As the number of diagnosed cases of ASD increases, school professionals must consider not only efficacious teaching approaches for improving academic goals, but also what systems must be in place to address one of the most important jobs of the school systems: preparing capable citizens. For more than 160 years, schools have been tasked with preparing good citizens who are capable of contributing to society through work. Given the fact that schools have been required to provide appropriate educational programming to students with disabilities for decades and that this includes planning for the transition to adulthood, the staggeringly poor employment outcomes of individuals on the autism spectrum should be a cause for concern. The present article reviews the significant problem of unemployment as well as employment supports for individuals with ASD. These supports include both the natural supports (scaffolding to enhance success in obtaining and maintaining employment) as well as technological advances that may minimize ostracization in the workplace. Lastly, recommendations for school psychologists who seek to play a vital role in this critical area are offered.
Most schools have crisis plans to support student safety, but few plans address the complex needs of students with disabilities. School supports should include analysis of school plans and student strengths and needs to ensure that students with disabilities have the best opportunity to be safe in school crises. Recommendations include developing individual emergency and lockdown plans to provide procedures for explicit instruction and needed supports for students with disabilities during a crisis. Implications for such plans and support for their development are included.Mr. Hunter and Ms. Jakobs were looking around their co-taught classroom one afternoon, trying to decide how they could modify their school crisis plan to support three students with varying disabilities. Mr. Hunter told Ms. Jakobs, Before the tornado and school shooting that were in the news last month, I didn't really think about what we might need to do differently to help Jamaya, Sam, and Kesha stay safe, but now, I think we have to create a specific plan due to their unique needs.
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