Episode Three: Early Pioneers, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Skill Development

Send us Fan MailEpisode 3 will cover a deeper dive into autism caregiver pioneers who advocated for vocational rehabilitation supports over 100 years ago. The episode will examine some first responder programs, and highlight the importance of the work of Dr. Sukariva, Dr. Kanner, and others. This episode, we will review Mass Ability Program and describe how to access this support. Historical Figures & Autism HistoryAnderson, K. A., Roux, A. M., Shattuck, P. T., Rast, J. E., & Rava, J. A. (2024). Pre-employment transition services and vocational rehabilitation for autistic youth. Drexel University, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute.Kanner, L. (1943). Autistic disturbances of affective contact. Nervous Child, 2(3), 217–250.Pozzi, M., Carnovale, C., Mazhar, F., Gentili, M., Radice, S., & Clementi, E. (2024). Grunya Sukhareva: A forgotten pioneer in autism research. European Psychiatry, 67(1), Article e12. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.3Sher, D., & Gibson, J. (2021). Pioneering, prodigious and perspicacious: Grunya Efimovna Sukhareva's life and contribution to conceptualising autism and childhood psychopathology. European Psychiatry, 64(1), Article e16. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.2214Sheffer, E. (2018). Asperger's children: The origins of autism in Nazi Germany. W. W. Norton & Company.Maternal Caregivers & Pioneer FiguresMarsack-Topolewski, C. N., & Perry, T. E. (2018). Parenting adult children with autism: Caregiver perspectives and service needs. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 56(5), 318–331. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-56.5.318Park, C. C. (1967). The siege: The first eight years of an autistic child. Little, Brown.Park, C. C. (2001). Exiting nirvana: A daughter's life with autism. Little, Brown.Vicedo, M. (2021). Intelligent love: The story of Clara Park, her autistic daughter, and the myth of the refrigerator mother. Beacon Press. Vocational Rehabilitation & EmploymentDavies, J., Romualdez, A., Pellicano, E., & Remington, A. (2024). Career progression for autistic people: A scoping review. Autism, 28(11), 2690–2706. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241236110Ishler, K. J., Berg, K. A., Olgac, T., Obeid, R., & Biegel, D. E. (2023). Barriers to service and unmet need among autistic adolescents and young adults. Autism, 26(2), 375–387. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211035617Roux, A. M., Shattuck, P. T., Rast, J. E., Rava, J. A., & Anderson, K. A. (2015). National autism indicators report: Transition into young adulthood. Life Course Outcomes Research Program, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University.Taylor, J. L., & Seltzer, M. M. (2011). Employment and post-secondary educational activities for young adults with autism spectrum disorders during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(5), 566–574.Healthcare, Ableism & EquityFlanagan, T., Carter, E. W., & Hall, L. J. (2024). Racially and ethnically diverse families navigating autism services: Intersectional barriers and culturally responsive approaches. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54(3), 980–995. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-05940-7Pellicano, E., Dinsmore, A., & Charman, T. (2022). Views on researcher–community engagement in autism research in the United Kingdom: A m