The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 is a tax-advantaged savings program designed for eligible people with disabilities. Also known as 529A ABLE accounts, these funds can be used to help individuals and families pay for qualified disability expenses, such as: Education Transportation Healthcare Housing Assistive technology Employment Distributions for qualified disability […]
Tag: teens
Job Skills
Working gives people the opportunity to show their abilities, take pride in their accomplishments, and contribute to the community. While there are organizations such as Easter Seals and government funded programs like Vocational Rehabilitation that provide job training and placement to people with disabilities, those services vary by area. Typically, those programs do not serve people under the age of 18. Overall, it is the parent’s responsibility to ensure their child is prepared to enter the workforce when the time comes. In this article, we will discuss how to begin working with your child on job skills so they will be prepared as they transition into adulthood.
Executive Functioning Skills
Executive function is an umbrella term used to describe a set of cognitive skills we use to successfully navigate everyday life. We rely on them to learn, achieve goals, manage emotions, pay attention, organize, plan, and adapt to our environment. While everyone must learn and develop executive functioning skills throughout their life, people with autism often struggle with executive function, requiring accommodations and explicit instruction in order to thrive.
Life Skills
Functional life skills are the everyday tasks we all need to lead independent lives. Mastering these skills builds self-esteem and confidence while gaining autonomy. Many people learn life skills through passive watching, imitation, or practicing a few times. Individuals with autism often need explicit instruction with many more repetitions to obtain the same skills. It […]
IEP Transition Planning
One of the core objectives of IDEA is to prepare students for life after high school. Specifically, further education, employment, and independent living. IEP transition services fulfill this objective, and the law requires them to begin the year your child turns 16 years old. Transition is an exciting time when students become part of the […]
Puberty
Puberty can be daunting for any teen. Physical changes, rapidly changing hormones, new routines for hygiene, and mood swings place added stress onto our teens with autism. Developmental delays only compound the hardship parents face when helping their child navigate adolescence. It is important to start preparing yourself and your child for these changes prior […]
Resources for Teens & Adults
As the children of TACA’s parents have aged, we’ve worked to put together a series of articles to address teen- and adult-related issues and services. Below you will find articles to help you survive the teen years and get your young adult on the road to his or her future. Teens School Transition IEPs Bullying […]
Teens with ASD: Introduction & Article Links
Ready or not, here it comes! No matter which road you take on your autism journey with your child, one thing is an inevitable fact for us all – our kids become adults. Quicker than you can blink, your precious toddler is going to be a strapping young man or lovely young lady. Are you […]
ASD Teens Cooking Class©
My son Max has been homeschooled since his diagnosis back in 1998. Even when he attended a private school for kids with ASD, he still had a home program too. As an ex-caterer, foodie and TACA recipe creator, one of the things I’ve always wanted my kids to do was learn to cook. The whole […]
Teens with ASD: “Been There, Done That” Advice from Parents
The future depends on what we do in the present. – Mahatma Gandhi Being realistic When your baby is born, the sky is the limit. As all kids grow older, their personalities gradually form them into the imperfect beings that we all become, lead them to new activities, to the pursuit of new dreams and […]
Teens with ASD: College
The future depends on what we do in the present. – Mahatma Gandhi Prepping Your Teens for College Yes, college is a real possibility for many with autism. My daughter is a senior in high school this year and we’ve just begun the hunt for schools and scholarships. First word of advice? Start when your […]
Teens with ASD: Siblings
The future depends on what we do in the present. – Mahatma Gandhi The only thing everyone has ever agreed on when your child was diagnosed was that “Early intervention is crucial.” Yes, it certainly is, and the learning curve for autism is hugely steep, confusing and time-sensitive. So when you were so immersed in […]
Teens with ASD: Driving
The future depends on what we do in the present. – Mahatma Gandhi Most teenagers know driving a car is a rite of passage and are anxious to get their license. Unfortunately, not all kids with autism or Asperger’s are going to be able to operate a car safely. It can be difficult to explain […]
Teens with ASD: Extracurricular Activities
The future depends on what we do in the present. – Mahatma Gandhi Just because your child has autism doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be involved in fun activities. Even if your child cannot paddle a kayak, he can sit in a tandem kayak while you paddle. He can also learn how to paddle by himself […]
Teens with ASD: Self Advocacy and Self-Esteem
The future depends on what we do in the present. – Mahatma Gandhi Self-advocacy, or speaking up for one’s self, is a very important skill for people with disabilities. But it can also be very difficult. Self-advocacy requires certain skills that a child with autism (especially one who has had many years of ABA – […]
Teens with ASD: How to Start the GFCFSF Diet with an Older Child
The future depends on what we do in the present. – Mahatma Gandhi How to start the GFCFSF diet with an older child As an “alpha parent”, my first instinct is to use the old standby “Because I said so!”. That may work inside your house but your child is going to be out of your […]
Teens with ASD: Medical Treatment with an Older Child
The future depends on what we do in the present. – Mahatma Gandhi Medical Interventions are not just for the very young. The beautiful thing about medical intervention is that there is no “window” during which medical treatments will only work, but rather we’ve seen many families start medical treatments with teens and adults with […]
Teens with ASD: Puberty – What to Expect, Seizures, Anxiety, Sexuality
The future depends on what we do in the present. – Mahatma Gandhi Puberty Sexuality Seizures Anxiety For Girls Only Suggested Reading Puberty: The Great Equalizer I have always called puberty the “great equalizer” because I have seen so many kids drastically change, good or bad, during puberty. Some children, with no changes in […]