The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

Individuals with ASD need to be at the apex of transition planning, however, a significant factor involves parent perspectives. How are needs being defined and how much of that definition involves parent desires? This session will focus on discerning when it may be time to try and let go. Transition begins when your child orders their first Happy Meal and ends not with independence, but when they learn to depend upon others. In this training, participants will learn strategies to help them try, fail, regroup and maximize independence while remaining interdependent with others.  Verbal prompting fosters dependence and denies the child the capacity to try new skills.  Presenters will share how parents can be assess whether or not a child is equipped with the skills they need to transition to adulthood.  With decades of experience supporting families, presenters understand how to share information that is necessary to help individuals with ASD become more independent adults, but better understanding who to ask for help.  With experience comes confidence and ultimate success, for however that is defined for the individual, not the parent.  Whether transitioning into middle school, out of high school or out of the home environment, parents must create effective transition strategies to best meet the evolving needs of their student.  The seasons of child to adult development will be explored and small, doable tasks will be shared, offering parents the opportunity to asses where they may need to let go and when they need to lean in.  The “dignity of failure” and the gift of resilience ultimately produce the confidence necessary to move forward.  For parents with children who experience life through the lens of autism and possibly, co-occurring issues, it can be depleting. But even in this early stage, we can help children using some fairly simple strategies. Know that there are no failures—only ineffective systems, so painfully, it takes some trial and error to use a system and ascertain if it’s workable, but it can be done.

• Participants will learn how to anticipate the tasks necessary to expedite transition to adulthood, while fading micromanagement and transitioning to third parties where possible.
• Participants will learn some hands on strategies that can start in elementary school and expand into adulthood.
• Participants will better understand the changes that occur when a student transitions from high school to college.

Dena Gassner has worked to support families gain access to necessary services through the lifespan, while Rebecca Hansen specializes in supporting families in the journey into, through and out of the university setting.

Learning Objectives: