Preparing for Life: The Complete Guide for Transitioning to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome

by Jed Baker; paperback 357 pages; ISBN-10: 9781932565331

A comprehensive resource for students on the autism spectrum preparing for life after high school, best-selling author/counselor Dr. Jed Baker offers "life skills training" on subjects such as non-verbal cues, body language, dealing with anger, frustration and anxiety, as well as building and maintaining friendships, roommates, and intimate relationships. He focuses on conversational and employment skills, ways to balance work/school with family demands, and problematic areas such as finances, emergencies and transportation matters. The assessment tools he provides for parents and the analysis of the laws that provide accommodations to adults with disabilities are critical for success in life after high school.

Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome: A Parent's Guide to Student Success

by Ann Palmer; paperback 176 pages; ISBN-10: 1843108011

Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome is both a practical and a personal account of one ASD student's successful experience of going to college. This accessible book focuses on how to get there and stay there: deciding to go, how to get in and how to get the most out of it. Ann Palmer advises parents and professionals how to prepare the student for the transition from school and home life to a new environment and educational challenge, and how to support them through potential problems such as academic pressure, living away from home, social integration and appropriate levels of participation in college. She offers helpful strategies that will encourage and inspire parents and students and show that college can be a suitable option for students with an autism spectrum disorder, as well as the basis for a successful independent life later. This book is essential reading for any parent considering college as an option for their child, disability service providers in colleges and for ASD students themselves.

The Autism Transition Guide: Planning the Journey from School to Adult Life (Topics in Autism)

by Carolyn T. Bruey, Psy.D. and Mary Beth Urban, M.Ed.; paperback 152 pages; ISBN-10: 189062781X

The authors of The Autism Transition Guide know how overwhelming it can be for parents of students on the autism spectrum to think about what will happen when their son or daughter graduates from high school and leaves the familiar supports of special education behind. That's why Bruey and Urban wrote this practical guide to transition planning--a road map for families, educators, counselors, and transition specialists to navigating this crucial, sometimes tricky journey from high school to adult life. The Transition Portfolio Planning Tool, a detailed template, is designed to help put plans into action and keep everyone moving forward. Use this form to track what needs to be done to reach transition goals in a variety of areas, including employment, education, and communication, social, and daily living skills.