Kathleen McKiernan reports at The Boston Herald:
Autistic adults in Massachusetts will for the first time be able to access employment, clinical and housing services simultaneously through a groundbreaking partnership between Work Inc. in Dorchester and the May Institute in Randolph.
The Center for Integrated Adult Autism Services — which officials are calling the first of its kind in the region — is designed to provide adults with skills and resources they need to live and work independently.
“This is a very unique, unprecedented collaboration between a phenomenal clinical agency like the May Institute and a phenomenal vocational agency like Work Inc.,” said James Cassetta, president of Work Inc. “Over the years, there has been little to no collaboration between the clinical expertise and vocational.”
...An April news release from the May Institute:
It was created in response to the state’s Autism Omnibus Act, a measure hailed as landmark legislation passed in 2014 to address unmet needs of people with ASD who are 22 or older
May Institute and Work, Inc., two Massachusetts-based organizations committed to improving the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other special needs, have recently opened the Center for Integrated Adult Autism Services to provide clinical, employment, and housing services for adults with ASD across Massachusetts. The Center is also able to respond to the needs of individuals with a dual diagnosis of ASD and a co-occurring disorder.
The Center’s goal is to equip individuals with the skills, resources, and supports they need to live and work successfully in their communities. Designed as a “center without walls,” services are provided at the point of need.
Services are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and through third-party insurance. The Center is now accepting referrals for adults on the autism spectrum who are in need of a combination of clinical and therapeutic supports, employment and supported education services, and housing options that include independent and shared living.
“Today, we face an overwhelming number of individuals with autism who are aging out of federally funded educational programs but still in need of continuing services and supports,” says Lauren C. Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP, President and CEO of May Institute. “These young adults are often confronted with daunting challenges as they transition into adulthood – challenges such as finding appropriate housing and services, securing meaningful employment opportunities, and building a full and integrated life.”
At the new Center, experienced clinicians employ the principles and methodologies of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), applied behavior analysis (ABA), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to meet the needs of the individuals they serve, including those with a dual diagnosis of ASD and a co-occurring mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, the Center’s clinicians provide training to staff from the DDS, service providers, and family members. -
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For more information, contact Kelli Leahy at 781.437.1280 or kleahy@mayinstitute.org.
