College Prep 4 Teens W/Autism

In which borough should your idea take place? Queens

Do you have a specific neighborhood(s) in mind?

Ridgewood

Which audience(s) does your idea help? Select as many as apply.

Youth

Parents

Justice impacted individuals

Low income individuals

Black, Indigenous, and POC

People with disabilities

Describe the challenge you want to address:

Teens with Autism are often stigmatized and categorized by language and labels which fail to recognize their potential and possibilities. Too often, insufficient effort is made to help counsel, guide, and track them toward obtaining a high school diploma in preparation for pursuing higher education. The educational system, whether public, private or charter, is challenged by limitations in addressing the particular needs of Teens W/Autism. This idea is to promote and provide a learning environment for Teens W/Autism, confident that by receiving more specialized attention and appropriate resources, they can excel. With adequate funding, Teens W/Autism will be given the tools to prepare them for a productive and successful life beyond secondary education, including admission into college, particularly those institutions of higher learning that cater to students with special needs.

Describe your idea and approach to address the challenge:

Addressing this complex challenge will require a multifaceted, multidisciplinary, and multisensory approach that will educate, build confidence, foster the development of socialization skills, and reinforce academic skills through music, art, games, technology, and vestibular activities. Paraprofessionals who are trained in working with teens, will be on hand to ensure that the socialization and educational goals, of each scholar, are met. This approach will take advantage of the penchant toward technology this population relies upon. In addition to engaging in an experiential academic environment that will point these scholars toward college, they will learn computer science through interactive coding. Although the neighborhood is Ridgewood, outreach will extend to all five boroughs so that this idea will unfold as an immersive hybrid-technological academic experience, along with focused-based activities and events.

Write the zipcode that best represents your New York City community:

11385