Team Living: Building Independence

coach

 

Learn About Our Team Living Evaluation Process

Team Living: Learning Social Skills

 

Learn More about Team College: Learning Social Skills

 

AT THE CROSSROADS
For teens and young adults diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome or Nonverbal Learning Disorder, the time after high school can be filled with worry and uncertainty. How can this young person take the next step toward adulthood? Too often, a teen on the spectrum has few friends. During a young person’s early years, he or she may have been teased, bullied, or ignored. Some families decide to send their young adult away to college. But without the proper support, many fail or drop out in their first year.


EASING THE TRANSITION
Team Living provides a living environment designed to facilitate an individual’s success in achieving essential, adult independence with integrity. We offer a unique, dynamic, semi-independent living community designed for young adults with High Functioning Asperger’s, Nonverbal Learning Disorder and other learning differences.

 

Transitioning from life at home to life away at school can be a daunting prospect for any teen. Team Living provides a way for your young adult to take the next big step.

 

WHAT MATTERS MOST
For a potentially college-bound youth, you might think that your child’s IQ, or perhaps their GPA, are of the utmost importance. However, one’s ability to get along with others and have a positive regard for his or her self, these are the areas that make the biggest difference in achieving a positive college experience. Focusing on what is important and impacting a teen’s future: this is what Team Living is all about.

 

LEARNING TO MAKE THE GRADE
Our program counselors and mentors guide each student with care and compassion, focusing on bringing out the strengths of each participant as they challenge them to learn and practice new life skills.

 

Team Living comprehensive support system includes:
• Academic support
• Social skills support
• Independent living support

 

In addition, we have a close working relationship with Disability Services on several campuses and take full advantage of every resource they offer to assist our participants. While a successful college experience for your teen is our goal, alternative learning possibilities as well as career paths are also explored. At Team Living, we realize that one approach might be beneficial for some students, but not others. Our programs are flexible, and we are keenly aware of individual needs. We have high expectations here and require each participant to be enrolled in a school, college or other work or vocational program.

 

PRACTICAL SKILLS THAT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE

Youth on the spectrum are seeking to feel better about themselves and their lives. But if all the doors seem shut, sometimes it’s easier to just stop looking, and to just stop trying. Team Living can open those doors, allowing our participants to move forward with their lives. Here are some of the college-living practical skills we work on that are key to living away from home while getting the most out of the college or vocational experience:

 

• Transferring records from a previous school
• Responsible rooming
• Shopping for groceries and preparing meals
• Learning transportation
• Staying safe – both personally and online
• Choosing beneficial courses at college
• How to study, complete homework and get to class on time
• Money management, banking and budgeting
• Cleaning, laundry and organizing the living space
• Filling out applications and job interview practice
• Developing the capacity to self-advocate
• How to plan: for the next day – for the future
• Getting the most out of unsupervised personal time

 

Of course, practicing these skills, and others, every day can make a real difference. Each individual may face his or her own personal challenges and fears. Our counselors and mentors can provide the guidance your child needs to gain a more independent life.

 

Valuable skills learned now can allow a young person to enjoy a better life, now and in the future.

To apply now, click here and choose APPLY FOR TEAM LIVING.

  
 

FROM DEPENDENCE TO INDEPENDENCE
At Team Living we realize that a lack of social skills can severely hinder youths diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome or Nonverbal Learning Disorder. Living away from home, attending college, looking for a job, experiencing lasting friendships…all aspects of a person’s life can be affected by an individual’s level of social competence.


LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE WORLD

Our program provides a safe community in which to develop these skills. Living in a comfortable environment AWAY FROM PARENTS, participants can learn and practice valuable life lessons every day while they attend college or vocational school, work at a job or internship. Participants are encouraged to interact in a positive way with their housemate peers who are individuals with similar capacities and differences.
 
GOALS TO GROW ON
In addition to learning the practical skills necessary to live away from parents, Team Living is especially focused on an awareness of personal accomplishments that can allow a young person to thrive:
• Improving self esteem
• Learning to make wise choices
• Developing friendships and understanding relationships
• Choosing a healthy lifestyle
• Improving decision-making abilities
• Learning to meet challenges
• Owning up for words and actions
• Setting goals and accomplishing them
• Overcoming fears
• Motivating oneself
• Taking on leadership roles
• Giving back to the community

 

Our executive function coaches and mentors offer on-site supervision and counseling for several hours each week. Educational specialists and therapists lead social skills classes with a focus on individual needs. In a small-group setting, participants can also learn and benefit from their peers.
 
At Team Living we consider each person to be part of our team. Like any group of individuals, the team will learn to use the strengths of each member to develop working friendships and living relationships that can bring out the best in the group.

To apply now, click here and choose APPLY FOR TEAM LIVING.

  
 

EVALUATION
Team Living believes that teens on the spectrum can make a much better life for themselves than they, or perhaps anyone else, believes possible. Our college-living program requires an application process to help us determine if a potential resident is ready and able to benefit from this experience.
 
• Participants must be at least 18 years or older. We are interested in helping young adults on the spectrum learn to live with their special cognitive difference. We work with high functioning young people who need new ramps to move forward.
 
• This is a full-time live-away-from-home program. Our small-group home is comfortable for upwards of 6 young adults. Youths must be interested in participating in activities at the house and also interested in furthering their own development. Residents are expected to join the group for on-campus events and off-campus outings.
 
• Each participant must be enrolled in school, either college or vocational, or they must work at a job or as an intern in a work related position.

 

We are vigorous in our approaches at helping our youth's obtain positions that develop useful work related skills in the larger community.
 
• On-site supervision, mentoring and counseling by our staff is provided for several hours each week. However, participants must be able to manage unsupervised time safely. Our staff is on-site daily but not in residence. We expect our participants to be on the look out for each other as well, like most college level roommates. Each individual will have differing levels of independence. Assistance is available for residents' needs, but we also expect the group of individuals to learn to work as a team and assist one another.
 
If you feel that your teen or young adult meets the criteria above, please contact us to apply to our Team Living program and learn how we might benefit your child:
 
Meg Fields, Psy.D.
15 Vallecito Lane
Orinda, CA 94563
Phone: 925-262-3135
Email: info@AspergersTeam.com

 

OUR LOCATION
Team Living is located in the East Bay region of The San Francisco Bay Area. Northern California is renowned for its great scenic beauty, social diversity and year round recreation opportunities. The region offers a multitude of cultural events and activities.

BACK TO TOP
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

  

 

   
© Meg & Michael Fields 2012