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Didlake Identifying Needed Services for Adults with Autism

Didlake Identifying Needed Services for Adults with Autism

June 30, 2010 / Didlake / Press Releases

06/30/2010

Manassas, VA – As the number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder continues to explode, Didlake, Inc is working to identify the services those children will need as adults.  Manassas-based Didlake, Inc provides employment, training and rehabilitative services for approximately 1,400 adults with a wide variety of disabilities.  Now the organization is planning for a huge increase in demand for services tailored to the needs of adults with autism.  John Craig, Vice President of Rehabilitative Services, says “there’s a lot of uncertainty about the reason for the increase in autism diagnoses among children, but what is certain is that as these children reach adulthood they will need services tailored to their specific needs – including some services that have yet to be developed”.

Didlake is Virginia’s leading employer of people with disabilities.  Most of its employees work on contracts for federal government agencies.  Didlake currently serves and/or employs 33 people with autism.  Says Craig, “You just can’t make generalizations about Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Unlike some intellectual disabilities, the symptoms and behaviors vary wildly from one individual to another.  We do know that people with autism can be very successful in the workplace, especially when the people they are working with have some insights into how a person with autism communicates and learns. In other words, to help them succeed, we need to do some learning ourselves”.

To facilitate this process Didlake’s Director of Community Services, Andrew Clarke, recently completed his Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders at Virginia Commonwealth University. Two other staff members are currently participating in the program.  As part of his studies Clarke completed a 20-hour practicum where he addressed socialization and communication skills for five adults with autism currently enrolled in Didlake’s Community Inclusion Program.  He also completed a research paper on the current state of Autism Spectrum Disorder services in Virginia and the United States with respect to residential, employment and education programs. Chief among his conclusions was the fact that an organized approach to services for adults is yet to emerge.  Clarke and Craig are now spearheading the planning efforts to apply Didlake’s widely recognized expertise in disability services to this specialized field.  Didlake has created a database of autism resources throughout the state and is planning a fall event to bring multiple experts together to look at the future for adults with autism.  Clarke, who is continuing his preparation with an M. Ed in Autism Spectrum Disorder and pursuing Board Certification in Applied Behavior Analysis, anticipates a wave of adults with autism exiting the school system in 2014.  He remarked, “When we started looking at this topic we were surprised to learn how just how little was available in the way of services or information resources for adults with autism.  A short time from now there’s going to be a huge wave of demand, and we intend to be ready”.

About Didlake

Didlake, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Manassas, Virginia. It was founded in 1965 to create opportunities for people with disabilities through services that connect them to employment, education and the community. It provides contract business services for commercial and government customers and has won numerous awards for its facilities maintenance; packaging/ assembly; and administrative services.  The organization operates throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area, in the Roanoke Valley and in Greater Hampton Roads.  It has approximately 1,300 employees and an annual operating budget exceeding $50 million.  Didlake, Inc. is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia, accredited by CARF and proudly serves the nation through the AbilityOne program.  Its partners include the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, local Community Services Boards and United Way of the National Capital Area.   For more information go to www.didlake.org

Contact:

Betty Dean

bdean@didlake.org

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Didlake Receives 2011 Champions of Disability Employment Award

December 13, 2011

‘Best for Didlake’ Award Winners Announced

January 10, 2013

Six Didlake Employees Recognized for Outstanding Service

August 7, 2012

Didlake’s Triet “Tommy” Trinh Receives Recognition from Commanding Officer

October 14, 2009
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Commitment to Quality & Exceptional Service
    • Executive Leadership
    • Affiliations & Memberships
    • Corporate Credentials & Licensing
    • Community Outreach and Partnerships
    • Integrity: Our Whistleblower Policy
    • Blog
    • Didlake in the News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Contact Us
  • Our Services
    • Business Services for Government
      • Didlake Core Capabilities – NAICS & NIGP
      • We Deliver Expert Knowledge & Exceptional Quality
      • Partner With Us
    • Business Services
      • Didlake Document Imaging
      • Didlake Photo Imaging
      • The UPS Store 6272 at George Mason University
      • The UPS Store 6631 at Center at Innovation
      • The UPS Store 6656 at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center
  • Our Programs
    • Day Support Program
      • The Community Engagement Program
      • The Group Day Program
      • Volunteerism — A Day Support Activity
      • Tour Our Program Locations
      • Eligibility | Funding & Payment Options
      • How We Work With You
    • Employment Services Program for People with Disabilities
      • Didlake Supported Employment Services
      • Pre-Employment Transition Services for High School Students
      • Transitioning from High School to the Workforce
      • Our Employment Services Team
  • Support Our Mission
    • Disability Resources for Businesses
    • We Create Opportunities
    • Support Didlake
  • Careers at Didlake
    • Apply for a Job
    • Disability Documentation Requirements
    • Reasonable Accommodations
    • Recruiting During COVID-19 and How We are Keeping Our Employees Safe
    • We Invest in Our People
    • AbilityOne® Program Jobs
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  • Employment Services Program for People with Disabilities
    • Didlake Supported Employment Services
    • Pre-Employment Transition Services for High School Students
    • Transitioning from High School to the Workforce
    • Our Employment Services Team
  • Day Support Program
    • The Community Engagement Program
    • The Group Day Program
    • Volunteerism — A Day Support Activity
    • Tour Our Program Locations
    • Eligibility | Funding & Payment Options
    • How We Work With You
  • Business Services for Government
    • Didlake Core Capabilities – NAICS & NIGP
    • Expert Knowledge & Exceptional Quality
  • Business Services
    • Didlake Document Imaging
    • Didlake Photo Imaging
    • The UPS Store 6631 at Center at Innovation
    • The UPS Store 6656 at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center
  • About Us
    • Affiliations & Memberships
    • Blog
    • Community Outreach and Partnerships
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Credentials & Licensing
    • Didlake in the News
    • Integrity: Our Whistleblower Policy
    • News
    • Our Commitment to Quality & Exceptional Service
    • Our History
    • Press Releases
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Pay Your Invoice
  • Careers at Didlake
    • Apply for a Job
    • Disability Documentation Requirements
    • Reasonable Accommodations
    • We Invest in Our People
    • AbilityOne® Program Jobs
  • Support Our Mission
    • We Create Opportunities
    • Support Didlake

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