NEW FOCUS AUTONOMY MODEL
Our transition program for teens with autism offers evidence-based techniques to help teens reach their full potential and live a fulfilling, independent life. This includes opportunities for more autonomous living in our Skyline Apartments while maintaining scaffolded staff support.
What is the Autonomy Model?
As students demonstrate skills and progress in their individual treatment plans, teens between 15 and 18 have the opportunity to transition into more autonomous housing, where they have additional community access and more opportunities for independence.
The Autonomy Development Model was created by the Founders, John Webb and Dr. Brandon Park. In this model, staff become more of a scaffold resource as teens demonstrate that they are able to make more independent informed decisions.
As students progress through the program, the role of the treatment team transitions from Coach to Mentor to Guide. This process helps provide the resources necessary to help students live as independently as possible while increasing their quality of life.
Our Skyline Apartments
While living in autonomous housing at our Skyline Apartments, the focus of treatment becomes how to prepare for independent living and success later in life when they are a college student or employee at a company, rather than developing basic social skills and emotional intelligence needed to thrive in high school. Students who transition to autonomous housing have demonstrated increased Social-Emotional Fluency and are prepared to practice the skills they’ve learned in the community.
Importance of Adaptive Skills for Teens on the Spectrum
For most teens on the spectrum, the biggest obstacles they face are outside of the classroom and in their social environment. For example, teens are expected to have a job or a volunteering commitment and are encouraged to create and manage their personal schedules with less staff supervision. This can be difficult for teens with autism that struggle with social anxiety, confidence, and organizational skills.
Integrating into the community after leaving a residential treatment center involves learning new adaptive skills, which refers to practical tasks related to self-care and responsibility that are necessary to effectively and independently take care of oneself and to interact with other people.
Some examples of adaptive skills include:
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Communication skills
understanding and using verbal and nonverbal language
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Self-direction
problem-solving, exercising choice, initiating and planning activities
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Social skills
maintaining friendships, understanding emotions, following rules
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Self-care
bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding oneself, and taking care of their health
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Independent living
cooking and cleaning
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Functional academics
using reading, writing, and math skills in everyday life
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Community engagement
shopping, using public transportation, using community services, participating in community events or in the workplace
We strive to inspire hope & purpose in our students.
Find out how we can help your teen rekindle their motivation for success.
Preparing Teens with Autism for Transition to Adulthood
Many teens with autism graduate high school feeling completely unprepared for the challenges of the transition to young adulthood. Compared to their peers, they may be more sheltered and less willing to take risks or make independent decisions. As they often struggle socially, they are more likely to feel isolated and have trouble engaging in healthy social activities. Instead, they may spend a lot of time online or playing video games rather than interacting with others in the “real world.”
When it comes to thinking about the future, many teens with autism struggle with identifying their personal strengths and interests. They may delay applying for colleges if they are unsure about what they want to do or if they lack confidence in pursuing their interests.
By choosing a residential treatment program that focuses on individual autonomy-building and independent skills, teens on the spectrum have them the opportunity to practice the skills they’ve learned through shifting environments. Many of the students we work with are rigid thinkers and like sticking to a strict routine, so they struggle with returning home once they no longer need a higher level of care, such as residential treatment. Maintaining the relationships they’ve made with staff at students at New Focus Academy by transitioning to a different level of care within the same program helps ease the transition back into a community setting.
Living at our Skyline Apartments is great practice for independent living or living in a college dorm, where students still have support available but have more autonomy in choosing what their day looks like and what they might need support with. At this stage, staff are able to take a step back and offer guidance when needed, but trust that these teens are better able to practice healthy habits and adaptive skills.
Skyline Apartments: Overview
- Four, two-bedroom apartments offer a 16 student capacity.
- Close to core services at New Focus Academy a few minutes away
- Located in the heart of the Heber City, Utah
- Near public transport
- Able to coordinate own transportation to activities or interests
- Bike or walk in the community with the coaches’ permission
- Ability to use services within the city (ordering meals, gym membership, movies, bowling alley)
Resident Life in Autonomy Housing
- Students create own structure (meal planning including eating out and ordering food in on occasion, activities, time management)
- Creating and managing individual schedules with staff supervision
- Student-driven processing groups
- More phone/electronic privileges with Internet and chrome book access
- Ability to make and maintain friendships within the community as part of their social-emotional growth
- Managing own money with assistance/limits