Apr 11th 11 Posted by Barbara

PBS “Autism Today” Series to air soon

“…what is going to happen when a huge cohort of American teenagers with autism reach 21. And that will happen over the next few years. One person described it as a freight train about to run into the social services system. When you reach 21, the federal mandate for free education for disabilities ends. And there are very few services. So some people have described it as they’re... read more

Dec 3rd 10 Posted by Barbara

Poppin Joe’s Kettle Korn – an Autism Job Success Story

Joe Steffy is a nonverbal young man with Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. In 2000 his family began exploring the concept of Poppin Joe’s Kettle Korn as an opportunity for Joe to operate and manage his own business after coming across kettle korn on a trip to Alaska and thinking all that popping, scooping, and serving was right up Joe’s alley. According to an article by Nancy... read more

Nov 23rd 10 Posted by Barbara

What Works for Walgreens – an Autism Business Model

It was worry over his son Austin’s future that motivated Walgreens senior vice president of supply chain and logistics Randy Lewis to create a way to give new job opportunities to people with disabilities. Austin has autism. It was 2002 and Walgreens was developing a foundation of new systems, machines, and processes to apply to its distribution centers. The new center in Anderson, South Carolina... read more

Sep 10th 10 Posted by Barbara

Apostrophe Magazine – An Autism Resource

Apostrophe is  a quarterly magazine for people with disabilities “who are overcoming apostrophes in their lives.” Editor Jim Tracy writes, “When people shift the way they talk about things, they shift their feelings about those things. Forget can’t and don’t. We can and do.” If you thumb through the latest issue of Apostrophe, published by A.W.A.R.E. Inc., you’ll... read more

Jul 23rd 10 Posted by Barbara

Adult Autism & Employment – a guide and a conference from MU

Although the University of Missouri’s Disability Policy & Studies office doesn’t provide direct services to persons with disabilities, its many projects provide advice, training, and support to agencies and groups that do. Mostly they provide advice and continuing education to counselors and service providers at agencies in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, but thanks to a new... read more

Mar 10th 10 Posted by Barbara

My Quest for a Job – An Asperger’s Job Story

“For now, my life is a 4-ton cross on my back, and I’m crucified to it. I am an autistic individual, and I consider myself between PDD-NOS and Aspergers Syndrome – right of the upper reaches of the dreaded spectrum. I with the mysterious disorder have interests that impede me from “proper living,” a normal life which neurotypical individuals (NTs) prefer over my “small world”... read more