Providing Technical Support in Job Skills Development through an ASD Job Club Valerie Smith, MS, Jennifer Ward, Kaitlyn Richardson, MPP, Suzannah Iadarola, PhD, BCBA-D and Susan Hetherington, PhD Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities The Rochester Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder (RRCASD) is one of seven university-affiliated programs across New York State that strives to identify and implement evidence-based practices and high-quality resources surrounding ASD. Job Club Structure: Meetings: Bi-weekly Hour length Visual supports Structured schedule Behavioral Skills Training Community Partnerships: Job Fairs Workshops Collaboration with Monroe county employment initiatives Employer relations Skill Assessment: Pre self-assessment Caregiver & counselor feedback Online member portal Post assessment Community Needs Assessment Results: Need for increased support for individuals with ASD who are not found eligible for the state’s intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) agency’s services, but would benefit from support that is more robust than what the state Vocational Rehabilitation agency is able to provide. Need for individualized skills training specific to the diagnostic criteria of ASD. Behavioral Skills Training: Modeling Rehearsal Feedback Generalization Instruction Job Club Participants: Adults 18+ years old with ASD who: Are unemployed or underemployed Have completed school or are completing school within the next year Have a desire to work competitively in the community Are ready and willing to take steps toward getting a job May or may not be receiving state agency supports Target Job Skills: Goal setting Job discovery Resumes Cover letters Applications Interviewing Email/phone etiquette Time management Self-advocacy Disclosure Financial literacy Social communication This pilot provides a network for social and technical support to promote the development of skills necessary for finding and maintaining employment. In collaboration with regional transition programs, the Job Club offers a model for individualized skills training to ultimately promote workplace inclusion. Contact: Valerie Smith, MS: valerie_smith@urmc.rochester.edu Supported by the NYS Education Department