Transition to Adulthood Discussion Series

The Transition to Adulthood Discussion Series is designed to bring together autistic youth, their parents, and other professionals to learn about and discuss emerging topics throughout the transition from youth to adulthood. Topics in the discussion series range from mental health, learning to drive, and talking about sex, to entering the workforce and navigating Social Security. Topics will attempt to address a variety of experiences, and provide you with new resources as a teenager or young adult with autism, or as a parent of a teenager with autism. The series is moderated by Sean Inderbitzen, APSW, a Behavioral Health Therapist with autism. Sessions in the series will include a virtual presentation about the topic and dedicated time for discussion/questions. Sessions took take place via zoom on the third Wednesday of every month from 6:00 – 7:00 pm beginning in August 2020.

Past Events

Live sessions for the 2020 – 2021 series have wrapped up. If you have feedback about the series or would like to submit topics as we plan for the 2021-2022 series, please contact us at westcentral@autismgreaterwi.org.

All past sessions have been recorded and are available upon request. Please click here to fill out the access request form.

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Join Sean Inderbitzen, APSW, a Behavior Health Therapist living with autism, for a presentation and discussion on helping your adolescent with ASD and comorbid anxiety or depression adjust to their new “normal”.

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Madeline Barger, MS, LMFT, BCBA, AASECT-CST will discuss research and practice in sex education and treatment from years of work with individuals, couples, and families on the autism spectrum.  This presentation marks another installment of Barger’s Sex on a Spectrum wherein clinical practice is translated into real-life strategies for self-advocates living with autism and their support teams including caregivers and clinicians. Learn about the process for understanding why sex is a tricky topic, especially for vulnerable populations, identifying sex education topics for specific learners, strategies for teaching said topics, and benefit from the experts on the spectrum who have supported and contributed to the content of the presentation.

Madeline is a licensed behavior analyst and licensed marriage and family therapist, and AASECT certified sex therapist. Barger is the clinic coordinator in the Waisman Center Autism Treatment Programs.  Barger has extensive experience in providing both autism and mental health interventions to individuals and families across the lifespan including individual, couple, and family therapy, sex education and therapy, social skills and behavioral intervention, and parent and professional trainings. Barger previously worked as a lead clinician in a center-based program providing supervision for behavioral treatment for school-age children, teens, and adults with autism.

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Presenter: Ellie Hartman, Ph.D.

Wisconsin PROMISE helped teenagers with disabilities reach their school, work, and financial goals. This presentation will share youth and family friendly tools and resources that helped and can continue to help Wisconsin youth with disabilities reach these goals. The focus of this presentation will be on how paid work experiences can better inform postsecondary training and education and ultimately a career path. Youth with disabilities continue to show how their skills, strengths, and potential help build a better workforce in their local communities. The presentation will include examples, tools, and resources aimed at empowering youth and their families while providing needed disability related supports that help connect youth to training and employment that can increase both quality of life and self-sufficiency.

Ellie Hartman, Ph.D., BCBA-D was the project manager for the Wisconsin PROMISE grant. PROMISE aimed to help teenagers with disabilities reach their school, work, and financial goals. Dr. Hartman also worked as an evaluator for other social security and Medicaid grants, and served as the evaluator for Wisconsin’s youth transition Let’s Get to Work Grant. More recently, Dr. Hartman is utilizing her experience and expertise to help build the Department of Workforce Development’s (DWD’s) Workforce Data Integration System (WDIS). Dr. Hartman received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, Special Education, at the University of Minnesota and her Bachelor’s in Psychology, Behavior Analysis, at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. Dr. Hartman is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctorate (BCBA-D).

6:00 - 7:00 pm

This session provided information around the services that DVR provides to students to prepare them for the world of Competitive Integrated Employment. Participants learned how and when to apply for DVR, develop your Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), participate in DVR services including, but not limited to, researching labor market information, job exploration, job shadows, work readiness skills, self-advocacy, and temporary work experiences.  DVR can help you develop your IPE to include services based on your skills, abilities, and interests to find a job, keep a job and get a better job.

Unfortunately there is no recording available for this session.

6:00 - 7:00 pm
Join us for a discussion on autism, driving and related community resources. Sarah Schroeder, Community Work Incentives Coordinator at Employment Resources Inc., will start the discussion with an overview of ERI’s pre-driving assessment services. Chelsea Hales from Master’s Driving School will continue the discussion on what services they offer. The last part of the event will be reserved for questions and discussion.
6:00 - 7:00 pm

Presenter: Dawn Stark, Western Regional Center for Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Transition can be confusing.  There are differences between children’s health care systems and adult health care systems. Eligibility criteria is different, and services are different. Please join us for a short presentation and discussion about what your child’s options will be, and how to proceed.

Bio:  Dawn Stark is the Director of the Western Regional Center. She has over 25 years of social work experience, most of which has involved working with children and families. She also raised a child with special needs. Dawn is a strong advocate and her first-hand experience working with complicated systems is beneficial when helping families to navigate through them. The Western Regional Center assists families, professionals and providers by providing consultations, information, and referrals for families of children ages 0-21 with any type of delay or disability, including cognitive, behavioral, intellectual, physical or mental health conditions.

6:00 - 7:00 pm

This session will include a brief overview of the long-term care system and structure, followed by a panel of long term care provider representatives. Learn more about Family Care and IRIS and hear from service providers in each program.

Moderator: Dawn Stark, Western Regional Center for Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Panelists: My Choice Wisconsin representative, TMG Representative, Consumer Direct Care Network, Connections

6:00 - 7:00 pm

This presentation will include a brief overview of services IL Centers can provide regarding housing.  Join us to learn about skills training that can be offered, as well as Assistive Technology, and community resources.

Presenters:

  • Jenesis Lindbo, Center for Independent Living- Western Wisconsin
  • Danielle Dworak, Center for Independent Living- Western Wisconsin
  • Stacie Scheibe, Options for Independent Living
  • Sandra Walkush, Midstate Independent Living Consultants
This program is hosted by the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin - West Central Region. Please contact westcentral@autismgreaterwi.org with questions.