AANE Webinar: Transition Planning for Autistic Youth – from Public Schools to Postsecondary Education, Employment, and Adult Life

DESCRIPTION: When an autistic individual is “school-aged,” it is natural to focus on helping that student to access and be successful with school. However, the purpose of public education is to prepare students for further education, employment, and independent living. In fact, students who participate in special education in the United States are legally entitled to transition planning and services provided by their school district. Join NESCA Director of Transition Services, Kelley Challen, as she:

• explains why it’s crucial to begin transition planning for adulthood early, even before schools are mandated to start the transition process
• identifies the skills known to make the biggest difference in postsecondary transition planning
• describes key terminology and characteristics of IEP transition services
• outlines important factors and resources related to transition planning such as “turning 18” and connecting with available federal and state benefits and programs

SPEAKER: Kelley Challen, Ed.M., CAS, is NESCA’s Director of Transition Services. She oversees NESCA’s planning, consultation, evaluation, coaching, case management, training, and program development services. She is also the Assistant Director of NESCA, working under Dr. Ann Helmus to support the day-to-day operations of the practice. Ms. Challen began facilitating programs for children and adolescents with special needs in 2004. After receiving her Master’s Degree and Certificate of Advanced Study in Risk and Prevention Counseling from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Ms. Challen spent several years at the MGH Aspire Program where she founded an array of social, life and career skill development programs for autistic teens and young adults. She additionally worked at the Northeast Arc as Program Director for the Spotlight Program, a drama-based social pragmatics program, serving youth with a wide range of diagnoses and collaborating with several school districts to design in-house social skills and transition programs. Ms. Challen is co-author of the chapter “Technologies to Support Interventions for Social- Emotional Intelligence, Self-Awareness, Personality Style, and Self-Regulation” for the book Technology Tools for Students with Autism. She is also a proud mother of two energetic boys, ages six and three. While Ms. Challen has special expertise in supporting autistic students, she provides support to individuals with a wide range of developmental and learning abilities, including students with complex medical needs.

AUDIENCE: This webinar is intended for teens and young adults, aged 14 – 22, their families, and professionals who work with those individuals.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 21, 2022

TIME: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM ET – This webinar will be recorded. If you are not available during the live presentation, registrants will receive the video link to access the recording of the presentation two business days after the session ends. Registrants can access the recorded presentation for 30 days.

WHERE: Online via Zoom

HOST: Michele Cantara, Neurodiversity Training Specialist, AANE

COST: $25 (AANE offers discounted admissions using the buttons below)

REGISTRATION: Advanced registration is required.  After you have registered you will receive a confirmation email. Registrants who do not receive the confirmation email should check their email spam folder. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event. Early registration is highly recommended as many programs fill quickly.