College Steps student at NOVA: Loudoun is a Rising Star

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — 

Rose Pleskow is attacking life without boundaries.

"She has a competitive spirit, she wants to do better, she wants to go faster," said Denis Crean.

Born with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy, the Reston, Virginia, native competes internationally in open water swimming.

"My mom started swimming when she was pregnant with me, so I've been swimming all my life," said Rose Pleskow.

Pleskow trains with a group called WaveOne Swimming in the Potomac River at National Harbor, Maryland, with her mom right by her side.

"Just to look up and sometimes our faces meet," said Susan Pleskow. "It’s just pure heaven to me."

Rose is one terrific athlete, along with open water swimming, she’s quite the runner as well.

Back in 2011 at the Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece, she won the bronze medal in the 1500 meters race, which is just a perfect example of Rose being able to do anything she puts her mind to.

"When I won the bronze medal, I almost cried because I worked so hard for it," said Rose.

Now, she's focused on starting college and getting a degree.

"Don’t let the people in the past tell you that you can’t do anything because you can do it," said Rose.

Rose is definitely becoming a leader everybody should follow.

Financial Skills Workshop at Southern Vermont College

On Wednesday, October 11, 2017, Shelley Farris presented a "Savvy Spending Solutions" workshop at Southern Vermont College. This workshop focused on budgeting, student debt, building a credit score, and SMART financial goals.

Many thanks to Shelley Farris for coming to campus to teach us all so much about our finances; we hope to welcome her back next semester!

Autistic Scholars Fellowship 2018

The application for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's scholarship program for autistic college students, the Autistic Scholars Fellowship, has been released. You can find that application and more information about the scholarship here. ASAN would really appreciate if you could distribute the application to anyone you think would be a good candidate for the Fellowship, or who might know someone that would be. Thanks so much for your help, and feel free to let ASAN know if you have any questions or would like to talk more about the resources ASAN has for autistic adults and college students!

College For All Town Meeting at CSU

Bernie Sanders will be holding a “College for All Town Meeting” at Castleton University on October 10 at 7 p.m. to discuss his legislation that would provide free tuition to all students who attend public colleges and universities.

The event will also be livestreamed on the Senator’s official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/senatorsanders)

Students in Vermont and throughout the country will be participating in their own events to join the Senator in supporting “College for All” legislation.

If you are able to attend, please RSVP with Senator Sanders’ office, by completing this form.

Future Quest 2017

I am happy to announce that registration is now open for Future Quest 2017! To register as a vendor please click on this link: http://www.futurequestgmu.org/

Also, please be sure to help spread the word to all parents, students and educators who would benefit from this fantastic event.

Future Quest is a FREE college and career conference held every two years for middle and high school students with disabilities, young adults with disabilities, their families, and professionals who work with them. It is organized by George Mason University and the Northern Virginia Transition Coalition. One of the largest events of its kind in Virginia, Future Quest features more than 40 workshops and 40 exhibits related to successful life after high school. 

Registration Flyer

http://vcc.gmu.edu/FutureQuest/

Future Quest Main Information Site

http://www.futurequestgmu.org/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/NorthernVirginiaTransitionCoalition/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/FutureQuestVA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffuturequest.gmu.edu%2F

Department of Labor Presentation hosted by College Steps at Southern Vermont College

College Steps at Southern Vermont College was very happy to host a jobs and careers workshop on campus. We are grateful to Melany from the Vermont Department of Labor for sharing her talent and expertise. To contact Melany for more information and resources:

Melany Letourneau

Job Center Specialist II, GCDF

 WIOA Adult/DLW Case Manager

Vermont Department of Labor

200 Veterans Memorial Drive

Suite 2

Bennington, VT 05201

 802.447.2874

www.labor.vermont.gov

Transitioning to Adulthood

Report to Congress: Young Adults and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning to Adulthood

A new Report to Congress compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finds there is a critical need for research and better coordinated services targeted to youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are transitioning to adulthood. In anApril 2017 blog, we noted that about 50,000 youth with ASD turn 18 each year, with about 450,000 total aged 16-24 years old living in the United States today. A major finding of the report is that there are very few federal resources that specifically target youth and young adults with ASD transitioning to adulthood. A recent portfolio analysis from the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) also found that issues related to transition age youth and adults comprised only 2 percent of all autism research funding, both federal and private, in 2015. To learn more about the need for more resources for those with Autism, view the full report.

College Steps at Lyndon State College is excited to welcome 6 new mentors to our program.

College Steps at Lyndon State College is excited to welcome 6 new mentors to our program.

College Steps offers students the support of our peer mentor network. Peer mentors are there to lend a hand and help College Steps students feel more comfortable as they navigate the college social network. Peer mentors are carefully selected, trained, and closely supervised by College Steps’ professional staff. 

“I think its great having a mentor... They have experience on campus so they can show you the ropes. I feel good interacting with other people instead of just being on my own. Without the support it would be tough. College Steps helped to boost my confidence a lot.” 
COLLEGE STEPS STUDENT

New Think College Website

For the last 18 months, members of Think College staff, the ICI Marketing and Communications (MAC) team, and numerous others, have been working on this complete overhaul. The outcome is a cleaner look, a landing page that is more current and easier to navigate, and some new features, as well!

"I'm so proud of this new site," said Cate Weir, Think College's project director. "It looks fantastic, and it's so much easier for people to find what they're looking for."

Users will continue to find a wide range of publications and other resources, a large library of archived webinars, a comprehensive list of current college programs, as well as an improved TPSID only portal, our new Innovation Exchange, and information from our new Affinity Groups.

We appreciate your support and hope you are able to utilize this site in your work and also recommend it to others. 

Autism Speaks DC Walk

Please consider participation in the Autism Speaks DC Walk on Saturday, October 7 at the JFK Hockey Field on the National Mall.  There are many different levels and forms of participation, as follows:
 

• Form a team—I am hoping that you will consider forming a team of walkers who raise funds individually and as a group.  This year, the incentive at the $150 level is a specially-designed Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt (he is on our national board!).  All you need to do is register a team captain at www.autismspeakswalk.org and then recruit others to register on your team.  Everyone gets a personal web page to personalize and use to send out emails…very easy!
• Promote the walk—Please help us spread the word about the walk.  We want to reach parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, colleagues, neighbors, acquaintances…everyone who loves and cares for people with autism and their families.  You can post our flyers, send out an announcement in your newsletter, or ask for a speaker to come from Autism Speaks for a “Lunch and Learn” program.  

Autism Speaks is the world’s leading science and advocacy organization, and our mission is to enhance lives today and accelerate a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow.  In the next decade, we have aggressive objectives including improving the transition to adulthood, being a catalyst for research breakthroughs, and increasing global understanding & acceptance of autism.

The Walk is central to us achieving our objectives.  It is our signature event, raising more than 50% of the revenue we need each year.   This year’s walk will be sensory-friendly.  Instead of clapping and shouting, we will shake pom-poms.  Our finish line will be bubbles.  This will truly be a place where families will feel comfortable bringing their children.

Please feel free to contact me by email at fay.painter@autismspeaks.org  or by calling 202.510.7533 if you have any questions.

Thank you for your consideration and support.  I hope to see you at the Walk!