Tag: transition to employment

What is Autism Awareness Day?

Written by Hgrant on April 1, 2021. Posted in Educational, Information.

The 14th annual World Autism Awareness Day is here! All over the world, people are showing love and support towards those with autism. The theme this year is Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges & Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World.

New normals are coming into place with the world entering a post-pandemic state, and many things have been highlighted. The most prominent challenge people have noticed is inequality, especially in the workplace concerning wealth and health distribution. Those with autism especially experience these levels of inequality.

For this year’s virtual event, participants can hear two different panels about this topic from individuals with autism who have experienced these challenges and have found opportunities in employment.

History Behind World Autism Day

World Autism Awareness Day began when the United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared April 2nd as World Autism Day (A/RES/62/139). This day was proclaimed in hopes of “highlighting the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.”

The United Nations has always celebrated diversity and promoted the rights of persons with disabilities.” In 2008, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force, reaffirming the fundamental principle of universal human rights for all. Its purpose is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and promote respect for their inherent dignity. It is a vital tool to foster an inclusive and caring society for all and to ensure that all children and adults with autism can lead full and meaningful lives.”

Themes in Past Years

Each year the UN gives a theme for World Autism Awareness Day to educate and reflect on how everyone can love and support the members of the autism community. The theme is typically centered around recently highlighted issues people with autism are facing. Autism-friendly events and seminars also become available for those who wish to attend. Last year, the theme was “the Transition to Adulthood.”

World Autism Awareness Day themes began in 2012 with the “Launch of Official UN Awareness of Rising Stamp” and have covered subjects such as education, employment, inclusion, and girls with autism.

How Lexington Incorporates Workplace Opportunities

Growing up with a sister who has severe autism and who struggled in formal education herself, Harrison Rogers, Lexington Services Founder, and CEO, always wanted to find a solution for what he believed was broken informal education, thus founding and building what Lexington is today.

Today, Lexington is proud to offer Transition to Employment and new programs, Vocational Education and Supported Training (VEST), and Home Enrichment Life Program (HELP) programs to help members with autism become independent. These programs each provide members with a practical set of skills to live a full, meaningful life.

Transition to Employment

Transition to Employment or TTE is a service that teaches individuals with disabilities that qualify for employment the “meaning, value and demands of work and in the development of positive attitudes toward work.” This program is related to several employment initiatives designed to provide training and support to promote integrated and competitive employment skills.

The overall goal of the program is to help members transition to a more independent employment setting. This program can also guide individuals through unpaid shadowing experiences to engage with their interests and current skill set.

This summer, the Transition to Employment program is offering a summer program! Participants will spend 11 weeks developing the skills necessary for integrated and competitive employment. They will be guided through unpaid shadowing experiences to engage with their interest and current talent set to work toward a career.

For more information or to register, contact tte@lexingtonservices.com.

Lexington also provides programs within the schools to help develop skills. VEST and HELP are perfect examples of in-school programs, each with a specific focus for the future. For more information on the following programs, please contact the specific school as these programs may live under different names.

VEST (Vocational Education and Supported Training)

Lexington Life Academy’s VEST Program, a new program being offered this fall, offers students who have completed traditional high school courses but require further instruction invocation and supported training. This program solely focuses on a young adult’s vocational education and leads to competitive employment and or work experience.

HELP (Home Enrichment Life Program)

In addition to the academic programs at Lexington Life Academy, students can enter into the HELP Program, a new program launching this fall. In the HELP Program, students learn practical and functional living skills to prepare them to function appropriately in the community, workplace, and at home. These programs include a multitude of areas such as:

Self-care
Pre-vocational skills
Daily living skills
Community-based instruction
Cooking skills
Functional reading and math skills

While World Autism Awareness Day is April 2nd, the month of April is National Autism Awareness Month. Take the time to learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how to support loved ones who have autism. Lexington blogs are a great place to start!

Transition to Employment Programs at Lexington

Written by Hgrant on March 26, 2021. Posted in Information.

Lexington Services is proud to announce that our Transition to Employment program is accepting members!

What is Transition to Employment?

This TTE is integrated directly into a Person-Centered Service Plan with the planning team, similar to the IEP plan that many individuals use while in school. This service is designed to help individuals realize their employment and vocational goals while supporting their skill development and pursuing their passions.

TTE services ensure that individuals have mentor guidance and supervision from Lexington experts to have the most favorable employment experience possible. Through a Transition to Employment program, an individual with autism can expand their employment horizons and work toward a career that incorporates their interests and unique skill sets.

Why Are Programs Like TTE important?

With an alarming number of adults with autism living unemployed, some studies suggest at least 27%, the need for services that help people with ASD find meaningful employment is striking.

There are several things that parents and guardians can do to help their loved ones prepare to join the workforce. Even with a perfect interview and a qualified skill set, some employment venues aren’t fit to deal with the unique needs of individuals with autism and other disabilities. This is where programs like Transition to Employment can significantly improve the outcomes for these individuals.

TTE provides a route for individuals to find honest work for actual pay, rather than sheltered workshops, which significantly bolsters an individual’s perception of themselves and their independence.

With some reports indicating that only 26% of youth with disabilities are employed, it’s essential to support our youth through these programs “So They Can” thrive as they transition to adulthood. With proper guidance, there are many employment paths that young people can excel at, and programs like Transition to Employment at Lexington will help them on that path to success

TTE at Lexington

“We primarily prepare our members to join the workforce,” explained Frances Oder, the TTE Director at Lexington. “We start by finding out their learning styles, likes, dislikes, and interests and build on what each individual needs to acquire their first job and enjoy it.”

TTE also teaches the basics that every employer wants their employees to know, such as soft skills, following the rules, dressing for success, and getting along with supervisors and peers. Members are taught essential independent skills such as knowing how to read a pay stub, how to get to work, and budgeting, among other things.

Our members all have individual skills they need to build on, and right now, our focus is on learning the value of money. We have some members that know of it but don’t understand the worth of a dollar or understand change (coins). Other members do, and they are encouraged to help with teaching those who don’t, so in essence, just about everyone here has the opportunity to teach one another.

“It is a program and job that I love,” said Oder. “Every member brings a unique talent to our team. We all learn and grow together as we prepare our unique individuals to enter the workforce and share their talents with the world.”

The TTE program at Lexington is aimed at young adults who are preparing for employment and are exploring their career paths. Members practice interviewing, learn how to find and apply for jobs and sometimes get the opportunity to practice the jobs they want in a Lexington environment.

For those seeking to join the Transition to Employment program at Lexington, or if you would like more information, contact us at TTE@lexingtonservices.com.

5 Additional Books for Children with Special Needs

Written by Hgrant on February 26, 2021. Posted in Fun, Information.

Books are a fantastic tool to transport the reader into a new world, show a unique perspective, or even teach someone a little more about themselves. When a character is relatable, we become more drawn to their adventure and find pieces of ourselves in them.

Children with autism may find this connection while reading specific stories. Characters who face the same challenges they do and resolve them can act as a learning tool for them to face their own daily challenges. Common challenges such as emotions, social interactions, or just learning what autism is can be narrated in a book for children with autism, their siblings, friends, or parents.

In the past, Lexington has offered some great book choices for children of all ages who have autism. Here are five more books to add to the growing collection

Hello Roar, Little Dinosaur by Hazel Reeves

Meet Roar, a cute little dinosaur who does things a bit differently from the rest of her friends and family. But she is brave and strong and knows it is okay to do something a bit different. This book is excellent for ages 3-8 and was written to help children with high-functioning autism. It is the perfect book for everyone to celebrate the strength of children with autism.

Andy and His Yellow Frisbee by Mary Thompson

Andy is a boy with autism and is fascinated by things in motion, like his yellow frisbee. A classmate notices Andy and his frisbee and becomes curious and his behavior. Meanwhile, his protective older sister sees the classmate’s curiosity. She does her best to explain Andy, his autism, and her perspective as his sibling. This book is suitable for children ages 5-8.

Autism is…? by Ymkje Wideman-van der Laan

Explaining the term autism to a young child can prove difficult, but this illustrated book can make the task easier. The book is about an autistic child named Logan who overhears his grandma speaking to a friend about him and mentions he has autism. So, he asks her, “Autism is…?” and she provides an answer in a beautifully illustrated story. This book is recommended for children ages 5-8 and provides a positive explanation of what can seem like a complicated answer.

Everyone is Different by Fiona Bleach

When a family member is diagnosed with autism, everyone in the family will have questions. Siblings especially may appear puzzled at the behaviors of their brother or sister. “Everyone is Different” aims to answer those questions about autism and identify characteristics and behaviors for siblings to become aware of when spending time with their brother or sister. The book is excellent for ages nine and up as it gives warm illustrations and simple terms

The Asperger Children’s Toolkit by Francis Musgrave

Toolkits and learning guides are some of the best ways to handle complicated challenges, especially for young children. “The Asperger Children’s Toolkit” is a guide with lovable characters who walk children with autism through some tough situations like:

anxiety
negative thinking
sensory overload
emotions, friendship
trust
social situations

This toolkit also comes with cutout tools that can be done with a parent, caregiver, or teacher. Together with the guide, children will learn how to cope with areas of difficulty, learn about their own strengths and celebrate along the way. They will also learn other practical skills such as online browsing safety, social networking, and how to text message safely. For ages 6-12, this guide is fun, original, and highly interactive.

Check out more books for children with autism here and here in our blogs. We have books listed for all ages!

Lexington has a Library!

For a fun library experience, Lexington Services is happy to share the opening of their own library located on Gilbert Road in Mesa, Arizona to the Lexington community. This quaint library is run by the Transition to Employment segment of Lexington Services. The librarian Stephanie, is one of our very own members and is a sweet aspiring librarian-to-be who put together a reasonable sum of the library. There are books for many genres of reading and more to come.

While visiting, don’t forget to pick up a beautiful, handmade bookmark for your new books and to grab some coffee or hot chocolate for $1. Come by and support your local Lexington library on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm. See you soon!

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8 MORE Great Career Paths for People with Autism

Written by Hgrant on January 15, 2021. Posted in Information.

Finding a great career path is one of the many things that come with becoming an adult. It is no different for a teenager with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By paying attention to what they enjoy and what piques their interest, a rewarding career path could be around the corner.

Transition to Employment programs are valuable services available to those with disabilities. Adults with autism require a different type of attention to their unique needs. Some may have sensory challenges, while others have anxiety in an office space. By working with them to address their condition and find their interest early, they will find a job that easily suits them.

Lexington offers an Adult Day Program and Transition to Employment program. The Adult Day Program allows members to participate in center-based programs to receive specialized coaching and work on areas such as vocational skills, volunteering, paid employment, and more.

Transition To Employment is an employment service for individuals with disabilities designed to provide training and support to promote the development of integrated and competitive employment skills. Through a Transition to Employment program, an individual with autism can expand their employment horizons and work toward a career that incorporates their interests and unique skill sets.

Once these unique skill sets are known, they can then maximize their strength and find the position that works best for them. Here are a few more great career paths for people with autism to consider:

Software Development/Tester
- Many successful and talented software developers and testers have been diagnosed with autism. This career path is perfect for those who excel with computers, in mathematics, and understand complex systems. The best example would be Greg on Lexington’s IT Team. He helps keep all the computers and networks running smoothly.

Data Entry
- Great for nonverbal or individuals with poor verbal skills, data entry allows a person to focus on one task and excel at this task.

Print Shop Assistant/Specialist
- Copy shops are great environments for non-verbal people with autism. A common proficiency for those with autism is that they are visually oriented. They excel at intricate work. Printing jobs can become detailed as customers need specific measurements and number of copies.
Library Science
- Library science is a great career path for non-visual thinkers. Here a person would do research to help them find information within the library for themselves or for guests. This is commonly known as a reference librarian.

Photographer
- Photography comes with many options. A person can still do photography or video. They can work with a company or can become a freelancer. Great for visual thinkers, photography can be an avenue to many possibilities.

Journalist
- Journalism is known to be factual and to be void of personal opinions and one’s emotions. People with autism are known to approach situations logically, making print journalism a great career path. This career path would include research, facts, and writing about particular interest topics to the individual.

Bank Teller
- Playing to non-visual thinkers and better math skills, a bank teller is a less high-stress position than a cashier. As a bank teller, an individual must use less short-term memory and give more attention to the person they are assisting.

Commercial Artist
- Someone keen to design and art would fit right into this career path. This path would focus on advertising and magazine layout and can be done with a company or freelancer.

Identifying and developing a teen’s skills is the key to a rewarding, fulfilling career. Lexington Services specializes in helping children with autism and other learning challenges reach their full potential inside and outside the classroom. Find out how Lexington Services can help your child or teen discover their skills and potential.

Curious about other possible jobs for people with autism? Click here to view our first blog on different career paths.

Disclaimer: This post attempts to publicize ideas and comments that we find would be useful for our community to know. Our post is by no means intended to prompt you to handle your challenges in any specific way. We desire to bring helpful information to all our audiences and shine a light on popular topics.

What Is Transition To Employment?

Written by Hgrant on July 19, 2019. Posted in Educational.

Transition to Employment (TTE) is a service that teaches individuals with disabilities that qualify for employment the “meaning, value and demands of work and in the development of positive attitudes toward work.” This program is related to a number of employment initiatives designed to help people with disabilities find quality employment. There are plenty of programs and resources for individuals with disabilities in Arizona, like S.E.E.D. (Self Employment for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities) Financing or DES (Department of Economic Security) support, designed to help people become meaningfully employed. With shocking statistics concerning underemployment and unemployment rates for individuals with autism, expert guidance in gaining employment is vital to the success and overall quality of life for those that qualify for work. Perhaps you are an individual with ASD, or you are the parent/guardian of an individual with autism and you are seeking resources to help guide the employment search. Lexington Services is proud to announce that our Transition to Employment program is officially accepting members to help them find the work that will fulfill their lives.

What Is Transition To Employment?

Transition To Employment is an employment service for individuals with disabilities that is designed to provide training and support in order to promote the development of skills necessary for integrated and competitive employment. This TTE is integrated directly into an Individual Service Plan with the ISP team, similar to the IEP plan that many individuals use while they are in school. This service is designed to help individuals realize their employment and vocational goals while supporting their skill development and pursuing their passions. The overall goal of the program is to help members transition to a more independent employment setting. This program can also guide individuals through unpaid shadowing experiences to engage with their interests and current skill set. TTE services ensure that individuals have mentor guidance and supervision from Lexington experts in order to have the most positive employment experience possible. Through a program like Transition to Employment, an individual with autism can expand their employment horizons and work toward a career that incorporates their interests and their unique skill sets.

Why Are Programs Like TTE important?

With an alarming number of adults with autism living unemployed, some studies suggesting at least 27%, the need for services that help people with ASD to find meaningful employment is striking. There are a number of things that parents and guardians can do to help their loved ones to prepare to join the work force, but even with a perfect interview and a qualified skill set, some venues for employment just aren’t fit to deal with the unique needs of individuals with autism and other disabilities. This is where programs like Transition to Employment can greatly improve the outcomes for these individuals. They provide a route for individuals to find real work for real pay, rather than sheltered workshops, which greatly bolsters an individual’s personal perception of themselves and their independence. With some reports indicating that only 26% of youth with disabilities are employed, it’s important to support our youth through these programs so they can thrive as they transition to adulthood. With proper guidance, there are a myriad of employment paths which young people can excel at and programs like Transition to Employment at Lexington will help them on that path to success.

Employers And Resources Available to Arizona Residents

There are many companies that have specific integrated employment programs for individuals with autism and other disabilities across the state. Companies like Wells Fargo, JW Marriott, and Shamrock Foods regularly recruit from job fairs that are specifically tailored for individuals with ASD. Autism speaks always has a great range of services listed for individuals with autism, including a resource list for people seeking employment. They also offer a lot of great insight on advocacy, benefits, and employment preparedness that individuals and parents can use to make sure that the transition to employment is excellent. The Spectrum Careers job board is also a great resource for job seekers that can connect people with the best and newest integrated employment opportunities.

For those seeking to join the Transition to Employment program at Lexington, we have openings and we’re ready to start guiding our members on the path to independence. If you would like more information, call 480-900-1009 or click here to contact us today.