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Many student with ASD are now deciding to continue their education by going to college or technical school after graduating from high school. These students might find some challenges when attending higher education. The following apps can assist them in being successful.

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MyStudyLife can help students manage their classes, exams, term dates, and extra-curricular activities. It's more than just a calendar, it's like a personal assistant that can help a student with ASD stay on track by customizing to visual needs.

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Remember the Milk app allows you to create a to-do list to help set reminders wherever you go. It easily connects to apps you are already using, allowing you to manage them app. It provides reminders as well as lets you share your list, ideas with others quickly.

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It's super fast and easy to add your tasks to Remember The Milk with Smart Add. Enter your task's properties in one line, including due date, priority, repeat, tags, and more.

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Here is a detailed video on how MyStudyLife works and all its features.

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Individuals with ASD can struggle or have challenges in certain environments, like interviews. They may have difficulty interacting with others or sparking conversation. This can be an issue when seeking employment and when working with others. The following are some apps that can assist individuals looking for employment and those who are already working.

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Hire Autism is a great resource for individuals who are looking for jobs. They help you from creating a resume to the final interview. It is also a great resource for employers as it provides great tips on when hiring an individual with Autism.

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Finding Jobs And Talent Just Got Easier - Hire Autism

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We're with you through your entire process from creating a resume to final interview. You will find lots of useful information and tips in our Resource Center.

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Work Autonomy is an app that allows individuals with ASD the possibility of having more fluency in areas where they may struggle. These areas include communication with coworkers and supervisors regardless of their cognitive level, tracking tasks and work schedules independently, and allowing access to concrete information about work expectations, production, and earnings.

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A Person-Centered Accommodation Tool

Asked about using the wA App, Eric said, "I like the app because I can do my job and the job coach can go away".

Work Autonomy provides higher levels of independence for people with disabilities in the work site by providing fluency in three areas that traditionally challenge successful competitive placements: person-generated communication with coworkers and supervisors regardless of linguistic or cognitive skill, tracking task analysis and work schedules independently, and allowing access to concrete information about work expectations, production and earnings.

The design is focused on the user with a disability to program and track concrete information about tasks. All or any of three sections can be turned on and programmed for use: Messages, Schedules, and Production. Each section allows for the capture and editing of content using video, photo, text and/or voice to meet the communication preferences and processing needs of the user.

Click on all 6 clips to learn programming & editing tools.

Click to Download the User Guide

Click on the two worksheets provided here to practice organizing a task in the wA App.

wA History, Moving from Low to High Tech

Work Autonomy is a solution to long term barriers: communication, motivation to work, production rates, relationship with coworkers, fading the need for job coaches, strengthening the connection between employer and employee. Click on the doc here to read about the history of strategies that became the foundation for the wA App.

Deep gratitude to WISE and the following WA State county offices for investing in the development and trial of the Work Autonomy App: Chelan County DD, Clark County DD, Grays Harbor DD, King County DD, Skagit County DD, Spokane County DD.

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A Person-Centered Accommodation Tool Asked about using the wA App, Eric said, "I like the app because I can do my job and the job coach can go away".

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This is a PDF on Work Autonomy guide on how it works.

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Daily tasks include things like cooking, laundry, time management, and shopping. Individuals with ASD can struggle to complete everyday tasks. The following apps can help individuals with everyday tasks.

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Routinely allows individuals to manage daily routines and keep track of daily tasks. It allows the individual write a description of the task and be as detailed as needed. This is a great way for individuals with ASD to make sure they stay on top of their everyday tasks.

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‎ROUTINELY: ELEVATE YOUR DAILY RITUALS Embark on a journey of personal growth with Routinely, your dedicated habits tracker. This sophisticated app is designed for individuals who seek consistent progress and a harmonious lifestyle. Tailor your daily routines and habits effortlessly, aligning them…

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Habitica allows individuals to set goals and make sure they meet them. This app allows individuals to make their real life into a game, set goals, and earn rewards through the game. Great app to have individuals with ASD stay motivated to achieve goals!

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Habitica is a free habit and productivity app that treats your real life like a game. Habitica can help you achieve your goals to become healthy and happy.

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This video shows how an individual can make their life into a game.

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I Gamified My Life For A Week using Habitica

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Being part of a community means being able to be in public places, take transportation, and even help others in the community. Individuals with ASD may have a hard time being involved in the everyday community and being part of environments that can be a little hectic/loud at times. The following apps can make it a little easier for individuals with ASD.

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Route4U  navigation and sidewalk information system

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Route4U is an app that provides information on areas near you and world wide. This app can help an individual learn a route they need to take and be aware of any things that may come up before the trip. This allows individuals with ASD to learn and feel more comfortable in new environments.

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Route4U wheelchair navigation and sidewalk information system

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The world’s first wheelchair navigation app and integrated micromobility information system

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MindShift is a great way for individuals with ASD to feel calmer in a hectic or loud environment. The app uses evidence-based strategies to calm anxiety and provides resources to better improve and learn to manage your anxiety. This is a great way for individuals with ASD to learn more about their anxiety.

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This video provides specific examples about the app and how it can help an individual with their anxiety.

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This website provides great information for individuals who are considering continuing their education after high school. Provides different options and information on laws that can still support them on this adventure.

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Continuing Education Options for Adults with Autism

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The transition from high school to postsecondary education is a significant milestone for many, marked by new responsibilities, increased independence, and the excitement of fresh opportunities. For adults with autism, this transition can bring its own set of unique challenges and possibilities. Understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a successful educational journey.The Transition from IDEA to ADAAs students with autism move beyond high school, they transition from the protection of

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This website provides specific information on the rights of individuals with ASD in the work environment.

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What are my rights as an adult with autism? | Autism Speaks

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Click here to read an excerpt from the Autism Speaks Adult Autism Tool Kit on what your rights are as an adult with autism.

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This website can provide great insight into daily life skills that an individual with ASD can struggle with.

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For people with autism, learning independent or daily living skills is essential to increasing independence at home, at school and in the community.

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This website provides information and tips on how to be more involved in the community and find support doing it. Great tips on what to do before participating in big groups!

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Community inclusion is best described as when there is an opportunity within a community for all its members to live, work, contribute and participate without barriers or obstacles to do so. In an inclusive community each person has their individual needs and differences not only accommodated, but celebrated and valued. Community inclusion means that every person should be treated as full members of their community. Being a part of one's community supports happiness and well-being, gives a sense of belonging, and adds to a person's quality of life.

Autistic children will grow up and become adults who need access to recreation, sports, the arts, employment, housing, social programs, and a variety of services. Not being included can lead to social isolation, loneliness, and depression.

A recent study about autistic adults and loneliness found:
a lack of social relationships is often associated with loneliness, and difficulties with social interaction/communication and difficulties with social participation have been commonly reported in autistic adults (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Myers et al., 2015). Second, once people grow up and are no longer in the mandatory social setting of school, the workplace could be a major source of social interaction preparation. Yet, research has consistently shown that autistic people have lower rates of employment than other disability groups (Office for National Statistics, 2021). Finally, support services for autistic individuals significantly decrease when they reach adulthood, with many autistic adults and their carers not being well informed about the social supports that are available to them (Anderson et al., 2018).
For community participation to be successful, supports and accommodations may need to be put into place to make an activity inclusive and accessible. Some examples of accommodations are using visual supports, having small group or private instruction, teaching skills in alternative ways such as video modelling, accessibility options, and offering breaks or quiet spaces. Staff should be trained and supported to include autistic people. When the staff is anxious about inclusion, it is often due to fear of the unknown.

Learning New Things with More Support

It may be helpful to start with a specialized program before moving to an inclusive experience because specialized programs often have more staff support, smaller class sizes, and instructional steps that move more slowly. Once skills are achieved and the autistic person feels comfortable, the inclusive experience may be more satisfying. If the autistic person is lacking the prerequisite skills, the inclusive experience can be frustrating and difficult.

If you want to start with the inclusive experience, look for beginner courses or programs that are designed to be universally accessible. For example, when I wanted to start figure skating in my 40s, I chose an Adult Learn to Skate class that provided a lot of support. I later moved to a figure skating club that offered private and group instruction once I had some of the basic skating skills. My daughter took an art class at a community studio that offered small group classes with flexible, individualized instruction and a "work at your own pace" atmosphere.

My autistic children take an adapted fitness course offered through the city with a small group of people who have a variety needs such as a health condition, injury, or physical disability. The workout is designed by a trained instructor who circulates around the room to provide support when needed.

Preparation is the Key to Success

Before starting any program, try and do the following:

Check out the facility ahead of time to become familiarized with it. Ask for a tour and what services are offered.

Take pictures of the place and staff to use as visual reminders or for the visual schedule.

Know the accessibility options - parking, public transportation, private dressing rooms if they are needed.

Meet the staff involved with the program ahead of time.

Meet with the instructor to discuss the person's needs and accommodations.

Consider taking a few private lessons to build skills in order to participate fully. My son takes African drumming lessons privately and now participates in community drum circles because he knows all of the basic rhythmic patterns. My daughter is learning how to play squash with a private instructor.

Know the expectations of the activity and if it will be a fit.

Find activities that expand on a person's interests and passions.

Our Family Experience

We've done many different activities to help our children grow, remain healthy, learn new skills, and be part of the community. Here are some of the things we've done over the years:

Group general music classes

Community art classes

Private lessons in drumming, squash, curling, yoga, and puppeteering

Small group instruction for swimming lessons and gymnastics

Special Olympics for bowling

Adapted fitness and yoga classes offered through the city

Volunteering with the autism society, a cat charity, the library, movie theatre, and a local farmer's market to gain work experience

Library programs

Specialized cooking classes, dance classes, computer classes, and horseback riding

Private tutoring

We've used a mix of options to make the experience the best it can be. Sometimes we start in a specialized setting and then move to a more inclusive one once the skills are learned. There are also opportunities to participate in wider experiences. For example, my son is doing so well in therapeutic horseback riding that he will soon be able to participate in shows. He also loves to sing and is invited every year to be in the Christmas group number at a voice studio that my husband accompanies at. My daughter made so many paintings in her art class that she was offered a show in a local café to sell her artworks.

Inclusive programs may not always be able to live up to the definition for various reasons. There are many methods and ideas for helping community organizations and the people they serve come closer to the ideal. Education and acceptance are two big pieces. Community inclusion is important because everyone needs to feel like they belong. Autistic people can bring significant gifts to community settings. All members of society benefit from interacting with a wide range of people who think and act differently. The world is a diverse place and neurodiversity is a big part of it.

About the author:
Maureen Bennie

Maureen Bennie created the Autism Awareness Centre in 2003 to address what she saw as a gap in support and advocacy for those struggling with autism and autism spectrum disorders. For Maureen, education brings positive change to the lives of those affected by autism and autism spectrum disorders.

Click to Read Maureen's Full Biography

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Community Inclusion for Autistic People - Ideas and Options - Autism Awareness

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Community inclusion is best described as when there is an opportunity within a community for all its members to live, work, contribute and participate without barriers or obstacles to do so. In an inclusive community each person has their individual needs and differences not only accommodated, but celebrated and valued.