MCCC’s on-line Bridging to the Future Convention will assist college students with autism and particular wants transition to grownup life after highschool | Life-style

WHITPAIN – Transitioning into adulthood can be a challenging time for students with autism and special needs as well as their families. The Montgomery County Community College’s Bridging to the Future conference can help connect students and families with the information, resources, and strategies they need to make successful transitions. The free online conference will take place on Saturday, May 1st, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, please contact Denise Garrigus at [email protected] or 215-619-7403. Registration is possible online.

Jane Thierfeld Brown, Ed.D, a leading authority on autism in higher education, will attend the event as keynote speaker. Brown is an assistant professor in Yale Medical School’s Yale Child Study, director of College Autism Spectrum, and was a past director of student services at the University of Connecticut, School of Law. She has worked in disability services for 39 years, advising many families, students, school districts, colleges and universities.

In addition to her teaching and counseling work, Brown co-authored “Students With Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for College Staff” (2009), “Parents’ Guide to College for Students on the Autism Spectrum” (2012) and Behavior Management and Self-Regulation (2012), and she has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS News, and NPR. She is the mother of three children, the youngest being a 27 year old son with autism.

Following the keynote speaker, the conference will include sessions sponsored by the MCCC Office of Disabilities, Gwynedd Mercy University Integrated Studies, Bloomsburg University, DREAM Partnership, PA ABLE / PA Treasury Bureau for Austerity Programs, and the St Introducing Joseph University, 1847 Financial, Families Creating Communities for Adults with Special Needs (Family CCAN), PA Family Network Vision for Equality, Integrate Forever, Leahy Life Plan, AHEDD, Parenting Place, Modern Driver Institute and PA Health Management.

Sessions include information on finance, disability services, legal rights, insurance, and study and career planning, transition preparation, legal issues, financial planning, rights and exemptions, workforce and post-secondary preparation, and more.

In addition, more than 15 providers from various support areas are available throughout the day to provide information on many topics and the services they offer. MCCC will receive information on its admissions, human resource development department, bridge to college program and disability services.

MCCC’s Bridge to College program – a supportive, personalized six-week college readiness program – is aimed at college-bound students or graduates with high-functioning autism or special needs. This program helps students reduce the anxiety often associated with making a major life change and develops the social and organizational skills necessary to promote independent functioning in college.

MCCC’s Office of Disability Services is a co-sponsor of the conference and supports the equitable participation of qualified persons with disabilities in all aspects of the college experience.