Inclusion and more

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 ...