Center for Adults With Autism

Get Involved

As stated in our mission and vision, the Center for Adults with Autism focuses on offering high quality interdisciplinary educational opportunities for TU students through facilitating programs designed for young adults on the spectrum. Our goal is to have students gain a heightened awareness of the strengths and challenges of young adults on the autism spectrum and take this awareness into other settings, including their current and future work roles.

Volunteer Opportunities

Participation is needed for a study on the hearing and listening abilities of adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), or PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).

The study will be conducted at the Towson University Speech‐Language and Hearing Center (TUSLHC) at Towson University. If you choose to participate in the study you will be asked to visit the TUSLHC two to three times over a one month period. You will receive a free hearing test as a part of this study. We will provide free parking for all participants.

If you would like to participate in this study or if you would like more information about this research please contact:

Allison Godlewicz
(908) 770‐5214
agodlewicz@gmail.com

Principal Investigator: Jennifer L. Smart, Ph.D.
(410) 704‐3105
JSmart@towson.edu
_______________________________________________________________________________

Research opportunity available for adults on the autism spectrum with Dr. Brian Hand,
Towson University, Department of Kinesiology.

Topic: The impact of exercise (or lack of exercise) on balance, walking gait, and muscular strength in young adults with autism spectrum disorders. Participants will perform pre testing on one evening and post testing will take place on another evening approximately eight weeks later. We will work with you to set up an evening that is most convenient for you for both pre and post testing.

Letter of Explanation
Consent form

When: Typically, the testing sessions will run from 5:30-7:30pm, however the time to complete the assessments will be approximately 45 minutes.

Contact: Dr. Brian Hand by phone at 410-704-3169 or by email at BHand@towson.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

aid Opportunities

Baltimore County – Towson/Loch Raven Village Area
Starting January 31, 2011

Are you looking for a job near you that is fun and rewarding? Richcroft, Inc., a non-profit agency, seeks responsible and dependable staff to work with a young gentleman with Autism.
A perfect job for a student. We try to be flexible with study schedules.

We are looking for one or more individuals to fill the following shifts:

Mondays 3:30 – 6pm
Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays 3:15pm - 5:30pm
Wednesdays 1p-5:30pm.

Must use own personal vehicle and have a valid driver’s license with less than 3 pts. Pays $12.00 per hour.

If interested, please contact Paige Pape at cell 410-591-1588 for more information and interview. Download the informational flyer here.

______________________________________________________________________

Perfect job for a student. Richcroft, Inc., a non-profit agency, seeks responsible and dependable staff to work with a young gentleman with Autism. Located in the Towson area just minutes from campus. We are looking for to fill the following shift:

Wednesdays 1p-5:30pm.

Must use own personal vehicle and have a valid driver’s license with less than 3 pts. Pays $12.00 per hour.

Position to start ASAP.

If interested, please contact Paige Pape at cell 410-591-1588 for more information and interview.

Student Opportunities

Job Posting: Family in Pikesville/Greenspring area looking for energetic, reliable college student with good communications skills and a career interest in autism spectrum disorders or occupational therapy to spend two to four hours per week with our son, a 20-year-old on the autism spectrum, doing recreational activities such as basketball, tennis, or movie-going or occasionally helping with computer or organizational tasks in the home. Male preferred. $15/hr. Call Mitch (father) at 443-326-7005.

Job Posting: Parent Seeking Dance Instructor for Daughter
I am looking for an Irish dance instructor to work one-on-one with my 26 year old ASD daughter who has had classes for the past 9 years. Will pay for lessons.
If interested, please contact Jan Robb (mother) at 410-377-2128 for more information.

2010 College Scholarship Application Period Opens Next Month
OAR will soon accept applications for the 2011 Schwallie Family Scholarship program. The submission deadline for this year’s competition will be April 29, 2011. These scholarships are for one academic year, $3,000 each, to be applied towards tuition, books, and other expenses associated with higher learning.
To be eligible, students with an established autism or Asperger Syndrome diagnosis must be accepted for enrollment or pursuing undergraduate studies at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States during the fall 2011 semester. This can include four-year colleges or universities; two-year colleges; and trade, technical, or vocational training programs.
For more information, please visit OAR’s website.

Job Posting: Parent seeking direct assistance to College-aged daughter
I am seeking a student as a paid internship or simply for a fee to provide direct assistance to my daughter who will be attending Baltimore County Community College at Essex this Spring 2010. This student must know how to drive (to transport Samantha to/from school) and be able to assist her with organizational skills and to develop appropriate social skills. She will also assist, participate in auxiliary summer school training, cooking classes, craft classes, etc. Samantha is highly functioning in some areas, and low functioning in others.

A secondary teacher (special education) would be great.

Students who are qualified/interested can apply to me, Virginia L. Grant, directly via email: vlg@vlgfoundation.org

Job Posting: Parent Seeking After School Care for Son

I have a 15 year old son with autism that I'm having difficulty finding "after school" care for. My son is a high school freshman and he attends Cedar Lane School, Fulton, MD. We currently live in Ellicott City, MD. The care would be provided in the afternoon at our Ellicott City home.

The hours would be 2:45 PM until 6:15 PM, Monday through Friday. Salary is negotiable, but $12/hr. is what I have in mind. My son does not speak, but he has an effective means of communicating his needs. The bus drops him off at the house (end of driveway) so there is no additional driving. My son usually does not have homework, but if he does, I'll take care of it when I get home. Mostly, it would be heating food in the microwave; the only item that may require using the stove would be cooking rice.
There is opportunity for additional hours on days off from school, winter break during the holidays, spring break which is usually around Easter and I always need help during the summer months!

Thank you
Jamie

Please contact James Russell, if interested.
410-465-1343 (home)
443-479-1065 (work)
410-241-4478 (cell)
rjames885@aol.com

WANTED: Mentor for Young Adult Male with Asperger Syndrome

Hours Needed:
• Mon, Wed, Fri: 8-11AM including driving to CCBC Essex campus to drop off for 11:15 class
• Tues & Thurs: 9AM- Noon

Job Description: Assisting and supervising young adult male to complete morning routine including:
• Getting out of bed
• Taking AM meds
• Preparing & Eating Breakfast
• Cleaning up after breakfast
• Hygiene
• Dress appropriate for weather
• Put away clothing and hang up towels
• Making sure necessary supplies are taken with him to campus including:
-Wallet - $20 cash, Student ID
-Keys
-Cell Phone
-Backpack including Laptop & Adaptor, Audio Recorder, Notebook, Textbook, Pens & supplies.
Ask him if he has any papers or assignments that are due and need to taken with him.

Goals:
• Following a functional morning routine in a timely manner.
• Being organized and prepared for the day.
• Arriving to class on time.
• Proper hygiene and dress.
• Keeping apartment in order.
• Eating breakfast.
• Communicating salient information appropriately to the right person at the correct time.

Student's Profile:
He has Asperger Syndrone, a communciation and social disability that causes social anxiety and difficulty communicating necessary information to the appropriate person when needed. His expressive language is often monotone and soft-spoken, so at times you may need to ask him to speak louder. He often needs prompting and reminders to talk about or discuss issues involving the present or future planning. He processes auditory and visual information differently and more slowly than most people. Communication that is direct and concise is better when you are assisting him to complete a task. He needs encouragement to do most activities of daily living. Often he is overwhelmed and confused when he is expected to function independently. Patience, a good sense of humor and kindness are important qualities for this position. Many of the mundane activities of everyday living are ignored or seem unimportant to him. He tells me that cleaning his apartment is a waste of time and he needs to do ... something else. He is often overly focused on academic and intellectual pursuits.
He has Attention Deficit Disorder and is extremely disorganized. His executive functions, the skills needed to get things done, are poor. Initiation or getting started is slow and difficult. Being attentive or focused on the purposeful activity and not being distracted by extraneous stimuli is challenging. Inhibiting impulses and delaying gratification so that the goal is achieved is difficult. Shifting attention when needed or transitioning from one purposeful activity to the next is extremely difficult and takes more time than expected. Time management is especially difficulty. He seems to have no concept of time and needs to be overtaught how to understand and keep track of time. His mentors must be his time keepers, yet teach him to master this skill. Prioritizing is challenging. Many times his decisions about what is most important, what should be done first or considered top priority is not realistic. Planning and keeping to a schedule are very difficult and impossible for him to accomplish at this time on his own. Executive Function skills need to be overtaught.

Salary: $12-15/hour depending on experience

Please email lsindler@towson.edu if interested.

Center for Adult with Autism
Enrollment Services, Room 323
Phone: 410-704-4486
Fax: 410-704-2322
http://www.towson.edu/chp/caasd
caa@towson.edu

Calendar 2012 (updated) Download and print the Center brochure.