For older children with Asperger’s syndrome, making the transition to adulthood and independence can be difficult. Issues relating to higher education, living away from home, dating, self-advocacy, staying healthy, diet, employment, and legal and financial matters are often daunting. These resources can help:
- Transitioning
- Self-Advocacy
- College
- Employment
- Relationships
- Well Being/Daily Activities
Transitioning
Books
Preparing for Life: The Complete Guide for Transitioning to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. J. Baker. Future Horizons, 2005. Available at: amazon.com
Web
Mapping Your Future. Provides bilingual information with emphasis on money management and financial aid for post-secondary pursuits. mappingyourfuture.org
Youthhood. Includes information and interactive activities to help students connect their interests to possible carreers. youthhood.org
WNY Collegiate Consortium of Disability Advocates (CCDA). Tools for effective college planning include a self-assessment that covers basic life and self-care skills, as well as academic, study, and social skills. There’s also a checklist of possible college accommodations. ccdanet.org
DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology), University of Washington. Promotes the use of computer and networking technologies to increase independence, productivity, and participation in education and career development. Information for transition teams includes “Creating a Transition Program for Teens: How DO-IT does it, and how you can do it, too” and “Invisible Disabilities and Postsecondary Education: Accommodations and Universal Design.” washington.edu/doit
Transition Initiative. Comprehensive and downloadable resources on self-advocacy and transition planning, such as “An Educational Journey from Self Discovery to Advocacy: A Handbook for Students.” ctserc.org
Post-ITT (Postsecondary Innovative Transition Technology). Information on disability disclosure, appropriate documentation of disability, and legal rights in post-secondary education settings. thinkcollege.net
Self Advocacy
Books
Build Your Own Life: A Self-help Guide for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome. W. Lawson. Jessica Kingsley, 2003. Available at: amazon.com
Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum. S. M. Shore. Autism Asperger Pub. Co., 2004. Available at: amazon.com
Web
NCWD/Youth. Includes a wide array of papers, guides, and manuals. See “The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities” for practical advice on making informed decisions about disclosing disability and understanding the impact of those decisions on education, employment, and social life. The site is frequently updated as new research-based findings emerge on improved supports for youth with disabilities. ncwd-youth.info
GRASP. An organization providing those with Asperger’s syndrome and high-functioning autism with community outreach and peer support and a means to reduce the harm caused when behavior diverges from non-autistic norms. grasp.org
Disability.gov. A user-friendly site managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), in partnership with 21 other federal agencies. Includes sections about employment, disability law, health care, government disability benefits, housing, travel assistive technology, and government grants. disability.gov
College
Books
Managing Asperger Syndrome at College and University. C. Jamieson and J. Jamieson. David Fulton Publishers, 2006. Available at: amazon.com
Learning Outside The Lines: Two Ivy League Students With Learning Disabilities And ADHD Give You The Tools. Jonathan Mooney, David Cole. Fireside, 2000. Available at: amazon.com
Going to College: Expanding Opportunities for People with Disabilities. Elizabeth Evans Getzel and Paul Wehman, ed. P.H. Brookes Pub., 2005. Available at: amazon.com
Web
George Washington HEATH Resource Center. An online clearinghouse for postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities. heath.gwu.edu
Wrightslaw. Awealth of information on disability rights and related issues. “Accommodations for College Students” is particularly helpful. wrightslaw.com
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights. Legal rights are detailed in “Auxiliary Aids and Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities: Higher Education's Obligations Under Section 504 and Title II of the ADA Examples of Auxiliary Aids.” ed.gov
Employment
Books
Asperger Syndrome and Employment: Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome. G. Beardon and L. Beardon. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2008. Available at: amazon.com
Developing Talents: Careers for individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High-functioning Autism. Temple Grandin. Autism Asperger Pub. Co., 2008. Available at: amazon.com
How to Find Work that Works for People with Asperger Syndrome: The Ultimate Guide for Getting People with Asperger Syndrome into the Workplace (and keeping them there!). Gail Hawkins. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2003. Available at: amazon.com
Asperger Syndrome Employment Workbook: An Employment Workbook for Adults with Asperger Syndrome. R.N. Meyer. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2000. Available at: amazon.com
Web
Hawkins Institute. Promotes successful practices that help individuals with ASD to secure and maintain employment. hawkinsinstitute.com
AbilitiesFund. Non-profit agency coordinates with state vocational rehabilitation agencies to provide training, information, and access to capital to individuals with disabilities interested in self-employment or the creation of entrepreneurial ventures. abilitiesfund.org
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth). Provides information on disability, education, employment, and workforce development. ncwd-youth.info?
National Business and Disability Council. An excellent resource for students who seek employment. There are webcasts on resume writing, disclosure of disabilities, and networking. nbdc.com
Job Accommodation Network (JAN). A service of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), JAN's mission is to facilitate the employment and retention of workers with disabilities. Their “Accomodation and Compliance Series” publication, “Employees with Asperger Syndrome,” is particularly helpful. jan.wvu.edu/media
DVDs
Asperger Syndrome and Employment: A Personal Guide to Succeeding at Work. Nick Dubin. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2006. Available at: amazon.com
Relationships
Books
Autistics' Guide to Dating: A Book By Autistics, For Autistics and Those Who Love Them or Who Are in Love with Them. Emilia Murray Ramey and Jody John Ramey. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2008.
Available at: amazon.com
Asperger Syndrome and Long-Term Relationships. Ashley Stanford. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2003. Available at: amazon.com
Sex, Sexuality And The Autism Spectrum. Wendy Lawson. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2005. Available at: amazon.com
The Art of Conversation: A Guided Tour of a Neglected Pleasure. Catherine Bly, Gotham, 2008. Available at: amazon.com
How To Start A Conversation And Make Friends. Don Gabor. Fireside, 2001. Available at: amazon.com
How To Win Friends and Influence People. Dale Carnegie. Simon & Schuster, revised edition, 1981. Available at: amazon.com
Asperger Syndrome and Social Relationships: Adults Speak Out About Asperger Syndrome (Adults Speak Out About Asperger Syndrome Series). Gevevieve Edmonds and Luke Beardon, 2008. Available at: amazon.com
Aspergers in Love: Couple Relationships and Family Affairs. Maxine C. Aston. Jessica Kingsley, 2003. Available at: amazon.com
The Other Half of Asperger Syndrome: A Guide to an Intimate Relationship with a Partner who has Asperger Syndrome. Maxine C. Aston. The National Autistic Society, 2001. Available at: amazon.com
Web
ASPIRES An on-line resource for anyone affected by Asperger’s syndrome. Contains links to recent media coverage on ASD as well as informative articles like, “Some Extremely Reasonable Suggestions for ‘Typical’ Parents, Family, and Teachers on Behalf of Kids With Asperger’s Syndrome.” A great site to browse. aspires-relationships.com
GRASP is an organization committed to educational outreach. The Executive Director, 100% of the Advisory Board, and 50% of the Board of Directors of GRASP are individuals with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or Pervasive Developmental Disorder. grasp.org
iPod/iPhone Apps
Body Talk. Detailed written information and video examples aid in the interpretation of body language. There is also a reference section which is essentially a virtual book. This section emphasizes using body language effectively to enhance communication in a variety of contexts (e.g. job interview, dating, etc.). $2.99
The Hidden Curriculum. Browse through 100 briefly explained “unwritten social rules” and save your “favorites.” $1.99
iKnowU. Designed to improve the ability to remember names and faces, this app shows pictures of famous people with their names and then tests your knowledge. You can also load your own pictures. Free.
Beat Social Phobia. Guided audio program to help users overcome social phobia and social anxiety. Designed by a clinical hypnotherapist. $2.99
Well Being/Daily Living Activities
Books
Cooking Made Easy. Eileen Laird. E. Laird, 2000. This is a cookbook made especially for people just learning how to cook, or for people who find other cookbooks sometimes too complicated to use. Available at: amazon.com
Web
State Centers for Independent Living. Nutrition, food preparation, manners, self-image, stress management information, and more, in a very readable format. mtstcil.org
iPhone Apps
Food:
Crock-Pot Slow-Cooker Recipe Finder. Nutritious meals with minimal clean up and no monitoring of what’s on the stove. This app has delicious and easy-to-prepare slow-cooker recipes including main dishes, appetizers, breads, and desserts. After a recipe is selected, the ingredients can be added to a shopping list and/or emailed. Free.
Nutrition Tips. A database of over 500 fun and useful nutrition facts and tips presented by the USDA.gov and Nutrition.gov. It’s simple to use—simply scroll left or right to get to the next tip or shake the device. Free.
Produce Guide—Fruits, Vegetables, Flashcards, and Nutrition. Hints on how to select and store produce. To make recognition easier, there are beautifully photographed flashcards to help identify over 170 different fruits and vegetables. $1.99
Fresh Fruit. Everything you ever wanted to know about fruit: what’s in season, health and nutrition info, and more. Even details the history of each fruit and tells you what country it's from. Free.
Fast Food Calorie Counter. Make health-conscious choices when eating on the go. This app for iPod contains nutritional information for almost every fast food joint out there—from McDonald’s to Big Apple Bagels, Sonic to Chevys Fresh Mex! $2.99
Eight Glasses A Day. Helps you keep track of how much water you drink. Every time you drink a glass of water, touch the glass on your iPod screen to tally. If you drink eight glasses of water during the day, the iPod app rewards you with a piece of wisdom! Free.
Laundry:
Tide Stain Brain. Lists stains and recommends apporpriate remedies. Free.
Purex Laundry Help. Decodes symbols/icons on clothing care labels, and provides fabric care according to fabric type. Laundry basics, fabric care guide, stain guide. Free.
Hygiene:
iBrush Shows the simplest and most effective way to prevent cavities and gum disease. Demonstrates correct procedures and times brushing in each part of the mouth. Free.
CavityFree 3D. 3D dental animations guide you through the entire process of brushing and flossing your teeth, with and without braces. Free.
Sleep:
Sleep Tracker. Made by the makers of Tylenol, this app is easy to use and lets you track your sleep patterns and access many strategies to improve sleep. Free.
First Aid:
Pocket First Aid & CPR. American Heart Association info includes detailed videos, step-by-step illustrations, and rich content covering everything from cuts and bruises to seizures and choking.
Finance and Home
Web
U.S. Social Security Administration. Information on Supplemental Security Income (SSI). ssa.gov/pubs
Mountain State Centers for Independent Living. Information on housing rights, what to look for in a lease, and questions to ask a landlord. mtstcil.org
HUD. Extensive information on all things related to housing. portal.hud.gov
iPod Apps
HUD Glossary Lite. A glossary of real estate and banking terms. Free.
HomeRoutines. Makes it simple for you to keep track of your regular household chores and routines—and adds a bit of fun with gold stars and the world's most triumphant music at the end of the 15-minute timer! And at the end of the day, you can look at your accomplishments list and say "Go, me!" $4.99
Mental Health & Personal Account
Books
Asperger Syndrome and Anxiety: A Guide to Successful Stress Management. Nick Dubin. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2009. Available at: amazon.com
Solutions for Adults with Asperger's Syndrome: Maximizing the Benefits, Minimizing the Drawbacks to Achieve Success. Juanita Lovett. Quayside Publishing Group, 2005. Available at: amazon.com
Asperger's Syndrome and Mindfulness: Taking Refuge in the Buddha. Chris Mitchell. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2009. Available at: amazon.com
Asperger's From the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome. M.J. Carley. Penguin Group, 2009. Available at: amazon.com
Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome. L.H. Willey. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1999. Available at: amazon.com
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s. J.E. Robison. Three Rivers Press, 2008. Available at: amazon.com
Asperger Employment Employment Workbook: An Employment Workbook for Adults with Asperger Syndrome. Roger N. Meyer. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1999. Available at: amazon.com
Taking Responsibility: Good Practice Guidelines for Services adults with Asperger Syndrome. A. Powell. The National Autistic Society, 2002. Available at: amazon.com
iPod/iPhone Apps
iCounselor Anger. Rate your current level of anger, then select a calming activity from among those offered. Suggestions for changing thinking, based on cognitive-behavioral psychology principles, are also included. $0.99
Long Deep Breathing. Offers a simple and accessible way to learn and practice deep breathing. $0.99
Learning from bees.
Some children with ASD do not recognize a need to improve their social skills. How to explain what’s in it for them. Learn more.
What stimulates sensory systems, muscles and is calming to lie on top of? Stability balls. Learn more.
Losing track of time. Help your child with time management by making it visual. Learn more.
Addressing anxiety, depression, anger and low self-esteem. A game which can be used to help modify emotions. Learn more.
This website is UNDER CONSTRUCTION! Links are NOT YET ACTIVE; content is NOT UPDATED! You can visit our card game Website https://cookiesinthebathtub.com to read about our card game for Aspergers kids and their parents!
