SESSION 7: 3.50-5:00pm
Room LK306
Creating Community for Adults on the Spectrum: How to Have Integration without Isolation
Donna Feingold, Adaptive Learning Center
About this session:
This session will explore the support needs of adults (including young adults who are transitioning from school) with Asperger’s Syndrome, high-functioning autism, PDD-NOS and other related disabilities. Many individuals with these types of disabilities can easily fall between the cracks because they may have very good verbal skills and “appear” less disabled but they often have very poor executive functioning, social and processing skills. We will also focus on the importance of creating “community” for individuals on the spectrum and what challenges we may be facing in our efforts to create community in light of the upcoming CMS changes. Donna will give an overview of the types of housing and employment options that are currently available and explore what other types of services will be needed as more children with autism enter the adult service world.
Donna Feingold has over 30 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. She worked at Toolworks for almost 17 years (10 years as the Executive Director). Donna was then the Executive Director at Moving Forward Towards Independence in Napa for almost ten years and is currently the Executive Director at the Adaptive Learning Center (ALC). Moving Forward and ALC are both unique residential programs/communities that serve individuals with Asperger's and high functioning autism with a focus on developing an individual’s strengths and skills. Donna has her BA in Psychology for the University of Pennsylvania and her Ed.M in Counseling for Harvard University.
Room LK306
Creating Community for Adults on the Spectrum: How to Have Integration without Isolation
Donna Feingold, Adaptive Learning Center
About this session:
This session will explore the support needs of adults (including young adults who are transitioning from school) with Asperger’s Syndrome, high-functioning autism, PDD-NOS and other related disabilities. Many individuals with these types of disabilities can easily fall between the cracks because they may have very good verbal skills and “appear” less disabled but they often have very poor executive functioning, social and processing skills. We will also focus on the importance of creating “community” for individuals on the spectrum and what challenges we may be facing in our efforts to create community in light of the upcoming CMS changes. Donna will give an overview of the types of housing and employment options that are currently available and explore what other types of services will be needed as more children with autism enter the adult service world.
Donna Feingold has over 30 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. She worked at Toolworks for almost 17 years (10 years as the Executive Director). Donna was then the Executive Director at Moving Forward Towards Independence in Napa for almost ten years and is currently the Executive Director at the Adaptive Learning Center (ALC). Moving Forward and ALC are both unique residential programs/communities that serve individuals with Asperger's and high functioning autism with a focus on developing an individual’s strengths and skills. Donna has her BA in Psychology for the University of Pennsylvania and her Ed.M in Counseling for Harvard University.