Spectrum Connections

09/07/2021

New Podcast - "Shared Experiences: Autism-Led Mentoring"

AMP (Autism Mentoring Project), a first-of-its-kind mentoring program for autistic youth, helps both mentors and mentees build confidence and hope through sh...

08/02/2021

Congratulations! You've been accepted into a college program and are working toward a college degree. But going to college is not like going to high school. How will you handle this new and unpredictable world?

For starters, you can check out "College-Ability," an "Autism After 18" podcast about services that help autistic students navigate the new expectations they encounter in college. Our co-hosts talk with Alicia Reinke-Tuthill, the Ability Services Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. Alicia, a dedicated disability services specialist, shares her insights about how autistic students can take advantage of college resources to help them successfully work their way toward achieving their college goals.

Our guest is Alicia Reinke-Tuthill, the manager of Ability Services at UW River Falls. She will tell us why it's important for autistic college students to r...

07/14/2021

Diversity & Inclusion Includes Those on the Spectrum

You're invited to attend CRAFT BREWS for Invisible Autism hosted by Spectrum Connections on 07/22/21.

Show your support and find out what Spectrum Connections is doing to make those on the autism spectrum better trained for higher level roles in leading companies

Date: Thursday, July 22, 2021
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. (CST)
Location: The Lab
67 N. Eustis St., Suite 115, Saint Paul, MN 55114
(located in The Case Building, just off of Hwy 280 and I-94)

Registration is required:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/craft-brews-for-invisible-autism-a-meet-greet-for-spectrum-connections-tickets-160271354937
COST: $30

COME MEET US!
• Meet the Spectrum Connections team
• Learn about our services
• Learn about invisible autism
• Get a drink ticket for a craft beer or a non-alcoholic beverage
• Enjoy snacks from Little Blue Food Truck
• Network and socialize with industry professionals, concerned parents, and supporters

YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

ABOUT SPECTRUM CONNECTIONS - Spectrum Connections trains, motivates, and drives those on the autism spectrum to reach their fullest potential in professional growth and financial compensation by providing key services for transition-age youth, preparation for higher education and employment. With a primary focus on “Invisible Autism,” Spectrum Connections provides gap services when government and educational institutions provide limited or no options. Founded in 2018, Spectrum Connections is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Learn about Spectrum Connections and its services, while networking and socializing in a fun environment with food and libations

07/02/2021

Spectrum Connections is hosting a networking event at a unique brewery in St. Paul.

Learn about Spectrum Connections and its services, while networking and socializing in a fun environment with food and libations

07/01/2021

New Podcast from Autism After 18 - "When Anxiety Hits Overdrive" - a conversation with Kari Dunn Buron, co-creator the of The Incredible 5-Point Scale.

Our guest is Kari Dunn Buron, the co-creator of the Incredible 5-Point Scale.

06/28/2021

Autism After 18 Podcast

When Anxiety Hits Overdrive - An interview with Kari Dunn Buron, creator of The Incredible 5-Point Scale

Everyone feels anxious sometimes. Certainly, we’ve all been anxious
trying to chart the choppy and uncertain waters of the Covid pandemic this last year.

For autistic individuals, anxiety is a constant -- a daily fact of life. Autistic individuals may mask their anxieties in public or social situations, but the demands of “playing it cool” can lead to emotional outbursts when they’re faced with unexpected events, both good and bad. In the words of a common metaphor used in the autistic community, they use all their “spoons.”

After high school, new anxieties about jobs and college can make it
especially hard for them to think clearly and organize their time.
They can get stuck. If they are to achieve their goals, they need strategies to help them manage anxieties during this unsettling time in their lives.

The guest for the July podcast of “Autism After 18” is Kari Dunn Buron. Kari taught autistic students in grades K-12 for over 30 years. With another teacher, she created the 5-point scale, a tool that is widely used by autistics, teachers and parents to help them understand when their anxiety and emotions are getting out of control.

She also developed an Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate program for teachers and has done volunteer work specific to autism in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Tanzania, Nepal and Ghana. Kari is an innovator whose work has made important contributions to what we know about how autistic students learn.

In the podcast, Kari describes the 5-point scale and how it can be used to regain a sense of calm when feeling anxious. She doesn’t just describe the 5-point scale, she takes us through the steps to use the scale and embed those strategies in our “habit memory.”

Please join Tristan and Louise in their insightful conversation with Kari. It will be released on July 1 and is available on YouTube.

06/12/2021

Should I Have a College Roommate?

Should I have a college roommate?by Alicia Reinke TuthillJune 12, 2021June 12, 2021 As first-year students start making major decisions in their transition to college, autistic first-year students are navigating whether it is in their best interest to have a college roommate or not. Many autistic st...

06/01/2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XOoNyAxxTA&t=11s

The podcast shares the stories and perspectives of young autistic adults who are navigating the unruly realities of life after high school. It also features ...

05/28/2021

Navigating the Gap After High School

An interview with John Merges, developer of social enjoyment groups, on the Autism After 18 Podcast. Please join Tristan and Louise in their conversation with John. The podcast will be released on June 1 and will be available on our YouTube Channel and our website at: http://spectrum-connections.org.

Navigating the Gaps After High Schoolby Melva RadtkeMay 28, 2021May 28, 2021 Social skills classes — Been there, done that. Now what? An interview with John Merges, developer of social enjoyment groups Autism After 18 Podcast Many autistic youth take social skills classes as part of their educatio...

05/26/2021

Autism After 18 Podcast

Navigating the Gaps After High School
Social skills classes -- Been there, done that. Now what?

An interview with John Merges, developer of social enjoyment groups

Many autistic youth take social skills classes as part of their education plan. These classes teach a variety of important skills, from how to start a conversation to managing complicated relationships. Unfortunately, these classes generally last for just one or two semesters and provide few opportunities for students to practice their skills “where the rubber hits the road” in the community.

John Merges is a licensed clinical social worker who works in private practice with autistic individuals and their families. He has created a program which helps young autistic adults continue building their social skills through practice in real life social situations he calls Funjoyment Groups. John’s group meetings use a structured agenda and social skills practice to help autistic youth make in-the-moment decisions and develop the confidence they need to constructively manage social situations in the workplace and college. Activities include engaging in two-person and group conversations and negotiating which games to play during dedicated game playing periods.

Most importantly, John’s groups are open-ended. They are offered in a series of sessions throughout the year and participants can continue with a group for as long as they like. As John notes in his book, Guiding Toward Growth:

“Open-ended groups allow culture to be transferred
and can thus create increasingly high standards and expectations.
Individuals introduced into open-ended groups can quickly learn the culture
and can thus make huge strides quickly.”

John also works with local employers to help Funjoyment participants get and keep entry-level jobs. Autistic youth learn job skills, earn a regular paycheck and most importantly -- build confidence in their ability to be sustainably employed.

Participants in John’s groups are better equipped than most to take on jobs and/or college after high school. Their skills aren’t perfect and they’re anxious about what’s ahead (who isn’t?), but their perspectives are shaped by real life experiences that give them a strong foothold during times of transition.

Please join Tristan and Louise in their conversation with John. It will be released on June 1 and is available on YouTube.

05/22/2021

“Thank you so much for the support you gave “John.” I know it was a bit touch and go for a bit, but he pulled through. Your support certainly made a difference in his success.”

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Minnesota

05/04/2021

"Autism After 18" is now viewable on YouTube here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B5NyVodlYE
Andrew and Nic -- two autistic young men -- share their experiences with navigating life as adults.

Our guests are Andrew Larson and Nic Logan, two young autistic adults who are navigating the challenges of living as independent adults.