Inclusion and more

Yes I know 85% of my blogs are about autism and employment but here are some myths and facts surrounding autism and employment  Fact: We are the first ones to come and last one to leave Answer: This is a fact. I get to work by 9:20am. I started to try to be late like 9:35 once or twice but it was tough to have to call in late rather than be earlier. I don't leave until 1:30.  Myth: People with autism are not empathetic  Answer: This is a myth as people with autism are empathetic. A few short months ago, my mentor and supervisor Kristi lost her brother in law Robert and I felt for her right away even though I had not lost any family recently. I started to make a point to check in with Kristi shortly after it happened. She opened up to me about how she is doing as a result of these check-ins. The bottom line is. that people with autism are empathetic just like any other employee.   Fact and myth: Employees with...

The 2018 Walk now for Autism Speaks in partnership with SARRC is this weekend at Tempe Beach Park. Read my journey with SARRC and learn why you should walk  My name is Lindsey Eaton and I am 24 years old. I have autism but it means I am diagnosed as awesome. When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with autism.  I had a hard time talking to my peers, dealing with change and not seeing things as black and white.  I officially heard about the Southeast Autism Research and Resource Center or SARRC for short through Denise Resnik and got invited in classes like Ready, Aim, Get Hired about employment readiness skills. I got involved in Autism CommunityWorks too and met many amazing staff members as well.  Dr. Paige Raetz and Lindsey Eaton I am a 2017 graduate of the First Place Transition Academy, a two year program operated by SARRC. Through the Transition Academy, I learned how to cook my meals, budget my money, take Uber and the light rail and...

In July, I moved into my apartment at First Place-Phoenix, started by the amazing Denise Resnik.  Denise's son Matt and I went to high school together at Chaparral High School. Denise also started the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center that I have been part of for many years. Denise is truly an inspiration to many people including myself. Lindsey Eaton speaks during the First Place-Phoenix grand opening ceremony Let's back to a few summers ago. I started corresponding with the amazing Sara Hetrick about how I could get involved in First Place. Sara and I met about how we could establish a group of committed residents who would help plan events, train new staff and make First Place-Phoenix residents and Support Specialists as well as Transition Academy staff and students.  We established what is now called the Council of Resident Engagement. CORE now is 5 members strong and led by the amazing Nina Bernado. Over the summer, we gathered to train new staff...