autism services
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Keystone Human Services (KHS) is a non-profit organization that is a part of a global movement to provide support and expertise to people with disabilities.
Our flexible, individualized programs for adolescents and adults with autism are designed to meet the needs of each person, whether they’re pursuing goals around home, school, work, or the community. We encourage and actively support growth, positive individual choices, and meaningful relationships.
Availability: Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania
When Bree Dougherty started in the Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP), she was in her early 20s. Like many of her peers at that age, she was trying to make her way in the world. Through ACAP, she worked with staff who supported her with her goals based on her strengths, dreams, and aspirations. She now has her own apartment, and since she’s a very creative person, she has designed a well-organized space in her home to craft the “Blind Date with a Book” packages she leaves in the local Little Library.
ACAP’s flexible services and supports provide adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder the support they need to develop skills to reach their goals and participate meaningfully in their community. These comprehensive and individualized services can be tailored to each person’s needs.
Availability: Connecticut
Our Autism Services in Connecticut provide a person-directed approach to supporting adults over 18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We work with each person and their family to develop a plan to increase the person’s ability to live independently and participate in the community. Adults may receive community mentoring, life skills coaching, behavior management, or a combination based on their goals.
Availability: Delaware, Pennsylvania
Designed to increase independence and inclusion in family and community life, Behavior Support Services focus on developing a person’s adaptive behaviors and functional skills.
Under supervision of a licensed psychologist, our professionals work with each person to develop a behavioral support plan based on the person’s strengths, challenges, and goals. On-going training is provided for each person, their family, and the staff supporting them.
Availability: New Jersey
For people living at home, Community-Based Services offers support to become active members of the community. Through Community Supports, each person can pursue volunteer opportunities and many other roles within the community. In-Home Supports offers assistance in learning daily living skills, such as food preparation, grocery shopping, and laundry.
Presentations focus on understanding and communicating effectively with adults with autism, and can be tailored to the needs of audiences as varied as museums, libraries, amusement parks, healthcare settings, first responders, or law enforcement.
If you are interested in education or training related to autism spectrum disorders, please contact the Keystone Autism Services Education Director at 717-220-1465.
Availability: Lehigh County Pennsylvania
The Vocational Initiative in PA is an innovative approach to supporting young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. Available to adolescents and adults age 12–35 in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, the Vocational Initiative in PA is designed specifically to meet the needs of young adults as they transition from high school to pursue employment, higher education, and increased independence in their home and community.
The Vocational Initiative in PA also offers support for family members to develop ongoing natural and community supports for their son or daughter.
Participants in the Vocational Initiative in PA will plan, prepare for, and achieve employment and/or post-secondary education while increasing their independence as part of an inclusive, productive, and meaningful everyday life.
The Vocational Initiative in PA uses elements of the LifeCourse Framework (Missouri Family to Family Life Course Network) to develop a person directed approach unique to each individual. Each person and their family develop a vision and plan for a full life as they transition from entitlement-based services received in high school to the eligibility-based services of adulthood.
The Vocational Initiative in PA offers comprehensive services to address the needs of young adults as they transition into successful employment and gain independence in their home and communities, including:
Specialized Skill Development
We assess the participant’s challenges and planning skill-building interventions to support participants in achieving employment and/or post-secondary education goals, as well as increase self-advocacy through an individualized skill-building plan.
Career Planning
We support participants to identify their desired career direction, skills, and support needs and develop a plan for achieving employment and/or education goals. Participants receive support to achieve goals related to employment and/or post-secondary education as outlined in their individualized person-centered plan.
Job Finding
Participants receive assistance in developing or securing competitive, integrated employment that fits their individualized employment goals, as well as the employer’s needs. We support participants to achieve goals related to employment as outlined in their individualized person-centered plan.
Supported Employment
Participants receive support to achieve goals related to maintaining competitive, integrated employment as outlined in their individualized skill-building plan, including training on specific job tasks, adaptive skills, and periodic or ongoing supports as needed.
Community Support
We support participants to achieve goals related to increasing self-advocacy and planning for their future. Participants receive training on specific rights, as well as adaptive skills and strategies to advocate for their needs through a person-centered and community-based approach. Community Support includes service coordination to assist participants and families to locate, assess, and coordinate an individualized network of supports and services.
Availability: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
While living in licensed or unlicensed provider-owned or rented homes, adults with autism receive support to live independently in the community. The type and amount of services are determined by each person’s needs and can range from a few hours a week to 24 hours a day. Each person works with their family, staff, and other people of their choosing to develop a plan based on their goals, including employment and participation in the community.
Howie used to work for an employer that required him to have full support from a Community Support Professional (CSP), but he and his support staff knew that he didn’t need that much oversight. He decided to leave his old job and started a new, customized job with natural supports. “I move boxes. I clock in and watch my time,” he says. “I don’t need CSPs to help me at work.”
