The Secret to Stronger Teams and Programs

This third episode in the series on transitioning to adulthood explores the role of a “fail safe” culture in autism transition programs—creating psychological safety by normalizing small, low-risk failures as learning opportunities. Mike recounts a bowling outing where a participant became aggressive, prompting a blame-free review that revealed environmental triggers and delayed return of the participant’s iPad. Instead of punishment, the program focused on transparency with parents, better training, and improved situational awareness. Drawing from Amy Edmondson’s The Right Kind of Wrong, Mike highlights that the best programs replace blame with curiosity, growth, and fun for both participants and staff.