@averysautismadventures

Autism & Transition Programs: CLE Costa Mesa Second visit to CLE Costa Mesa! And this time we got a much better look at what everyday life could actually look like for Avery. CLE (College Living Experience) supports neurodivergent young adults as they work toward college or employment while…

Autism & California: 5️⃣ things we wish we knew sooner about autism resources in California. As Avery gets closer to 18, we’ve realized just how much there is to learn about the systems and resources that can support her now and into adulthood. These are five that have become especially important…

Autism & Transition Programs: 🎓 Riverview G.R.O.W. Program Shadow Experience Three days of classes, new friends, dorm life, and a little taste of what life after high school could look like! As part of their application process, Riverview requires students to complete three consecutive shadow days…

Autism & Transition Programs: Shadow Week 📚 Our final look at two programs we love in Massachusetts! A 3-day shadow experience at Riverview’s GROW Program and a 1-day shadow at Lesley Threshold. We have narrowed it down to four top choices for transition programming after high school! 🎓 Riverview…

Autism & Homecoming 🪩 Recap of the last senior Hoco! 👯‍♀️🍋 “I danced my face off” #hoco #mammamia

Autism & Homecoming 🪩 Fit Check! This year’s theme is Mamma Mia! 🇬🇷👯‍♀️ What are we thinking? Tell us in the comments! #hoco #hocodress

Autism & Learning to Cook: 🍕 EASY AIR FRYER ENGLISH MUFFIN PIZZAS! These were so easy to make and turned out delicious! Perfect for a quick lunch, after-school snack, or an easy dinner. 🛒 INGREDIENTS: * Thomas’ English Muffins * Yo Mama’s Marinara Sauce * Shredded mozzarella cheese * Shredded…

💰 Autism & California: 5 Steps to Apply for IHSS! Did you know some California families can get paid for providing care to their autistic loved ones? We recently applied for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and we’re sharing the five steps we went through! 1️⃣ Apply! Contact your county IHSS…

Autism & Homecoming 🪩 Senior year and the final Homecoming Ask! 🥰 Now we have to try on some outfits! 👗

Autism & Transition Programs: 🎓💰 How do families pay for autism transition programs after high school?! Some of the programs we’ve visited cost over $100,000 a year! 😳 And since Avery is graduating with a diploma, we’ve been researching alternative transition programs and ways to help pay for…

Oldie, but goodie! Leading the dance circle at Homecoming🔥#hoco

Autism & California: 💰 CalABLE Account We opened Avery’s CalABLE account, funded it with her birthday money… and now what can she actually use it for? This is the part I really wish we had understood years ago! CalABLE savings can be used for qualified disability expenses that support health…

Autism & Diplomas 🎓 Did you know that graduating with a high school diploma can mean losing eligibility for your school district’s special education transition program? We didn’t. Even the new California alternate diploma pathways are complicated to understand. Avery is 18, autistic, and on track…

Autism & Grocery Shopping 🛒 Between making lists, planning meals, sticking to a budget, crowded aisles, all the noise, and the stress of checkout… we get REALLY overwhelmed! That’s why we’ve been loving hungryroot! ❤️ We can set our budget ahead of time, choose foods we actually like, and have…

Autism & Learning to Cook: 🍕 PIZZA TOASTIES! My cousin Alexa came over, and we decided to make pizza toasties in the air fryer! SO easy, SO yummy, and you can make them with whatever toppings you love! And of course, we made my favorite Caesar salad on the side! 🍕 AIR FRYER PIZZA TOASTIES…

Autism & Grandparents: ♥️ Our favorite original sensory tool! Avery loves the calming and soothing snuggles from her Grammy, especially in overstimulating places like restaurants or airports. Do you have a special bond with your grandparents? #autismgrandma #autismgrandparents #autismfamily

Autism & Turning 18: Legal Decision-Making One of the biggest for us: Who helps Avery make important decisions now that she’s legally an adult? At 18, parents don’t automatically continue making legal decisions for their child. And we learned there isn’t just one path. Depending on the individual…

Autism & Transition Programs: It’s application time! 🎓 After months of researching, touring and going back for second looks, I’m starting to apply to my top FOUR autism transition programs so far: 🐻 UCLA Extension — Pathway Program | Los Angeles, CA ☀️ College Living Experience (CLE) | Costa Mesa…

Autism & Transition Programs: A second look at Riverview GROW Program! 💙 This time we brought Grammy along to see why we loved this program so much the first time. We toured the campus, I got to sit in on a class and meet some students — and I even ran into one of my old friends from elementary…

Autism & Finances: How to Fund a CalABLE Account! A CalABLE account is open… now how do you actually start putting money into it? 💰 Avery just turned 18, so we decided her birthday money was the perfect place to start. She counted the cash she received from friends and family, gave it to me, and…

Back in Boston for our second look at Lesley Threshold! 🎓💚 If you’re new here, we’ve been traveling around the country looking at transition programs for what comes after high school and Threshold has been one of our favorites. Threshold is a two-year, non-degree program at Lesley University in…

Autism & Learning to Cook: Air Fryer!👩🏼‍🍳 Remember when Avery toured Chase’s group home and immediately noticed one VERY important thing was missing? No air fryer! So we had to fix that. ❤️ For Avery, learning to use an air fryer has been about so much more than cooking. It’s helped her practice…

Autism & Transition Programs: A Second Look Here we go! Checking out our other top two choices: Lesley Threshold and Riverview 👩🏼‍🎓 #autismprograms #autismadventures

Autism & Learning to Cook: TOASTED RAVIOLI IN THE AIR FRYER! 🤌🏼🍝 We had toasted ravioli at a restaurant the other night and immediately decided we needed to try making them at home in our new Ninja Crispi. And these were easy! Ingredients: 🧀 Refrigerated cheese ravioli 🥚 3 eggs 🥛 Tiny splash of…

And just like that… Avery is 18. ❤️ We celebrated this huge milestone surrounded by so many of her favorite people, but behind the birthday celebrations, turning 18 with autism also means entering a whole new world that we are quickly learning how to navigate. These are 5 of the big things we’re…

Autism & Senior Year! 👩🏼‍🎓 I remember a time when we thought Avery wouldn’t even be able to attend school. Trying to find the right environment was a struggle. But 18 years later… here we are. 🤷🏼‍♀️ #senioryear #seniorportraits #autismadventures

Autism & Learning to Cook: Ninja Crispi 👩🏼‍🍳 We finally got the Ninja Crispi! We use our air fryer ALL the time because it makes cooking so much easier. especially as we are learning to make more meals independently. We’ve also been hearing a lot about glass air fryers, so we wanted to give this…

Autism & Sensory Tools: The Sensory Support Project Such a fun day of community, connection, and giving back. 🩵 Our Inclusive Navigators crew teamed up with our friend Charlotte, creator of The Sensory Support Project, to help pack sensory kits and learn more about the tools inside them. We love…

Autism & Independence: Avery’s first speech! 🎤 We were so honored to be asked to speak at the San Francisco Autism Society Golf Tournament sponsored by the Pettinelli Financial Team! They are incredible people! 🩵🫶🏼 The SF Autism Society does so many wonderful things for our community in the Bay…

Autism & California: CalABLE account I’m opening my CalABLE account! 💻 And honestly, Mom and I wish we had learned about it sooner. We’ve been thinking more about my future lately. College, transition programs, independence and all the things I may need along the way. That’s where CalABLE comes…