Start-Up Learns From Its Autistic Staff

Matt Sabady of Einstein Productions.

It's all about living, loving and working -- our new mission at YAI. And it's stories like this which are so reaffirming.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Renee Graber graduated from Marquette University nearly two years ago with a major in broadcast and electronic communication and a minor in film studies. After trying to find her footing in Los Angeles, she returned to Milwaukee where she found herself working with Matt Sabady, a 23-year-old with high-functioning autism, at a local Milwaukee start-up company - Einstein Productions - that is breaking the stigma regarding young adults with autism.
Einstein Productions, a nonprofit that opened its doors in September in The Shops of Grand Avenue, aims at assisting two sets of individuals in achieving their future careers in communication: recent graduates of Marquette University's Diederich College of Communication and high-functioning young adults with autism spectrum disorders.

Finding Challenging Work

From Huffington Post's John Elder Robinson, author of Look Me in the Eye and Be Different.

How does an autistic person establish himself or herself in a satisfying career? That's the challenge we all face, and the degree to which we succeed varies quite widely. A lot depends on our social skills, or lack thereof. In my book Be Different (Broadway), I talk about several concepts whose mastery will help you get and keep almost any kind of job.

Farm Provides a 'Life's Work' for Adults

OYSTER BAY, N.Y. -- When Wendy Kaplan gathered her 26-year-old daughter Rachel's circle of support to discuss options for living independently, she thought they would talk about moving to an apartment. But Rachel, who has autism and communicates through typing, had a different idea. She wanted to live on a farm.
Thus began SustainAbility, a one-acre farm is in the height of its inaugural season at the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, Long Island.

'Just Treat Me Like Anybody Else'

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Scott Wood is many things: valedictorian of the Class of 2011 at the Media Arts and Communications Academy, where he also was elected prom king; a budding scholar who is leaning toward studying either accounting or astrophysics when he starts college on a scholarship this fall; a young entrepreneur who spends Saturdays running a booth at the McMinnville Public Market.

He also is autistic. He's willing to talk about the neurodevelopmental disorder that makes communication and interpersonal interaction challenging. In fact, he started his market booth so he could educate people about autism.

However, he doesn't let autism define him, and he doesn't want to be dealt with differently because of it.

"Just treat me like anybody else," he said.

"Don't try to treat me as someone who needs help, or who's different," he said. "Just treat me like anybody else."

17 Wishes from an Adult with Autism

Another illuminating blog entry by the San Fransisco Chrnoicle City Brights' Laura Shumaker with recent Seton Hall graduate and adult with autism Kerry Magro.

SAN FRANSISCO- A thought provoking list from my friend Kerry Magro:

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1. I wish that acceptance was easier to come by

2. I wish that loving one another was always on our mind

3. I wish that an "early diagnosis" remains a high priority

4. I wish that people would stop calling autism a disease

5. I wish that communication becomes easier for everyone with autism. We are trying.

6. I wish that we find more treatments to enhance the lives of people with autism

7. I wish that insurance for autism gets passed in all 50 states

8. I wish that the government would understand the need for services for the autistic in schools

9. I wish that autistic individuals can one day live their lives independently

School for Students with Autism Celebrates First Graduate

Happy Graduation, AJ!

PHILADELPHIA-Overwhelming odds can be just the right trigger for success.

Joanne Corless said she proved that to herself and her family after her son was diagnosed with a severe form of autism before he was 3.

A doctor told the family that they should put AJ in an institution because there was no way he would be able to function normally. Corless couldn’t believe that. She said she found instructors who could work with kids with autism and founded the AJ Corless Foundation for Children with Autism. She later went on to open the Comprehensive Learning Center, a nonprofit private school for kids with autism.

After going through a yearlong approval process with the state Department of Education, the licensed private academic school opened in September 2000 in Holland. It moved to Upper Southampton about two years ago. The pre-k to high school facility has 24 students. The facility is funded through tuition, fundraising, private donations and grants.

Now age 21, AJ was in cap and gown Tuesday to get his diploma as the school’s first and only graduate. He plays the piano and works two part-time jobs. Soft-spoken, yet confident, AJ said he’s about to start a third job this summer.

Autism's First Child

An older piece, but recently came up on The Atlantic's list of "Fantastic Pieces of Journalism." A fascinating story, definitely deserving of the ranking!

FOREST, Miss.- As new cases of autism have exploded in recent years--some form of the condition affects about one in 110 children today--efforts have multiplied to understand and accommodate the condition in childhood. But children with autism will become adults with autism, some 500,000 of them in this decade alone. What then? Meet Donald Gray Triplett, 77, of Forest, Mississippi. He was the first person ever diagnosed with autism. And his long, happy, surprising life may hold some answers.