AUTISM SERVICES ASSOCIATION INC

ASA is committed to maximum feasible development of day-habilitation specialized need areas, vocational, social and community skills in individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. This triad of skill areas is essential to optimal job functioning since substantial deficiencies in any skill area will impact on the individuals' ability to be hired, to hold jobs and to be an integrated community member. It is ASA's belief that all of its participants are capable of supported work provided they are given adequate and appropriate supports.

The maximization of individuals' essential job and job-related skills involves creating and promoting normative conditions conducive to personal development and growth.

It further involves:

A. locating competitive employment and employer paid jobs which match individuals strengths and needs;

B. providing long term on-site training and supervision;

C. providing both vocational and social training opportunities (which are either natural or engineered according to individual needs) in alternative job-sites for
those individuals whose levels of skills and highly intensive needs for staffing presently do not allow for full day work tolerance and a high level of independent production rate.

D. long term planning for every participant in appropriate job matches, quality of job sites and careful increasing of job responsibilities and work responsibilities based on the individuals' increasing independence.

The goal of the program is to maximize the individual's vocational potential in order to participate as an integrated member of the community and as a participant in the productive development of the community.

ASA’s Day Habilitation Services allows those members to participate in an active therapeutic treatment. Members receive training in sensory, self-help, social, communication, behavior, affective and independent living. The program emphasizes on increasing a member’s level of functioning and to facilitate independent living and self-management in the community and to prepare for movement out of day habilitation and into community and employment services.

ASA is committed to maximum feasible development of day-habilitation specialized need areas, vocational, social and community skills in individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. This triad of skill areas is essential to optimal job functioning since substantial deficiencies in any skill area will impact on the individuals' ability to be hired, to hold jobs and to be an integrated community member. It is ASA's belief that all of its participants are capable of supported work provided they are given adequate and appropriate supports.

The maximization of individuals' essential job and job-related skills involves creating and promoting normative conditions conducive to personal development and growth.

It further involves:

A. locating competitive employment and employer paid jobs which match individuals strengths and needs;

B. providing long term on-site training and supervision;

C. providing both vocational and social training opportunities (which are either natural or engineered according to individual needs) in alternative job-sites for those individuals whose levels of skills and highly intensive needs for staffing presently do not allow for full day work tolerance and a high level of independent production rate.

D. long term planning for every participant in appropriate job matches, quality of job sites and careful increasing of job responsibilities and work responsibilities based on the individuals' increasing independence.

The goal of the program is to maximize the individual's vocational potential in order to participate as an integrated member of the community and as a participant in the productive development of the community.

• The above objectives are to be achieved through these
interventions:

• intensive staffing;
• 250 days of annual service;
• analysis of the communicative functions of individual's behavior;
• analysis of individual needs and strengths through situational assessment.
• multiple planned job and community experiences;
• staff support through state of the art training in autism, communication and behavior;
• cooperation and regular communications with families and providers of other services to ASA participants
• cooperation and communication with Department of Developmental Services Local
Service Centers, local school systems, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and other governmental Offices.

ASA provides an intense, relevant and rich array of developmental experiences in daily living, community, vocational and employment areas that contain high expectation and challenges for each individual, allow for intelligent and dignified risk taking, and respect the individuals' competencies and preferences;

•Specific technical assistance is provided in the following areas: Developmental specialist,
Job Coaching and Work Training, safety skills, work behaviors, mobility/motor skills and social/behavioral/communication strategies.

ASA Semi- annual report indicated that ASA is providing services to 89 individuals. We have 65 in our Community Based Day Supports and Supported Employment program and 24 in the Day Habilitation Program.

This report indicates that 80% of the persons we serve are working in the community with job coach supports. The earnings during this six month period has increased from last year to 5%. Of the 89 persons served 95% are participating in community and 53% have experienced volunteering. 54% of the individuals are meeting their goals set forth by their ISP and 23% are making progress.

ASA's has increased the amount of person's served in competitive employment with job coach supports from pervious years.

ASA continues to maintain our certifications by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, is accredited nationally by CARF, the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission, and is a member of ADDP, the Autism Society of America, the Asperger’s Association of New England, and the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers.