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Autism Adulthood: Stories, Strategies, and Insights for a Fulfilling Life

Susan Senator, Parent and Author

Who Am I? Why Am I Here Today?

Mad Elephant Mom

25 years of advocacy

Autism Author

Optimist

What Constitutes a Successful Life?

1. Money?2. Employment?3. Fun/Growth?4. Community?5. Stability?6. ????

Realities of Post 22

• Little Funding

• Few Safety Nets

• Inadequate Transition Help

• Uncertain Paths to Follow

On the Bright Side…

• Less Structure = More Freedom!

• Pioneering = Creativity

PLUS…you already have the skills

• Getting services

• Identifying quality programs

• Envisioning

what should be

Adult Life’s Essentials

• Work

• Fun

• Quiet Time

• Community

Your Steps

• Regular Resume

• Deep Resume

• Others’ Lives

• Current Possibilities

• You

1. Regular Resume

Resume Exercise

• School

• Skills

• Experience

• Passions

• Something special

3. What Do Others Do?

Juniper Hill Farms roommates at the Farmers’ Market

Others: Find Your Peeps

Where to Find Community

• Special Olympics sidelines

• Workshop attendees

• School parents

• Facebook and support groups

• Neighbors & friends who get it

• Others on the Spectrum

4. Current Possibilities

-Traditional Day Program

-Community & Traditional College

-High School Job Sites

-Arcs, service providers

-Volunteering

-Cottage industry

5. What Do You Want?

• Work

• Play

• Quiet Time

• Community

What Do You Like?

• Obsessions

• Stims

• Activities

• Achievements

• Company

• Down time

6. How?

HELP is NOT a bad word!

• Ask Others

• Attend Conferences

• Explore – Partnerships

– Funding streams

From Perseverating To Persevering

• Pete’s Petstones• Made By Brad• The Teaching Hotel• Stefano & Duck Tours• Sri & the Hospital• Scott’s Poetry• Rising Tide Carwash• Nat’s Day Program• MUSE

Going BigRising Tide Carwash

• Money to invest

• Place to practice

The Teaching Hotel

Advocate Dad + Local Arc + Perseverance = Jobs for Thousands w/ Disabilities

Made By Brad

• Legos + Love

Scott, Poet & Activist

Pete’s Petstones

Sri at the Hospital

School job + Teacher Advocacy = Post-22 Career

Stef on the Duck Tours

• Start with the Passion

• Utilize Connections

• Go to the Source

Nat’s Day ProgramBakery????

• Utilize all skills

• Foster community connections

• Find possible partnerships

Social Life!!• Bonds from Before • Adaptive Sports• The Arts• Social Groups• Geek Groups• Special Camps

MUSE: A Role Model

A Special Ed TeacherA Violin LessonA Home ConcertTwo BandsGigsPartiesCommunitySelf-Directed Day Services

Remember: Cultivate Experts/Partnerships

• Other autistic people• Autism families• State agency• Service providers• Local public schools • College and grad Students• Artists, musicians• Therapists, counselors

Most Important:Dream. Ask.

What We Still Need:

• Social interaction experts

• Sexual safety training

• Employer training

• Better public funding & supports

To get all of this…Vote! Register, Lobby, Become an Advocate!

Keep Growing

LARPer

Rock StarWorking Man

Public Speaker

Success and Happiness: You Define It!

Questions?

• susan@susansenator.com

• www.susansenator.com

• My Books: Visit Shambhala.com, and SkyhorsePublishing.com, Amazon, B&N