(Thanks for the Photo, JM)

The next thing I know, we went from doing warm ups to learning about making films and getting to understand how much work it takes to do film.

By the end of two weeks of film camp, we were finished, and we each participated in the making of two movies. After film camp I learned it was not as bad as I thought it would be. I gained more confidence.

We became a group of people that will remember each other even though we paved our own ways. In December, 2011, we will come together for a special event – our own red carpet premiere. I am looking forward to it.

Despite the statistics (only 10% of adults with autism maintain even part-time employment), this excellent article from the New York Times highlights a young man who is working toward achieving his personal and professional goals as he transitions toward adulthood. Justin has advocated for his goals of one day living in his own apartment and possibly even having a girlfriend. With the support of his family and continued exposure to vocational opportunities, his goal of affording his own place will likely come to fruition.

Read the entire New York Times article Autistic and Seeking a Place in an Adult World.

Just as Justin’s parents are amazed by what he has accomplished, we at AHEADD are amazed by our students triumphs. But should we be? These individuals have tremendous talents and strengths; they may simply benefit from additional social or organizational support in order to harness them. We have seen many of our students struggle to find jobs or maintain employment, but we have also seen many individuals succeed in reaching their vocational goals and maintain steady employment for years. With this level of success in mind, AHEADD continues to participate in many opportunities to increase support in the community and the workplace for individuals with ASD, as well as to help families and individuals on the spectrum obtain and maintain employment.

This summer, AHEADD partnered with Joey Travolta to host a two-week, 5 hours per day working film camp, providing invaluable vocational experience in addition to appropriate and individualized support for each camper.

This Fall, AHEADD will present vocational trainings to employers as well as informational sessions to community members, sponsored with funds from the CMS Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (CFDA #93.768).

Achieving Vocational Success with ASD is a 2-hour interactive training and is appropriate for individuals who employ, work alongside, and/or have potential to work with individuals with ASD. Training project for employers and staff will focus on:

1. Increased awareness of autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger’s Disorder
2. Increased understanding of the inherent value of employing persons with ASDs
3. Effectively supporting individuals diagnosed with ASD
4. Communicating, critiquing and problem solving with individuals diagnosed with ASD

Community information sessions will allow AHEADD to inform adults with ASD, their families, and their support staff ways in which to obtain and maintain employment. We will provide information on community resources such as The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and help families get the ball rolling for employment. We will address

1. identifying skills and interests
2. learning ways to self advocate and understand one’s diagnosis
3. what employers will expect during interviews and employment
4. appropriate social behavior on the job
5. methods of receiving constructive criticism

Stay tuned for information on these trainings and join our mailing list on the main page (aheadd.org) to receive these updates automatically.

and GREAT COSTUMES

Two stiffs were at the party.

Chewy the scary pumpkin!

Don't mess with these guys.

Social Group members met for the first time last Wednesday to begin the semester with a Marshmallow Challenge! This activity can facilitate creative thinking and teamwork to create a structure out of masking tape, string, and raw spaghetti all topped with a marshmallow that can either hold the pieces together, or serve as enough weight to make the structure come toppling down. The pictures below prove that the group members succeeded in creating a solid structure. Way to go, guys!

Find out more about The Marshmallow Challenge here!

The planning stages...

Teamwork!

The Final Product!

I loved this camp and had so much fun. It was great learning form the flimakers and I love wacthing the students create or come up with things. I was just in awe of how creative these students were.

I got to help out with the group of older students. It was great getting to know all of them and I love how they were so willing to do things – form dancing in the morning, to playing acting games, and even coming up with ideas and brainstorming.

Joey Travolta’s flim camp was a great and enriching experince for me, not only as a participant, but as someone who hopes to be a future teacher. It is an experience I’ll always remember and that I can’t stop talking about! I cant wait till next year!!

Photo by Nicole Jarock

I worked with the younger students at the camp and, even though they were younger, they did not lack professionalism, work ethic or maturity. The film crew was amazing and developed such a safe and creative environment which allowed absolutely everyone the chance to explore and push their comfort zones to build their range of untapped talents.

My last note about the camp pertains to the social aspect of the film camp. Beginning every day by dancing set the energy for the day. Dancing together, in pairs and in groups created unspoken alliances and appreciation for one another. Even though the campers were split in two groups to develop two films, we came together to have lunch. It was amazing to see the friendships develop among the campers. I could go on and on about the peer mentors, the social, educational and vocational skills that campers gained, as well as the amazing product. I look forward to seeing the final product but I know that the film will never capture all of the incredible interactions, relationships and growth that everyone experienced!

Watch this short clip of some of our campers’ dance moves!

Joey’s background in special education and performance, as well as his humor and ability to relate to young adults on the spectrum, enables him to create a fun and inclusive learning environment. Joey and each member of his crew are gifted in their abilities to help young adults harness their strengths and use them to their full potential. They encourage thinking outside the box and provide students with a “blank page,” as they call it, and the young adults take the opportunity to create masterpieces.

So…what did these young adults learn over the course of the two weeks? For many, this was the first opportunity to complete a task from start to finish with a team of peers. Within a few days, campers learned to appreciate others’ ideas, make personal connections with others, and to work as a team. Campers were required to move out of their comfort zones and overcome stereotypes of what autism is thought to be. In a group setting such as this, there is no room for rigidity; each camper was expected to be flexible and to problem solve with others. In the classroom and on the set, ideas were heard and shared diplomatically, and compromise was a must in order to complete the tasks at hand. Campers were expected to maintain a daily work schedule, report to professional film staff, and do their part to assist in the scripting, acting, editing, and direction of a short film they can call their own. These young adults can take what they have learned with them as they transition towards a world of work – now with more experience and self confidence.

So many young adults enter the world of work unprepared in the areas of vocational and social skills; AHEADD is dedicated to preparing our community members for the world of work by means of the traditional AHEADD Model of support, as well as opportunities such as this camp.

We at AHEADD have taken quite a bit away from this experience as well. We were given an incredible opportunity to connect with students and campers in a non-traditional manner, outside of our typical professional and academic realm of interaction. We have watched these campers blossom in a short two weeks and can only hope for similar opportunities for our students in the future. AHEADD extends a huge THANK-YOU to the Joey Travolta Film Crew, as well as our amazing young adults, for making this summer’s camp a great success!

Please visit Joey’s website at http://www.inclusionfilms.com/ to learn more about Inclusion Films. Also, watch for individual campers’ stories over the course of the next few weeks here on this blog.

(You can add the AHEADD blog to your google reader by “adding a subscription” to aheadd.org/blog)

Such was not always the case. At the orientation the night before camp, I realized I was the only girl. Nervous, I told my parents that I wasn’t really sure I wanted to do the camp. I’m shy, so it is hard for me to talk to people. But on the first day, I quickly warmed up.

We’ve done so many things these past two weeks that I couldn’t have done anywhere else. We let loose with dancing each morning and played fun, creative games. We wrote and filmed a commercial, designed a movie poster and, best of all, starred in our own “movies.” Every hour of this experience was terrific. I’ve learned so much about filming, editing, acting, and life. I know for sure that I want to do this again next summer!

~Alaina