Question:

Hi Ms Harvell,

My name is Marnie and I teach a high school special day class for students with learning disabilities. My students have various disabilities and a number of my students are on the Autism Spectrum. Some of my students will be able to attend community college, go to trade schools or go to work after high school. I have placed much of my curriculum focus on academics with little emphasis on life after high school. However, I realize my resources are limited when it comes to information for students on the Autism Spectrum and preparing them for secondary/post-secondary options. What is out there for this group? Thanks for any resources you can offer.

Answer:

Hi Marnie,

Thank you for your question. There are several resources available to you for planning purposes. Remember, any student in special education, must have an IEP that addresses Transition in the areas of instruction, community experiences, related services, development of employment/other post-secondary activities, and if appropriate, daily living and a functional vocational assessment. The California Department of Education provides a document titled, Transition to Adult Living: An Information and Resource Guide (revised 2007 edition). This document offers detailed information on IDEA 2004 and Transition requirements. To view these documents go to http://www.calstat.org/transitionGuide.html. To request a hard copy of the guide, fax (707-206-9176) or e-mail Donna Lee at donna.lee@calstat.org.

As for resources on secondary students on the Autism Spectrum, there are some available. In my research for a future training titled Transition and Students on the Spectrum (available Fall 2007), I discovered several that may be of interest to you. Review the following books published by Future Horizon’s at https://www.fhautism.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?search=action&category=BK17&keywords=all:

• Preparing for Life: The Complete Handbook for Transitioning to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
• The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond
• Autism-Asperger's and Sexuality - Puberty and Beyond
• Teenagers with ADD and ADHD - A Guide for Parents and Professionals
• Developing Talents
• Freaks, Geeks, and Asperger Syndrome
• Autism-Asperger’s & Sexuality: Puberty and Beyond
• Asperger’s Syndrome and Adolescence (find at https://www.fhautism.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=BK021-931412-69-3&reference=/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi%3Fsearch%3Daction%26keywords%3Dall%26searchstart%3D0%26template%3DPDGTemplates/FullNav/SearchResult.html%26category%3DBK02)
• Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Diagnosis, Options, and Answers (find at https://www.fhautism.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=BK19-1-932565-00-0&reference=/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi%3Fsearch%3Daction%26keywords%3Dall%26searchstart%3D0%26template%3DPDGTemplates/FullNav/SearchResult.html%26category%3DBK19)

There are several additional resources located at the Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding. Peruse http://www.thegraycenter.org/shop/index.cfm?Action=ViewCategory&Category=6 for resources specifically focused on adolescents and adults on the Autism Spectrum.

I hope these resources offer suggestions for your program planning.

Disclaimer: The resources provided on this page are for the reader’s perusal and not as an endorsement to purchase any products.