Chantal

“We need to be doing a better job preparing our teens and young adults for employment during their high school and college years. But just as importantly, we need to be educating workplaces, job coaches, corporations, and business leaders about the benefits of hiring a person on the spectrum.”
― Chantal Sicile-Kira, A Full Life with Autism: From Learning to Forming Relationships to Achieving Independence

“Adults tend to be more understanding and accepting of differences than teenagers. The important thing is to find a group that your adult child is personally interested in being a part of, and then acting on the assumption that he has the right to be there and that he will fit right in.”
― Chantal Sicile-Kira, A Full Life with Autism: From Learning to Forming Relationships to Achieving Independence

“There are a few things that need to occur for our loved ones to have more relationships. First, they must learn some social skills and competencies -- especially so for those who are independent and often on their own, so that they will not become victimized by others and can make some connections. Second, for those who require it, they need to have support staff who understand movement differences and sensory challenges and how to include a nonverbal person who uses alternative means of communication. Last, but not least, for friendship to occur, people need to have an open mind, be more flexible, and be more accepting of people with differences.”
― Chantal Sicile-Kira, A Full Life with Autism: From Learning to Forming Relationships to Achieving Independence

“Often those on the more able end of the spectrum may be considered too "high functioning" by the systems in place to require any type of support, yet access to someone who could coach them a few hours a week would make all the difference in their lives.”
― Chantal Sicile-Kira, A Full Life with Autism: From Learning to Forming Relationships to Achieving Independence