2

Community Resources for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Meeting Notes
Location: Google Meet Attendees:
(virtual) • Ms. Danielle Barakat, meeting facilitator, special
https://meet.google.com/rao- education teacher, and autism specialist
xyvz-wyr • Mr. Chris Bettinger, Director of Atlantic Region Food
Corp.
Date: Monday, October 16, • Mr. Joseph Navarra of Arc of Union County
2023 • Ms. Dahlia Citron, School Psychologist
• Ms. Machado, Family Liaison
Time: 11:00am • Dr. Shaniesha Evans of the Plainfield Career and
Technical Education (CTE)
Discuss why collaboration between special educators, parents, students, employers, and
leaders of community-based organizations that serve students with ASD is an important
part of the transition process as students and their parents/guardians consider and work
toward achieving the education and training, employment, and independent living goals.

By working together, these stakeholders can ensure that students with ASD have access to the
resources and support they need to succeed in their transition to adulthood. Special educators
can provide guidance and instruction on academic and pre-vocational skills, while parents can
provide valuable insights into their child's strengths, interests, and needs. Employers and
leaders in the community can offer opportunities for work experience and job training to create
a more inclusive and supportive community for individuals with ASD. Each stakeholder
should meet with other stakeholders to discuss the introduction of strategies and how the
student is progressing (or not progressing) as a result of their implementation.

Ultimately, successful transition planning for students with ASD requires a collaborative and
coordinated effort from all parties involved. Without this collaboration, consistent
accommodations may not be available across all environments, and the individual with ASD
may not be able to experience success. By working together, we can help to ensure that every
student with ASD has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and lead a fulfilling and
independent life to the maximum extent possible.
 3

Describe the challenges that students with ASD and their parents/guardians face in
identifying local, state, and federal resources and organizations that are available to
assist them with meeting their education and training, employment, and independent
living goals.

There are numerous resources available, but it can be difficult to know where to begin. Parents
and students face several challenges in identifying and accessing these resources, including
lack of information, limited accessibility, and complex eligibility criteria.

One of the most significant challenges is the lack of information about available resources.
• Some resources may not be well-publicized, or information may be scattered across
multiple websites or agencies.
• Contact information or websites may be out of date.
o For example, links on websites to the old Statewide Parent Advocacy Network
(SPAN) website no longer work.

Another challenge is limited accessibility.

• Families may have limited access to transportation to attend meetings or appointments.
• Some resources may only be available during specific hours or may not be available in
languages other than English, making it difficult for families who speak other
languages to access the support they need.

Finally, eligibility criteria can be complex and confusing.

• Some resources may have strict eligibility criteria, such as income limits, age
restrictions, or specific diagnoses.
• This can make it difficult for families to know if they are eligible for services and can
create confusion and frustration in the application process.
Brainstorm creative ways to advocate for students with ASD and disseminate the
information about the identified resources to students with ASD and their
parents/guardians.
Collaborate with local schools, community organizations, and healthcare providers to
publicize information about the resources available to students with ASD and their
parents/guardians. This information can be shared through:
 4

• newsletters
• websites
• social media
• community and district events
• community outreach programs

In addition, it can be helpful to involve students or adults with ASD in advocacy efforts by
providing them with opportunities to share their experiences with others. This can be done
through:
• public speaking engagements
• writing projects
• other creative outlets that allow them to express themselves and raise awareness about
the challenges they face.

Local community organizations and businesses can be contacted to create partnerships.

• Promoting social inclusion and acceptance of individuals with ASD in these
organizations is another way to advocate for them.
• Adds to the pool of opportunities and resources

Another effective approach is to utilize visual aids such as infographics or videos that are
designed to be engaging and easy to comprehend.

Host informational sessions or webinars that address the specific needs of students with ASD
and provide guidance on how to access and utilize the resources available to them.

Resources for Education Resources for Employment Resources for Independent

and Training Living

College Readiness program in The Arc of Union County is Equal Opportunity Support

Plainfield, NJ located at 720 Lexington Services, located at 150

Offered by Hopes CAP, inc. Ave., Kenilworth, NJ. It Maple Avenue #192
 5

1-855-OK-HOPES ext.1601 provides vocational South Plainfield, NJ 07080.

or amachado@hopes.org. assessments, on-site support, Helps individuals with ASD

Students work on study skills and job sampling for evaluate their goals related to

and other soft skills needed to individuals with disabilities. housing and independent

be successful in college. Coach students and set them living skills before graduating

Students can develop their up with accommodations. high school.

executive functioning skills They can begin to feel more More information at:

and social skills, as well. comfortable with advocating 732-641-0660 and

More information at: for themselves. https://www.equalopportunity

https://www.hopes.org/youth- More information at: supportservices.org/developm

services https://arcunion.org/workforc ental-disability-care-

e-development-employment- services/transition-into-

services/ adulthood

College Steps program at New Jersey’s Department of The Family Resource

Kean University at 1000 Labor & Workforce Network offers a program

Morris Ave, Union, NJ is a Development promotes called Get FIT. It has an

great program for students apprenticeship opportunities office in East Windsor, NJ but

with disabilities that for individuals with ASD. serves all of NJ. They offer

graduated or are still in high Families can go with the wellness coaching services,

school. College Steps at KU children 16 and older to the provide exercise

can be reached at 888-732- One Stop Career Center in demonstrations, and host

1022. any county of New Jersey. community events for people

with disabilities. They partner

 6

Among many transition Individualized attention helps with Stockton University and

supports for students with the person with ASD make Rowan University to offer

ASD, they offer to create progress in acquiring the webinars on exercising and

personalized learning plans necessary skills. There is a nutrition. They also have

that may include in-classroom pre-apprenticeship program manuals for people who

support with note taking, available to help students coach or live with people

study skills sessions, time prepare for the with ASD.

management strategies, test apprenticeship. This is a

taking strategies, peer highly desirable option More information at:

mentorship, tutoring and because it would lead to https://www.unionresourcenet

support with homework. competitive employment. .org/search/get-fit/

More information at: More information at:

https://www.collegesteps.org/ https://www.nj.gov/labor/care https://getfitnj.org/programs/

model#academic-enrichment er-services/apprenticeship/

Classes in film/digital media Community Personal Family Stabilization Program

creation and cooking allow Services (CPS) at 54 Agency: Catholic Charities

students to become more Fairmount Avenue, Chatham, Diocese of Metuchen

involved in interests they may N.J. 07928. They can be Works with the families and

have. Classes are tailored to contacted at (973-738-1030 individuals (including those

students’ needs. Courses are x132). CPS matches students with disabilities) in their

paid for by the family or to employment opportunities homes. Offers free financial

DDD, but scholarships are according to their skills, counseling. Assistance with
 7

available to those who are abilities, and interests. The rent, mortgage, and utilities is

experiencing financial organization is specifically based on available funding.

hardship. accredited in community The department offers

Livingston, NJ employment for adults with financial assessments,

More information at: ASD. The staff can also work advocacy, attorney and

https://spectrum360.org/filma with the students to help them accountant services,

cademy360-spectrum360/ arrange transportation to and intevention with creditors,

from work. protective payee ships, and

https://spectrum360.org/culin More information at: assistance with creating a

aryacademy360- https://eclcofnj.org/cps/ budget.

spectrum360/ More information at:

https://ccdom.org/somerset-

family-financial-stabilization