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About Us

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

Learn more about this program and how you can help expand access for autistic individuals who have aged out of school and now lack the support they need.

Our Story

On Oct. 18, Alex’s Autism Alliance launched at the Metropolitan Multi-Service
Center at West Gray.
Named after Alexandre Santos, son of Autism Moms of Houston founder
Andreza Carleo, the program allows HCC Occupational Therapy Assistant
students to offer knowledge and strategies to parents of the support group and
skill-building activities for their adult children to promote independence.
“This semester, our OTA students are working with individuals with autism who
have aged out of the traditional education system,” said Renee Shepherd, HCC
Occupational Therapy Assistant program director. “With the assistance of our
students, participants can continue developing skills that increase their quality of
life while giving parents some support and respite.”
According to Carleo, the drive behind the alliance stems from Alex’s own journey.
“After turning 21, Alex aged out of school and faced a lack of programs and
opportunities for continued development and goal achievement,” she said. “He
aged out this past May, and the program is launching just in time to offer a space
for individuals in our community who are often overlooked due to their autism and
unique behaviors.”
“This initiative is allowing us to fill a significant gap in our community,” Carleo
added.
Gwin Young, a registered nurse who specializes in shadowing young adults with
autism, helped initiate the program when she learned the HCC Occupational
Therapy Assistant curriculum included autism training.
“We (Autism Moms of Houston) wanted to try and team up with the OTA program
because we thought it could benefit the families and students,” Young said.
“Andreza and I also graduated from HCC, so we were extra excited when they
agreed!”
For the Alex’s Autism Alliance program, the HCC Occupational Therapy Assistant
students develop customized plans for the participant assigned. The activities

can range from self-care routines to social skills lessons to fine motor crafts and
even job skills.
“This is real-world learning for our students. The hands-on experience will allow
our students to develop their critical reasoning and therapeutic use of self,”
Shepherd said.
Though in its infancy, the program is already showing promise.
“I think the parents were pleasantly surprised by how much our students already
know,” Shepherd said, “and the students are already able to apply the things they
have only read about.”
The first session on Oct. 18 exposed Kayli Graham, a second-year Occupational
Therapy Assistant student, to a different population of individuals with autism.
“It was my first time working with adults. They were all over 21. I had normally
only worked with younger kids, like 10 and younger,” Graham said. “I learned you
could still plan similar activities, but you had to ‘age them up’ because they are
adults, and they do understand much more.”
As the participants continue their life skills development, the parents will explore
new opportunities and strategies for their children.
“What we hope to achieve is to help the participants transition to the next stage
of adulthood and offer parents strategies and resources to plan their child’s future
and figure out the next steps,” Shepherd said.

 

2024 MOMENTS

Our Alliance

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