Arc Westchester Launches Program for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities

The Arc Westchester has announced an innovative program to support young adults with developmental disabilities as they transition out of high school. Called the Transition Academy, it will deliver a coordinated, integrated set of transition and employment services to help young adults who have already transitioned out of high school, or are about to, create a person-centered adult life plan that includes both personal and professional development supports that meet the needs of transition-aged individuals, their families, and other professionals.

“Over the next ten years, an estimated half a million young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will turn 21 and age out of high school, losing their eligibility for services through the education system,” said Tibi Guzmán, Executive Director/CEO of The Arc Westchester which is a BCW Member. “The Transition Academy fills a services gap, provides a continuum of support and paves a way for individuals exiting high school to work towards employment in the community.”

Core programs offered through the Transition Academy include:

Prep4Success & Transition Services Full-Year Program is designed for people with developmental disabilities who are preparing to exit high school. The program, which was previously offered as a pilot program serving participants in 2021, will now become a year-long offering.

Employment Connection Pilot Program assists individuals with gaining meaningful community employment. This pilot program will provide individualized supports to young adults with developmental disabilities as they transition into successful placement with Supported Employment Services.

Project SEARCH Autism Enhancement (PSAE) is a community pre-vocational internship program that takes place at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s campus in White Plains where interns are totally immersed in the workplace facilitates to learn different processes as well as marketable work skills. PSAE was created by NEXT for AUTISM in partnership with The Arc Westchester, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and New York-Presbyterian’s Center for Autism and the Developing Brain.

To learn more about The Arc Westchester’s innovative continuum of transition services, visit www.arcwestchester.org.