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Programs for teenagers and young adults at UMass Lowell
Programs for teenagers and young adults at UMass Lowell
The Network is a social networking program for neurodiverse adolescents and young adults aged between 16-30 years. The goal is to provide an opportunity to meet others and hopefully make connections. We meet at the beginning of the month in person and in the middle of the month online and you can choose which meetings to come to.
When and Where
The Network takes place in person and online. We meet in person usually the first Wednesday of the month from 6-7:30 pm. Sometimes we meet at the UMass Lowell south campus (in Coburn Hall on south campus) and sometimes we hang out somewhere else (e.g. pizza, bowling, etc.) We meet online usually on the third Wednesday of the month from 6-7:30 p.m. on a Discord server. During our online meetings, we chat and play Jackbox and other games. You will receive a schedule of Network meeting events for the year so you will know what is coming up.
There is a $75 annual fee to participate in The Network. This fee also covers the parent group which meets at the same time and place for our in-person meetings. Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford the fee. Ashleigh Hillier, Ph.D. is the Program Director and Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
What is Horizons?
Horizons is a 7-week college preparation mentoring program for neurodiverse (e.g. autistic individuals; those with ADHD, learning disabilities) high school students (or recent high school graduates) who plan to go to college/university. Students meet as a group online once a week for an hour for 7 weeks with trained UMass Lowell student mentors. Together they follow a curriculum designed to help students have a better idea of what college will be like, to build confidence about attending college in the future, and to be more successful when they transition to college. Students do not need to be planning to come to UMass Lowell. Horizons begins each February.
What will we do in the meetings?
Our curriculum covers a range of topics based on the interests and needs of the students. Examples of topics include:
Time management and organization strategies
Problem-solving and self-advocacy
Identifying and accessing supports on campus
Reducing stress and self-care
Navigating through your major
Choosing classes
Finances
Social side of university
What will a typical day at college look like
What to bring to college
Careers, future plans.
Getting along with classmates.
What does Horizons cost?
There is a $75 fee to participate in the Horizons program (scholarships are available.) This fee covers all seven weekly meetings, an orientation session, weekly communication with parents/caregivers, and a feedback summary at the end of the program. Ashleigh Hillier, Ph.D. (Program Director), and the mentors are also available throughout the program to answer any questions about the transition to college you may have.
How do I apply for Horizons?
Please email the Program Director, Ashleigh Hillier, Ph.D.: ashleigh_hillier@uml.edu for an enrollment form or with any questions.
What else?
Mentors meet on a weekly basis with Ashleigh Hillier, Ph.D. for training, oversight, and guidance.
Horizons was established in 2009 and over 150 students have participated.
Horizons is evidence-based. We have published a number of papers about our mentoring programs in peer-reviewed research journals and have presented at numerous academic conferences.
Ashleigh also runs a social networking program for young autistic adults.
Horizons Plus Mentoring Program
Horizons Plus is a mentoring program for neurodiverse university students (e.g. autistic individuals; those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and learning disabilities) designed to support students as they navigate through their college degree. Students meet as a group online with trained UMass Lowell students to guide and support them through a semester at college/university. Mentees may be freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, or transfer students. Meetings are once a week for an hour. Mentees do not need to be at UMass Lowell to participate.
Meetings are friendly and relaxed and guided by the mentees depending on their questions and needs.
What will we do in the meetings?
Your meetings will vary each week depending on what has come up for the group that week. You will come with questions for your mentors or just to share how your week has gone and to plan ahead. These are some topics we anticipate might come up in the group:
Helping find out answers to questions you have about your college/university
Helping find out answers to questions you have about your course requirements and/or assignments
Accessing supports and resources at your college
Setting up a system to track deadlines for assignments, and other organization strategies
Time management
Problem solving and self-advocacy
Facilitating outreach to advisors
Communicating professionally with professors and staff
Connecting with other students and socializing
Taking good notes in class
Study strategies
Strategies for midterm and final exams
Reducing stress and increasing self-care
Classroom etiquette, getting on with classmates, successful group work
Increasing independence
Internships, careers and future plans
When and where are the meetings?
You will meet with other neurodiverse college students and trained UMass Lowell students as a group so you can share experiences, problem-solve, brainstorm, and network together. Meetings are on Zoom for an hour once a week and last for one semester. You do not need to be attending UMass Lowell to participate.
What does Horizons Plus cost?
There is a $75 fee for the Horizons Plus program (scholarships are available).
How do I apply for Horizons Plus?
Please email Ashleigh_hillier@uml.edu for an enrollment form or with any questions.
What Else?
Mentors meet on a weekly basis with Ashleigh Hillier, Ph.D. to provide an update on progress in the group. At these meetings, she provides training, oversight, and guidance to the mentors.
We have been running mentoring programs for neurodiverse university students since 2012.
Our programs are evidence-based. We have published a number of papers about our mentoring programs in peer-reviewed research journals and have presented at numerous academic conferences.
Ashleigh also runs a social networking program for autistic adolescents and young adults, The Network.
For more information click here.
For further information on any of the three above UMass Lowell associated programs, please contact:
Ashleigh Hillier, PhD
Department of Psychology
University of Massachusetts Lowell
113 Wilder Street, Suite 300
Aspire is a program out of Mass General for children, teens, and young adults on the autism spectrum.
From their website: “Aspire offers year-round programming for individuals aged 5 to adult, including social groups, summer camp, camps during school vacation, and special events.” Importantly, Aspire has a summer program for teens and also helps young adults navigate the work environment, gain marketable skills, and move toward a profession.
Explorations, an Aspire program, is a six-week weekday summer program where teens, aged 14-19, participate in recreational and social activities while learning a variety of practical life skills out in the community. Topics include money management, trip planning, using public transportation, peer negotiation and time management. Teens are placed into small cohorts of 5-6 participants. Throughout the summer, participants will have opportunities to engage with other cohorts and participants within the program. Participants are encouraged to balance their needs with those of the group. Community trips take place throughout the metro Boston area (Faneuil Hall, Prudential Center, movie theater, bowling, museums, and restaurants) and typically utilize public transportation.
Transitions, another Aspire program, is a six-week weekday summer program where young adults, aged 16-22 years old, participate in group activities and practice skills that support the transition to work and college environments. Participants are placed at a volunteer work site two days per week where they receive job coaching and career skill training. Participants are placed at the volunteer work sites in groups of three participants with one Aspire Transition Specialist on-site. When not at their work site, participants engage in college exploration, recreational activities, and team-building activities within a larger group of their peers.
massgeneral.org/assets/mgh/pdf/children/aspire/aspire-teen-summer-faqs.pdf
College coaching is available through Aspire.
AspireWorks Internship Program
The Aspire Works Internship Program provides a strengths and skills-based internship opportunity for neurodiverse adults seeking short-term experience and exposure to the workforce. Internship participants are carefully matched with Aspire’s employer partners. Career Coaches provide on-going training and consultation, creating positive and fulfilling work experiences for all.
massgeneral.org/children/aspire/aspire-works
There are also social groups for adults through Aspire.
Next Step is designed to help students with social language and anxiety challenges prepare for college. The program serves as a simulation for independent living.
This is your young adult’s (age 16-20) opportunity to:
Experience a “week in college”
Live in a dorm with a roommate/ suitemates
Budget for meals in the dining hall using a meal card
Learn from college professionals about the various supports on campuses and how to access them
Participate in group lessons on health & wellness and dating & relationships
Practice self-advocacy skills on the college campus
Learn how to manage the “downtime”
Use public transportation for off-campus, group excursions
Gain confidence in becoming more independent
Focus on personalized goals for the week
https://www.bakercenter.org/next-step
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