Student Videos Experiences
This Student shares his achievements events with those considering joining the New Directions program. Direction Therapy CMT (Coordinated Multi-Disciplinary Treatment) is a clinical intervention designed for young adults with autism. Direction Therapy treatments are rooted in the latest scientific literature integrating cognitive behavioral therapy, developmental theory, and neuropsychology into an evidenced based treatment approach. The success of the model has widened its scope of use to a broader population of young adults (those with and without developmental delay).
This Student shares his experience with personal growth at NDFYA. The Direction Therapy approach helps to prepare young adults for an independent life. It brings together therapeutic services including psychology and psychiatry, vocational training, academic support services, and life management skill training into a comprehensive service plan. Each client’s Direction Therapy service plan guides services and clinical treatment. This initial plan is developed by our clinical professionals using a combination of current and historical information about the student and family.
Our students have many opportunities for social and physical activities. Whether it’s a planned trip out in the community or just taking advantage of all the hiking, shopping, and water fun near by, our students are given the tools to build relationships and make social connections during their time at New Directions.
In this interview, we talk with one of our students about her first six months at New Directions for Young Adults. Her anxiety at starting quickly turned to excitement thanks to the welcoming staff and students. Now, she has completed a semester of summer classes and obtained employment. Someone will always be available to help with any aspect of your life at New Directions.
A transition program is only as good as its staff. At New Directions, we have put a great deal of effort into finding the right type of people for our transition programs in both Florida and California. The right staff member for NDFYA qualified in more than terms of their academic and professional accomplishments. We look for employees who also will be engaged in helping students succeed. This type of person wants to see all of the students reach their goals,
Changes don’t happen overnight. You can follow all of the advice in our blog. You can spend hours discussing what you need to do with counselors and parents who have been there. But it takes time. When you choose a transition program such as NDFYA, or are trying to help your young adult yourself, understand that your young adult won’t improve immediately. There will be days he or she needs to be dragged from bed. They’ll lose track of time and
Have you put much thought into how your young adult looks for jobs? Does he or she just spend hours looking through classifieds or online postings? Is he or she filling out applications for anything that is available? Or maybe you’re the one doing all of the hunting for them? It may seem like this approach is working. Your young adult is getting interviews and has even been hired. But in a relatively short amount of time they are right back
Impromptu discussion between Dr. Drew Rubin and a student in the New Directions program about the impact of the New Directions program. Discussion includes Life Skills and Vocational Training as well as New Directions Support.
Does your young adult have enough support? You and your family certainly provide support, and you may feel that should be enough. But what if your support isn’t enough? Despite your best efforts, your young adult may not accomplish his or her goals without an adequate network around them. Perhaps there are friends encouraging him or her to participate in the very activities you are trying to steer them from. And long-term success in school or a job isn’t likely if
Sometimes your young adult needs more. You’ve both tried therapy, maybe even many different types of therapy, with no real progress. He or she enrolled in college courses, only to lose interest and drop out, or fail classes. His or her friends either have a similar past, or are encouraging even worse behaviors. Where do you go from here? It may be time to consider a transition program geared specifically toward young adults who have the same struggles as your child. Rather
How many attempts have you made to foster independence in your young adult? Do you feel your attempts have accomplished nothing? You’ve seen different counselors, attended support groups, discussed the problem with other parents. Your young adult still spends too much time at home or with friends, can’t get a job or misses too many hours, or is failing classes. Someone suggests a transition program. After investigating the idea, you decide this type of program is the best way to get your
Clinical Director Dr. Kent Grelling and Program Director Matt Xavier talk with Inside Pleasant Hill about NDFYA and the work we do for young adults with mild disabilities. Recently the California campus was given the opportunity to share our mission with Inside Pleasant Hill. Inside Pleasant Hill is a program showcasing news, people, locations, events, and organizations related to the city of Pleasant Hill, CA. All of the episodes can be viewed on Vimeo, and new episodes air on Comcast Channel
Comfort in social situations and the growth of new relationships, as well as knowing how to maintain relationships, is an important part of your young adult’s independence. To help students develop this skill and comfort, we plan a lot of social events for New Directions students and staff that allow everyone to interact and get to know one another. Plus, many of these social events also help students gain additional skills, such as cooking, that will remain important throughout their
A more mature New Directions for Young Adults (NDFYA) client talks about his experience with the program, from his beginnings in the program and the things he discovered about himself; how he found a job he loves based on his passion for art; classes that can help him professionally and personally; the friends that he’s made inside and outside the program; his relationships with other people and how the psychologist in the program have helped him. “You Can Have a
A student talks about his experience in the New Directions for Young Adults Program. How the program mentors have helped him enrollment in school, helped him get a job and basically provide ‘round the clock assistance. He’s learned how to shop on a budget, how to stay organized, stay well groomed and all the small things that add up to big things. He discusses his recent success in his new job as a sales vendor, and how he now sees
Dr. Drew Rubin, Executive Director of New Directions for Young Adults (NDFYA) interviews NDFYA student Michael Gimson, who talks about his experience with the program. He discusses how NDFYA helped him get his first paying job (and how his volunteer work helped him get that job), the NDFYA programs that helped him with his social skills and manners, shopping and nutrition. A film about Michael’s life and experience with autism was documented in a feature film, “Dreaming
Has your child been in trouble? Does that mean they don’t have a place in a transition program like NDFYA? It means they do. Though NDFYA was started to provide guidance toward independent living for young adults with special needs, we realized there were other young adults who needed help. This young woman is one example. She came to us directly out of a rehab program. At first she struggled to connect with our clinicians. The only part of therapy she enjoyed were
Sometimes we feel we’re giving our children enough support.We wonder what more they could possibly need. Especially if they’ve already worked with therapists or have the benefit of family and friends to turn to.But despite your best efforts your child is still struggling. It might be that you’re not providing the right type of support to your child. Or you’re not offering it in a way your child understands. The Support at a Transition Program is DifferentFor this young woman, things
We want to see our students succeed. This is why we offer so many services – from counseling to academic and career support to classes on life skills such as managing your home and finances. But none of those services matter if a student isn’t motivated to succeed. That’s something these students learned during their stay at NDFYA. Our staff is willing to help. The other students are friendly and will also offer support when needed. But when it comes to keeping
For many of our students, there’s no plan. They don’t think beyond immediate needs or wants. But you know your child can’t live that way. They’ll find themselves running out of money for essentials, or time for school or work projects. And then the cycle of failing classes or being fired from jobs continues. So for our students, we work on making those plans. Creating a budget to ensure there’s enough for week-to-week needs
Here’s a sneak peak of New Directions for Young Adults rocking music group.
A favorite activity at New Directions is exploring the local music scene, playing music, and reviewing music venues around town. Students and staff come together weakly to learn and play music. In our student lounge, there are acoustic and bass guitars, drums, keyboard, and other instruments. Basic instruction as well as advance skills come together weekly to help make this event one of the favorites. When students are ready, it’s off to open mic night. How It Started Though Music Night is
