the University of PennsylvaniaBased on model developed by the University of Pennsylvania Designed for students diagnosed with Aspergers SyndromeDesigned for students diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome Offered through Continuing EducationOffered through Continuing Education 1 credit course1 credit course Runs for 8 weeksRuns for 8 weeks

BCCC Transition to Adulthood Seminar Students are paired with peer mentorsStudents are paired with peer mentors Students enrolled at the collegeStudents enrolled at the college Age and gender matched as much as possibleAge and gender matched as much as possible Paired for the semesterPaired for the semester FormatFormat Lecture presentationLecture presentation Group work/discussion/activitiesGroup work/discussion/activities Activities with peer mentorActivities with peer mentor WebsiteWebsite

BCCC Transition to Adulthood Seminar ActivitiesActivities Speed conversationsSpeed conversations Round robin formatRound robin format Switch partner every 3 minutesSwitch partner every 3 minutes Goals:Goals: Maintain topicMaintain topic Process and adjust topics according to conversational partners responsesProcess and adjust topics according to conversational partners responses Read verbal and nonverbal cues during the interactionRead verbal and nonverbal cues during the interaction Interest/disinterestInterest/disinterest

BCCC Transition to Adulthood Seminar Activities (cont)Activities (cont) Group problem solvingGroup problem solving Navigating troubling social situationsNavigating troubling social situations Solution developmentSolution development Weekly goal settingWeekly goal setting Develop goal with peer mentorDevelop goal with peer mentor Review outcome with peer mentor at beginning of class.Review outcome with peer mentor at beginning of class. Community OutingsCommunity Outings MallMall Social navigationSocial navigation Employment seeking supportEmployment seeking support

BCCC Transition to Adulthood Seminar Activities (cont)Activities (cont) Friendship continuumFriendship continuum Acquaintance/Friend/Best Friend/DatingAcquaintance/Friend/Best Friend/Dating Very challenging and subtle discriminations Very challenging and subtle discriminations Dictate social interactionsDictate social interactions Verbal behaviorVerbal behavior Nonverbal behaviorNonverbal behavior

Friendship continuum Acquaintance/C olleague FriendBest FriendDating

Future directions Expand role of academic advisors at local collegesExpand role of academic advisors at local colleges Focus on core skills needed to navigate college and the workplace – not just academic accommodationsFocus on core skills needed to navigate college and the workplace – not just academic accommodations Development of peer social opportunities/support groups.Development of peer social opportunities/support groups. Workplace supportsWorkplace supports

Contact information Karen Kaplinski, Ph.D., BCBA Kaplinski, Ph.D., BCBA Gilian Cunningham, M.S., Ed., BCBA Cunningham, M.S., Ed., BCBA List of resources available upon requestList of resources available upon request