Inclusion and more

Phoenix, Arizona is the most Autism Friendly city in Arizona for many reasons.  Organizations like like the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC)  help decrease stereotypes that come with autism. SARRC offers programs for families like JumpStart, kids like the Community School, Teens like CommunityWorks and employment and adults like employment services.  I have participated in SARRC's programs for year and they have changed my life by allowing me to make friends and allowing me to develop professional relationships with staff members. I can go by either SARRC's 16th Street campus at anytime and staff say hi to me.  For many families Autism is something they don't know how to embrace. SARRC has two campuses in Phoenix that help families navigate the new "autism" diagnosis. SARRC trains staff members through professional development meetings and conferences and supervision meetings.  The First Place Transition Academy is run ...

Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) is all about inclusion.  The Executive Director Tim Ogle is the cousin of Denise Resnik, who founded the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.  So it made sense that ASBA came the 2017 SARRC Community Breakfast.  After I spoke they committed to hiring an adult with autism.  After that I sent them my resume and got hired. My first day of work I had some nerves as it was a  new job and new co-workers. One of my supervisors got right to work introducing me to my co-workers.  It took an adjustment period for me to adjust to the company culture. Ultimately I have developed appropriate work relationships with my co-workers. We talk about life, pets and past jobs.  ASBA co-workers: Kristi, Katie and Lindsey (Photo credit: Fiona Falbo, SARRC) This past week I was reminded numerous times how committed that ASBA is committed to making the partnership work and making inclusion possible. ...

I have autism and it makes me have a hard time dealign wth change, appropriately interact with people and accept criticism. For people with autism finding integrated employment is a challenge as many employers fail to the see the potential of working with an adult with autism. For almost two years I worked at Christ Lutheran School as a teacher aide in a preschool class. I grew up going to Christ Lutheran School events like family fun night, 8th grade graduation ceremonies and Teacher Appreciation lunches that my mom organized.  As a CLS employee, I felt included in the culture and developed close relationships with my co-workers.  I received feedback from my supervisor and often worked on improving interaction with the preschool students.   I would comment the kids and they would often times talk to me. After an amazing two year tenure at Christ Lutheran School, I begun to look for other jobs. I knew I wanted to work in an office setting for a small company.  My...

2017 was filled with many many highlights 1. Speaking at the SARRC breakfast I spoke at the 2017 SARRC Community Breakfast about my journey with autism. I gottwo job offers from different schools.  My then current employer Christ Luheran School's assistant principal Lisa Rogers was there to hear me speak as she knew Dr. Danny Openden, SARRC's president.  Also Omni Bioceutical Innovations team was there! It turns out that my now current employer AZ School Boards Association was in attendance too.  These days it's December 9, 2017 and people still talk about my speech which was in April of last year. I need bodyguards in the community. Lol!!  2. Starting my new job at AZ School Boards Association Like I said above my new employer AZ School Boards Association was at the SARRC Community Breakfast at the AZ Biltmore hotel's Frank Lloyd Wright Ballroom! A few after I inter viewed with ASBA and got the job.  This job was meant to be. Every one is so fun to be ...

Every month for the next several months, I will be highlighting a new inspirational leader. This month my leadership spotlight is dedicated to Denise Resnik.  Denise Resnik is an inspiration to all.  In 1997, Denise started the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC), a Phoenix non-profit organization that helps create services for kids, teens and adults with autism.  SARRC recently celebrated it's 20th anniversary and now has over 100 staff members working for them.  Denise saw a great need for a living option for adults with autism. She created First Place Phoenix so adults like her son Matt can live independently and hold jobs. Denise's vision came true this past year  when First Place Phoenix broke ground and had its first hard hat tour for perspective participants.  I was appointed to serve on First Place Phoenix Resident Advisory Council. The council, which will eventually recruit 5 more individuals with autism, will allow new Fi...

I am only 7 months away from graduating from the First Place Transition Academy operated by SARRC.  This is a transition I never thought I'd get to as I spent most of my life living with my parents wondering what would be next. Enter the First Place Transition Academy. I have lived there for almost two years and love every minute of it.  I have learned how to live with a roommate, learned how to take Uber and Lyft and Dial a Ride and best of all I have learned how to hold a job. I recently started a job at the AZ School Boards Association doing clerical work. I have been working there for almost a week now and love it. I like my co-workers and supervisors.  Every one loves seeing me and interacting with me. I know there will be rough days but it helps to know everyone is super supportive of each other. In May, I will graduate from First Place through attending GateWay Community College's graduation. My friends and I will receive Independent Life Certificates...

Imagine yourself without a job that allows you to be independent, learn new skills and the opportunity to interact with co-workers. For 13.7% of people with disabilities like autism this is the case. They are unemployed or underemployed. One of my biggest passions in life is helping teens and adults with autism find employment. I spend quite bit of time at night researching what companies like Microsoft are doing to hire people with disabilities. Yes that's right the company behind Microsoft Office programs like Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher hires people with disabilities. For me even though there are many companies hiring teens or adults with autism to work within their workforces, they is a gap. Why such a gap? Employers are failing to realize the potential that people with special abilities like autism can bring to their companies.  Organizations like the Southwest Autism Research and Resource C...

Today marked the 12th Annual Autism Speaks walk, in partnership with SARRC, and the walk over 4,000 people in attendance. There was a resource fair that consisted of resources like Positive ABA, SARRC and Hope Group.  As my friends and I were dropped off at Tempe Beach Park by SARRC staff we were beyond excited. For me today marked an exciting day, a two month journey of raising over $1,000 for SARRC. This was a tough decision for me as I wasn't sure whether I wanted to fundraise for SARRC or Best Buddies, two organizations I hold close to my heart. Ultimately, I chose SARRC as I have been impacted by their programs for many years and SARRC is current in their program research, programs and staff development programs. Over the past month and a half, I have been busy fundraising for the Autism Walk through sending out a personal donation letter I wrote to family and friends and posting my personal page on my Facebook page.  Ultimately I nett...

Even though October is almost over which means National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2017 is almost in the books, here are some tips for adults with autism and other disabilities for looking for jobs   1. Begin by thinking of your abilities and how they can fit employment Everyone with a disability has their own skills and abilities. My abilities are using computers, using Microsoft Excel to make databases and interacting with people when appropriate to name a few.  My skills include: being driven to complete a task at work until it is done (in other words, nothing is left unfinished unless I really need an extension),  being determined to persevere through the hard times and celebrating others accomplishments. When you list your skills and abilities, think about how they can tie in to possible employment. I have always seen myself working in an office setting but did not know how to navigate a career switch.  2. Explore jo...

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or NDEAM for short.  For several years, one of my biggest passions has been helping individuals with disabilities find employment and understanding why underemployment is so high amongst people with disabilities.  Organizations like the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center and Best Buddies both aim to place individuals with disabilities like autism in competitive employment opportunities through employment programs. Best Buddies offers a Jobs program and SARRC offers an employment services program .  Both programs offer some of the same services: Job coaching  Interview practice and preparation  Helping employee with disability fill out new employee paperwork  Employer support (helping the employer find tax credits for hiring adults with disabilities etc)  To view videos of SARRC and Best Buddies' employment programs in action, check out these links SARRC Employment...

The final countdown has begun. There are only 21 days until the 2017 Walk now Autism Speaks, in partnership with SARRC. Why SARRC I have been a participant in SARRC's programs for years now. I remember my first day I participated in programs offered by SARRC like it was yesterday.  I participated in Autism CommunityWorks at the Civic Center Library.  I was nervous, scared and shy.  I instantly made new friends and connected with the sARRC clinicians in charge of the program.  For several years, my dad and I dined at Outback Steakhouse. One year we met Matt McMahon and thanked him for supporting SARRC through hosting fundraisers at his restaurants and hiring SARRC clients. Ironically, we had been talking about SARRC before Matt approached my dad and I.  As I prepared for adulthood, I wondered what would be next. My parents heard about the First Place Transition Academy, operated by SARRC.  I was exci...

For months now, I knew I wanted to fundraise over $1,000 for either SARRC or Best Buddies. I was faced with this decision but ultimately I chose to fundraise for SARRC. You might be wondering why SARRC! I chose to fundraise over $1,000 for the 2017 Walk now for Autism Speaks, in partnership with SARRC.  I have been a client of SARRC's programs for over several years.  I have witnessed the dedication of staff and the outstanding leadership SARRC has.  Over this year, I have connected with Dr. Danny Openden, SARRC's president.  He is truly an exceptional leader.  From the joy of celebrating a pay raise my roommate got and my friend getting his first job, those moments are part of the reason why I walk for SARRC. My friend Mark often tells me how much he loves his job!  With the 2017 walk, a month away now- I have raised over $1,000 for the walk with donations still pouring in. My donor network includes friends and family. Granted many of donors don...

Around Labor Day Weekend 2016, my parents and I toured 29 Palms/ First Place. I knew I wanted to live there as I met some of the staff on the tour and we quickly connected! After that I had an interview at SARRC's 16th Street office and after the interview I reconnected with some of the rest of the SARRC staff who I knew through participation in past programs. After the interview, I was accepted and my mom had to convince me to call people as I wanted to keep the announcement on the down low in case anything changed. I called my my grandparents, boyfriend and friends to let them know. I realized I had a brighter future ahead. One that consisted of independent living, making new friends and reconnecting with and getting to know new and returning staff members better. We moved shortly after I was accepted and I felt welcomed right away. I made new friendships and developed professional relationships with staff....

As an individual I knew after high school that I wanted to live on my own.  My years after high school were spent at home feeling alone without friends but working on independent living skills like working on how to do laundry, cooking meals and testing out how to take public transportation like the bus.  Over Memorial Day weekend 2017,  my parents found out about the First Place Transition Academy.  We went and toured the program and I knew it was where I wanted to live as I instantly was welcomed by the staff and students.  After the tour and my interview,  my parents and I begun the long process of shopping at various stores for items needed for my apartment.  We brought everything and I started to get more and more excited to move. My parents were so nervous for me to move. In October 2017, my parents moved me into my first apartment with my first roommate.  We took my "now former" roommate to dinner which allowed me to kind of get to know...

This is a VERY exciting semester for students in the First Place Transition Academy and students at GateWay Community college, as Best Buddies is officially starting at GateWay. Here are 6 reasons why should check out Best Buddies 1. Best Buddies helps you make friends your age I have been an active part of Best Buddies for over 10 years now.  I have met some of the closest friends who are my age through the program.  My peer buddies and I talked about work, school and life. 2. Best Buddies Arizona hosts wonderful social events Are you looking for ways to be more social in your community? Join the Best Buddies program. Best Buddies Arizona super cool social events that include but are not limited a Buddy Prom dance, a Friendship Walk and weekend Buddy Ambassador trainings. Ambassador trainings are run by Best Buddies Arizona staff members and experienced Buddy Ambassadors.  Last year we did a training at the Cold Stone World Headquarters in Scottsdale taught by Cold ...

10.5% of people with disabilities are unemployed. Why that number is something I wonder as a person with is passionate about making sure people with disabilities are employed.  I think there are a lot of barriers and stigmas that surround this field of hiring people with disabilities. People with disabilities deserve the same job as their peers without disabilities. It doesn't matter if they have autism or Down Syndrome, they should still be placed in competitive employment. People with disabilities might need accommodations like job coaches, set and stone schedules and their own office areas to avoid the distractions. There are programs like Best Buddies Jobs that aim to place people with disabilities in competitive paid employment at places like Silicon Valley Bank,  Cold Stone Creamery, Sprouts Farmers Market, Safeway, Eaton Vance Investment Managers and Brookdale Senior Living.  Best Buddies Jobs is active in Indiana,  California, Maryland,  Los Angeles,...

As a person with autism I thought I'd give some advice for adults who work with this population or parents  Tip 1 : Listen and learn : People with autism might seem like they want to talk about the same thing over and over again but we really want someone to listen to us undivided during a meeting or in life.  We don't want to be closed down even if we talked about the same thing a week ago.     I've realized personally that NO ADULT has the same perspective or idea of something that works for me so I ask multiple adults for help sometimes which involves bringing up the same thing over and over. Tip 2: Believe in their dreams: Like those who interact with the population (teachers, therapists, registered behavioral technicians or parents), kids or adults with autism have dreams.  My dreams are to live on my own, find a full-time job that uses all of my strengths and abilities and pays well with a good benefits ...

I cannot believe it's almost been ONE year of dating Adam Pitts. Adam is my best friend, my soulmate and my supporter.  Adam and I first met at an alumni bowling party for Chaparral High School. I knew I liked him a lot and considered him someone who was highly dateable. We exchanged cell numbers and quickly Facebook friended each other. Adam quickly became a donor of my Best Buddies fundraising efforts. He's been a donor for a few years ago.  A few months after he broke up with his now ex girlfriend.  I told him I liked him and that I wanted to date him when he became available.  While a few months after that we started dating officially and we went on our FIRST OFFICIAL DATE at Romano's Macaroni Grill. During the date, we discovered we share the same beliefs for disability employment and inclusion. We did a photo shoot before the date so we have pictures together to celebrate life's achievements together like possibly a future engagement.  When I...

When I was a freshmen at Chaparral High School I was officially introduced to the Best Buddies club. Best Buddies mission is to pair people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities in one-to-one friendships.  I did not know my life would change as much as it has.  I have held various leadership roles for Best Buddies. I have been the Buddy Director, a Buddy Ambassador, a member of the Best Buddies Young Leaders Council and an intern two times now. Like I say below I currently intern at Best Buddies AZ's office and I did the same internship in high school!  During my sophomore year I was matched with my peer buddy (student without a disability) Elaine Helton. Elaine and I went to Country Thunder, went bowling,  celebrated our birthdays together and attended Best Buddies Arizona events.   We had a blast developing a lifelong friendship through two years of friendship.  We got to know each others families. Elaine attended Chaparral's gr...

As you might know, I am part of a transition program for adults with autism and part of the program focuses on employment. Students in this program with staff members from SARRC to help them find employment during the year. Because I work at a school and we have the summers off,  I had to find a summer job. During one of my summer employment meetings with my job coach we were discussing internships and we kept working as a team to find me a job.  We had yet to hear anything from a few perspective employments so being the doer I am I reached out to Best Buddies staff members I knew from Best Buddies Arizona to see if they knew of any internships or even if they had an internship available.  I got replies back from staff members and they said they had an internship. A few weeks after that I responded to the staff members who told me about the internship and said I was excited to pursue their internship program.  My job coach was all over this opportunity, which all...

I cannot believe I will be a sophomore in the First Place Transition Academy operated by SARRC in August. Here's some tips for the incoming cohort of students:  1. Be involved right away  When I first came to 29 Palms, I instantly felt included and welcomed.  Getting involved in the weekend events planned by SARRC staff for First Place helped make my transition smoother.  We go to the mall, go to eat together, go bowling and go to festivals.  2. Ask questions  There is no such thing as a lame question especially when it comes to advocating for yourself.  One thing I did and will do is continue to ask question as the whole Transition Academy team of staff are always there to help! Think about it when you ask questions you ease your stress levels and it reassures staff to know they can help.  I can assure you they communicate as a team about concerns.  3. Develop friendships I know it takes time to develop frie...

Throughout my life I have bene asked some good questions about autism- here are a few  Q: What challenges did you face growing up?  A: I had a hard time making friends. When my peers were socializing, I did not know how to engage in conversations without using "random" one word answers. I also had a challenge with dealing with change and accepting the word "no". When I had dinner plans with  friend and they canceled, I had a tough time hearing no because I wanted friends and looked forward to the plans. Q: These days do you face the same challenges now? or Do you face new challenges?  A:: Honestly I do still face the same challenges of dealing with changes and making friends. These days I face new challenges like waiting patiently for a response to an email from my job coach and perspective taking when people's schedules change or when I send too many emails. Say I had a meeting set up and all a sudden plans changed, I build u...

In 2009,  I officially got involved in SARRC's programs- Autism CommunityWorks and classes about employment and personal finance. The second I walked into the Vocational and Life Skills Academy I felt welcomed right away by staff and participants.  I learned new skills like how to fill out job applications,  how to dress appropriately at work and how to interact with my peers.  My involvement in SARRC's programs gave me a cause to promote. I made the Autism Speaks walk in partnership with SARRC my fundraising focus for a few consecutive years. One year I raised over $3,000 for SARRC with a goal of helping SARRC reach more possible clients who have autism.  I did not raise all that money to get to meet Orlando Hudson, rather I rose to the challenge to pay it forward to SARRC for all the potential they helped me realize and to keep all the same staff members who helped me around to help perspective clients. SARRC helped me go...

As an individual living with autism, I have held by job at a local school for almost two years. Here are some tips: 1. Explore job coaching One common accommodation those with disabilities want is a job coach. When I moved into my first apartment at a transition program offered through SARRC, I was paired up with a job coach.  When she announced to me that she wanted to observe me at the school,  I was immediately nervous. The day of the first observation I woke up with bad nerves and my heart was racing out of control.  Having a job coach this year has helped me succeed at both my jobs. My job coach  has helped me learn the appropriate social cues and how to succeed at work. I still get nervous for her to observe me but I look forward to meeting. There are many organizations that provide job coaches.  Best Buddies, SARRC and Vocational Rehabilitation and many other organizations.   2. Accommodations vs modifications  In the class I ...