AJ Drexel Autism Institute

Committed to access to justice for Pennsylvanians with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, along with the Department of Human Services (DHS) is pleased to announce a virtual forum TOMORROW at 11AM EST Autism and... the Courts a Regional Discussion, aimed at learning about court experiences from individuals with an ASD. Join Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty along with DHS and representatives from the judiciary, law enforcement, healthcare, social work and advocacy communities and those living with and/or supporting someone with an ASD for a virtual roundtable on challenges faced by individuals with autism as they seek access to justice. http://ow.ly/KA1O50DoZ7F

The Drexel Business Inclusion Center supports businesses to build a neurodiverse and inclusive workforce and connects career-ready talent to employment! Watch our video below to learn more! The Business Inclusion Center is a collaboration between Autism Life Course Outcomes Research's Transition Pathways and Community Integrated Services. https://youtu.be/lamOUk4cn_8

A.J. Drexel Autism Institute is seeking young adults on the autism spectrum, 18+ who are in their last year of high school (graduating Spring 2021) or who Drexel Autism Institute is seeking young adults on the autism spectrum, 18+ who are in their last year of high school (graduating Spring 2021) or who are experiencing their first year post high school. We’re also looking to recruit caregivers and providers working with young adults to participate in the study. For more info...rmation, check out the flyer. If you are a young adult or parents and are interested in participating, please fill out the interest form at: https://tinyurl.com/SODIscreener or email our team at [email protected] experiencing their first year post high school. We’re also looking to recruit caregivers and providers working with young adults to participate in the study. For more information, check out the flyer. If you are a young adult or parents and are interested in participating, please fill out the interest form at: https://tinyurl.com/SODIscreener or email our team at [email protected] See more

The next Fathers Autism Support Group will be held this Saturday, February 20th, at 11AM EST. For information on how to join, email [email protected].

The Autism Institute is excited to offer a support group for fathers with children on the autism spectrum in partnership with Dr. Robert Naseef, clinical psychologist at Alternative Choices, and Dr. Michael Hannon, Associate Professor of Counseling at Montclair State University. The Fathers' Autism Support Group will be meeting on Zoom on the third Saturday of the month at 11AM EST, starting this weekend. January 16 February 20 March 20... April 17 May 15 Email [email protected] for login info.

Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute- Policy & Analytics Center’s #criminal #justice survey is here! If you are an #autistic individual, family member, or criminal justice professional, please take the survey and share it with your network: www.GlobalCriminalJusticeSurvey.com. Survey results will be used to nations around the world.

To support individuals living with autism and their families, The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), and the Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training Collaborative (ASERT Autism Resources) are trying to learn more about training needs among providers across all systems that support individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and their families. This survey is anonymous and any contact information that you provide will be kept separately from your survey responses. The data collected from this survey will be used by ODP to inform trainings that reflect the needs of provider and professional organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. https://drexel.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9ufLBe49nfL5WRf

We hope you can join us this coming Saturday, December 19 for our last meeting of 2020. We continue to support each other within our multiracial and multifaith group as men who are loving and caring for someone with autism while acknowledging there are problems in our lives and worlds that we cannot change. The holiday season which has already begun with Chanukah poses extra stresses which are now intensified through the public health crisis. As we do at every meeting, we s...hared our fears along with our gratitude for what is working for us so far. One father spoke of his daily worry for his adult son on the spectrum who works in a hospital. Those with young and newly diagnosed children were blessed by his story of his son being gainfully employed. We faced the reality of the pandemic closing in and getting closer as many of us, our children, and other family and friends have been exposed to or directly affected by the virus. There is a palpable tension that comes with the legitimate fear, honest skepticism and tentative hope as news of vaccine distribution dominates our headlines. Our honest discussion of the heartbreak for the way life used to be, the resolve required in facing each new day, and the hope and faith for better times was - and is - liberating. Wishing you and your families peace and safety for the holidays, Robert & Michael Email [email protected] for login information.

Have an idea for autism-related programming in Philadelphia? The Philadelphia Autism Project is seeking applications around Online Opportunities, COVID-19 Support, Reaching Underserved and/or Vulnerable Populations, and Support and/or Self Advocacy Groups. Applications due 2/1. Apply here! https://www.phillyautismproject.org/2021seedawards/

On October 8th and 9th the Global Autism and Criminal Justice Consortium convened the Global Autism and Criminal Justice Summit, sponsored by the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR). This 2-day workshop led by the Policy and Analytics Center at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute laid the foundation for an INSAR policy brief aimed at improving, reducing, and preventing criminal justice interactions for autistic individuals. For more information please visit www.dre...xel.edu/autism/criminaljustice #autism #asd #autismawareness #criminaljustice #justice #system #cjreform #GlobalJustice #ASD #autism #AutismINSAR #justice #criminaljustice This work would not be possible without the partnership from our international and interdisciplinary team of researchers, policymakers, criminal justice system professionals, self-advocates, and family members across the countries of Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Ireland, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Please see the comments for a list of affiliations

Check out this a fantastic new resource \ put together by Abigail Love and the Police Autism Community Training (PACT), a group based in Lexington, KY dedicated to training first responders about how to work effectively with people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information on PACT, please visit pactautism.com. http://ow.ly/4yNS50D0kJM

Don't forget to register for the VIRTUAL 8th Annual Autism Public Health Lecture, "Nothing About Us Without Us: Autistic People Shaping Research and Policy About Our Lives" from Julia Bascom, the Executive Director of the Autism Self Advocacy Network. http://ow.ly/AEIi50C4g0D

In case you missed last week's Autism Public Health Lecture, "Nothing About Us Without Us: Autistic People Shaping Research and Policy About our Lives" from speaker Julia Bascom last week, the video of the lecture, as well as a transcript and slides from the talk are now available on our website. https://drexel.edu//autism-and-public-health-lecture-seri/

Another finding from the recently released National Autism Indicators Report on health and health care: more than half of autistic children had some kind of public health insurance. Read more about this and other findings at drexel.edu/AutismOutcomes/NAIRhealth

The Philadelphia Autism Project's virtual, 5th Annual Conference is just around the corner! Here's a look at what's on the agenda! Register for free here: http://bit.ly/2020PhillyAP_Conference #PhillyAP .... . #PhillyAutism #PHL #PhillyEvents #PA #pennsylvania #education #autism #Community #philly #philadelphia #asd #selfadvocates #advocates See more

Join the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University this Thursday at 4PM for the next webinar in the second installment of the Emerging Issues in the Coronavirus Pandemic Webinar Series, "What Happens When We Have A Vaccine?" http://ow.ly/XvVb50BWoYs

Autism Life Course Outcomes Research Transition Pathways School-to-Work Transition Programs Project SEARCH and Project Career Launch are accepting applications now through tomorrow, December 4th at 5PM. Contact [email protected] with any questions. http://ow.ly/ooFR50CbCeq

Please join us virtually for the rescheduled 8th Annual Autism Public Health Lecture: "Nothing About Us Without Us: Autistic People Shaping Research and Policy About Our Lives" from Julia Bascom, the Executive Director of the The Autistic Self Advocacy Network ... Tuesday, December 1, 2020 11AM - 1PM with a welcome from the office of Mayor Jim Kenney and introductory remarks from the office of Senator Bob Casey, Jr. http://ow.ly/TT0V50BUo40

DrexelNow did a great write up on Autism Grows Up: Medicaid’s Role in Serving Adults on the Spectrum, the latest paper to come out of the Policy and Analytics Center. http://ow.ly/rODR50BTLjQ

When I was trying to find a job, some of the fears I had was whether this job fits me. Does this job fit with my skills or intelligence? Project Career Launch helped me with this. - Giovanni Carrion Our latest blog post is a profile of one of Autism Life Course Outcomes Research's Project Career Launch students. http://ow.ly/Oufm50BRjum

The NJ Autism Center of Excellence is hosting a live webinar tomorrow at 3PM on "Understanding the perspective of the Autistic Community in research" featuring Dora M. Raymaker, PhD. http://ow.ly/g5sa50BOe2a

At a time when we all need support, we have been encouraged as we welcome visitors to our monthly Philadelphia based Zoom meetings from far and wide. When we met on September 26, children were back in school either virtually or in person, parents were struggling and worried about safety. The Grand Jury in Kentucky had ruled on the Brianna Taylor case. There was also a 13-year-old white boy on the spectrum who was shot by the police in Salt Lake City after his mom called for h...elp because he was having a meltdown. Initially, our discussion was mostly about coping strategies, such as making a safety plan for various situations and disclosing our family members autism diagnosis whenever and wherever necessary to keep them out of harm's way. It was acknowledged that when we face our fears, what actually happens, if anything at all, is usually more manageable then we anticipated. It takes courage to face these feelings as opposed to avoid them which is easier in the short run. As usual, we shared what is going right, what our children are learning and achieving, and how we are changing and evolving as men, parents, and partners. Our multiracial, multifaith, and neurodiverse group membership continues to be powerful and encouraging. We hope to see you at our next meeting, Saturday, October 17, at 10:00 AM, Eastern. With gratitude we welcome you to the safe and soulful space that our group is growing into and providing. Come to share your experiences, the difficulties and the joys, and learn along with us. Stay safe and peace brothers, Robert & Michael Please email [email protected] for login information.

Last week, an international group of #autism and justice system experts from ten countries including #ARCAP researchers, Vicki Gibbs and Abbey Love met to w...ork on developing a policy brief aimed at supporting #Autistic people at different stages of the #criminaljusticesystem. This project, led by Drexel University / AJ Drexel Autism Institute and funded by International Society for Autism Research, INSAR, will also include an international survey of autistic people, their family members and justice system professionals. It is hoped that the policy brief will be used by agencies such as #police, #corrections and #courts as a framework for making adaptations for Autistic people and will also serve as a guide for future research. More about this project: https://www.autismspectrum.org.au//our-research-program/cjs

This morning, Councilmember Derek Green contributed to the discussion on the intersection between justice interactions and individuals on the spectrum or who id...entify as neurodiverse at The International Society for Autism Research, INSAR Global Criminal Justice Summit, with participants convening locally, nationally and internationally! #PhillyAP . . . #GlobalJustice #ASD #autism #AutismINSAR #PhillyAutism #PHL #PhillyEvents #PA #pennsylvania #education #Community #philly #philadelphia #advocates #justice #criminaljustice

Join Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University tomorrow at 4PM for the next webinar in the second installment of the Emerging Issues in the Coronavirus Pandemic Webinar Series, COVID-19 and Cities. http://ow.ly/5Z0550BL1PF

Drexel University got a mention on this week's 60 Minutes during their "Talent on the Spectrum" segment. Give it a watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnAUy4BM0w8&feature=youtu.be