1st Edition
Autism Friendly Cities How to Develop an Inclusive Community
Access. Inclusion. Diversity. All people deserve to be embraced by their community. Autism Friendly Cities: How to Create an Inclusive Community is the first book designed to guide city leadership and staff through the processes of training and evaluation, development, and implementation of an Autism Friendly initiative that will help you open your doors to everyone.
People with autism should be able to participate in all that is offered and facilitated by their city, including services, activities, events, and points of connection. Being an Autism Friendly City is not only socially responsible, it will improve engagement, outreach, economic development, and resident satisfaction.
Part 1: THE WHY: WHY ARE WE HERE? WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Chapter 1: The Good, The Bad, and The PR Nightmares
- The Good
- The Bad
- PR Nightmares
- *Reflection: The Good and The Bad
- A Dialogue: DEIA
- Consider Your City
- *Brainstorm: Evaluate Your City
Chapter 2: Recruiting Others
- Who Is at the Forefront of This Movement?
- What is the Time Commitment?
- How Do We Pay for This?
- Economic Development
Chapter 3: Listen to Your Community
- Survey Your Residents
- *Resident Survey/Needs Assessment
- What You Might Hear
- Tend Your Garden
Part 2: THE WHO: PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Chapter 4: Let’s Talk a Bit about Autism
- *Quiz (Pre/Post Test): A Brief Quiz on Autism
- Basic Diagnostic Information
- Prevalence
- Characteristics
- Difference Versus Deficit
- Neurodiversity
- Hard Conversations
- *Pre/Post-Test Quiz Answers
Chapter 5: Training
- What Training Does My Team Need/
- *Worksheet: Questions for Potential Trainers
- How to Continue the Conversation
Chapter 6: Putting Together Your Inclusion Team: Community Partners Are Key
- Develop Your Inclusion Team
- *Worksheet: Create Your Inclusion Team
- Potential Community-based Team Members
- Location and Timeframe for Meetings
- Inclusion Team Meeting Agenda
- Sample Inclusion Team Meeting Agenda
- Team Collaborations and Projects
- Regional or Statewide Inclusion Teams
Part 3: THE WHAT: CREATING CHANGE
Chapter 7: Getting Started
- *Worksheet: What Does Inclusion Look Like for Your City?
Chapter 8: Environmental Modifications
- Sight
- Hearing
- Touch
- Smell
- Taste
- Temperature
- Spatial
- High and Low Sensory Spaces
- *Worksheet: Design your Space
Chapter 9: Communication Techniques
- First Point of Contact
- Universal Design
- Website
- Using Direct Communication
- One-on-One Communication
- *Resident Meeting Agenda Template
Chapter 10: Visual Supports
- *Sample Visual Support Template
- *Sample Visual Support Incorporating Directions
- *Sample Visual Support Where Graphics Are Incorporated into Existing Document
Chapter 11: Social Sciences
- What is a Social Story?
- What Must a Social Story Contain?
- How Can I Create a Social Story?
- *Sample Social Story
Chapter 12: Designing Large-Scale Events
Chapter 13: An Example: Libraries
- Low Sensory Library Spaces
- Sensory Friendly Browsing
- Autism Friendly Programming
- *Sample Autism Friendly Program Registration Form
- Sensory Friendly Movie Night
- Sensory Friendly Story Time
Chapter 14: Summer Camp Inclusion/IRPs
- *IRP (Individualized Recreational Program) Sample
Chapter 15: Employment and HR Tips
Chapter 16: Conclusion: Share with Others
- Success Stories
- Conference/Expo
- Overall checklist
- Declaring You Are an Autism Friendly City
- Tell the World
Biography
Jennifer Percival, Ph.D., CRC Dr. Jennifer Percival is the Assistant Director of Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. She holds a Doctorate from FAU in Educational Leadership and Research Methodology with a research area of Disability Studies. She is a Nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, published author, expert on inclusion, disability employment strategies, and the transition experience. Jennifer is a sought-after speaker and presenter, and a consultant on program development. Jennifer created the FAU CARD Autism Friendly Business and Cities program and the Developmental Disability Small Business Network. She is the founder and coordinator of the world’s only Autism Friendly Cities Institute. She serves on the Royal Caribbean International Autism Advisory Board, the South Florida Business Leadership Network Board, the CareerSource Palm Beach County Youth Employment Board, the City of Boynton Beach ADA and Inclusion Board, Palm Beach County’s Special Needs Advisory Council, the Palm Beach Council for In Transition Youth, and the Treasure Coast Transition Council. Jennifer was the 2019 Florida Graduate Research Symposium second place state-wide winner for disability-specific dissertation research. She was the state of Florida’s Workforce System’s Barbara Griffin Workforce Excellence Award winner in 2017, FAU’s Lifelong Learning Society Lunafest Scholarship recipient in 2017, and FAU’s College of Education North Campus Student of the Year in 2016. Prior to working at FAU, Jennifer divided her career between the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Florida Department of Children and Families. Jennifer is a community leader who develops infrastructure through her work with collaborations and regional planning, while assisting professionals and individuals with program improvement, planning, and strategic implementation.
