Check out Our Info Session All About the Asat Program
Virtual Info Session About Chapel Haven Schleifer Center
A Testimonial from Dr. Fred Volkmar, Yale University
Chapel Haven’s Asperger Syndrome Adult Transition Program (ASAT)
The ASAT program is designed for young adults 18 years of age and older with a diagnosis including:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (Level 1, formerly known as Asperger Syndrome)
Social Communication Disorders
Executive Functioning and Nonverbal Learning Challenges
Four Foundations of ASAT
The ASAT program is nationally unique in its focus on social communication. The SCC curriculum was designed by a team of experts and centers around a core component of social communicative competency (SCC).
Living in an apartment with roommates, managing an academic schedule and transitioning into productive and meaningful work, all require that students compromise, solve problems, and advocate for their needs.
This highly important curriculum area provides opportunities for:
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Development of appropriate interpretation and use of nonverbal communication, such as facial expressions, gestures and physical proximity, in a variety of contexts and settings;
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Instruction in receptive language skills, developing the individual’s ability to respond to information that is presented both visually and auditorily;
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Demonstration of increased expressive language skills in a variety of contexts, including but not limited to speech clarity, speed, phrasing, the correct use of formal and informal language, figurative language, irony, metaphors and non-literal language; and Development of perspective-taking theory of mind skills is the cornerstone of the social communication curriculum.
A fundamental goal of the ASAT program is to help our adults prepare for careers and college. Our approach is highly individualized. For some students, the college environment will offer the opportunity to sample classes and perhaps matriculate; for others, exposure to vocational opportunities may be a priority. Some adults come to Chapel Haven with some degree of college already completed. Our location in a college town supports many choices in the area of college, vocational and professional studies.
Post-secondary Options
The ASAT program’s location in historic Westville Village means students are only two miles west of downtown New Haven and close to several colleges and universities. Working closely with staff, students may register for and begin attending local colleges, with tailored support in the areas of executive functioning, planning and time management. Students can choose among several choices in a college town. ASAT offers an optional social communication class through the Communications Disorder Program at Southern Connecticut State University, for which they earn a college credit and develop social skills while interacting with typical college peers.
Popular College Choices Include:
Southern Connecticut State University (www.southernct.edu): an easy walk or bus ride from campus; one of four universities in the CT state system
Gateway Community College (www.gatewayct.edu)
University of New Haven (www.newhaven.edu)
The second component of the curriculum which is blended into all instruction is self-determination.
This is an individual’s awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses, the ability to set achievable goals and make choices, to be assertive at appropriate times and to interact with others in a socially competent manner.
These skills are taught by aiding the individual to identify his own emotions, needs, interests, and values as well as to develop an understanding of his strengths and limitations.
A Community Integration Approach:
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Because Chapel Haven is highly individualized, we intentionally tailor each resident’s curriculum journey according to their strengths and abilities so that they can progress at their own speed.
Some individuals may benefit from living in apartments on the Chapel Haven campus, with private bedrooms and shared common space. They receive individualized staff supports to help them further develop the day-to-day skills necessary for independent living. Such supports may include: menu planning, grocery shopping, budgeting and banking, meal preparation and apartment maintenance. This program is ideal for adults who are capable of managing their daily and overnight needs without 24/7 direct oversight, but with access to staff on call if needed.
The housing is centered in two multi-family apartment buildings, where participants live in two- and three-bedroom apartments, each person having a private bedroom. The buildings, all located within the same block, are adjacent to Chapel Haven’s main campus. Much of the teaching is done in settings in the community, but participants also receive instruction in classrooms located in the Bershaw-Boswell Community Center on campus.
A Testimonial from Dr. Barbara Cook, Ed.D., CCC-SLP
“Self-determination and the ability to engage in social communication are critical to success in all aspects of life and is why we created a curriculum that emphasizes these areas. The ASAT program provides a multitude of experiences, paired with varying degrees of support, to enhance both the self-determination and social communication for each of their community members; all while attending to the individual needs of each member. I have been fortunate to meet and interact with many of the ASAT community members during their participation in SCSU activities and can attest to their growth in self-determination and social communication during their time in the ASAT program.”
ASAT Calendar
Chapel Haven’s ASAT program
The ASAT program is designed for young adults 18 years of age and older with a diagnosis including:
Asperger Syndrome Social Communication Disorders Executive Functioning and Nonverbal Learning Challenges Mild Autism
Chapel Haven currently offers the ASAT (Asperger Syndrome Adult Transition) program, a program that is highly successful in helping a growing cadre of adults gain productive, self-empowered lives. In the last year, Chapel Haven has redesigned the program to offer more price points and choices for families looking for the right next step for their loved ones. We offer an “a la carte” style menu of programs, from supported living program, transitional housing with individualized supports, day and weekend services, social communication therapy, to targeted help with college and independent living.
Typical challenges addressed by our experience-rich curriculum:
Executive functioning and
organization
Time management & follow
through
Self-advocacy and self-awareness
Understanding the perspective of others and hidden social rules
Personal safety
Navigating college
Anxiety and managing
transitions
Managing the online world
Navigating the working world (finding and keeping the right job)
Shifting communication style based on context
Understanding nuance, humor, sarcasm idioms, or words with multiple meanings
Typical challenges addressed by our experience-rich curriculum:
Chapel Haven currently offers the ASAT (Asperger Syndrome Adult Transition) program, a highly successful model that helps neurodivergent adults gain productive, self-empowered lives. The program offers both comprehensive and a la carte programs, ranging from transitional housing with individualized supports, day and weekend services to targeted help with college, vocation and independent living.
Executive functioning and organization
Time management & follow through
Self-advocacy and self-awareness
Understanding the perspective of others and hidden social rules.
Personal safety
Navigating college
Anxiety and managing
transitions
Managing the online world
Navigating the working world (finding and keeping the right job)
Shifting communication style based on context
Understanding nuance, humor, sarcasm idioms, or words with multiple meanings
What can you hope to gain by
taking part in the ASAT program?
By the time you graduate from the ASAT program, we expect that you will…
…be able to be successful in living independently
…be college bound or have successfully
completed college
…be productively career-bound
…be able to secure and maintain meaningful
employment
…have increased self-awareness and self-esteem
…have gained social confidence, competence and
a community of friends.
What can you hope to gain by
taking part in the ASAT program?
By the time you graduate from the ASAT program, we expect that you will…
…be able to be successful in living independently
…be college bound or have successfully
completed college
…be productively career-bound
…be able to secure and maintain meaningful
employment
…have increased self-awareness and self-esteem
…have gained social confidence, competence and
a community of friends.
How is ASAT different?
You know the saying: “If you’ve met one person with Aspergers, you’ve met one person with Aspergers.” Understanding this, our program is customizable, not “one size fits all.”
Young adults with Asperger Syndrome and high functioning autism have differing strengths and skills and we would never assume that we know you better than you know yourself. To meet your individual needs more effectively, we have developed a flexible a-la-carte selection of workshops that focus on overcoming specific challenges. This allows you to build the program that best suits you.
ASAT program modules are taught in classrooms but practiced in real world group settings. This unique combination means that lessons learned are fully integrated into your life.
Social communication is the umbrella focus of all that we teach and takes place in all settings by experienced speech-language pathologists.
You can also choose additional one-on-one coaching and supports that assist with key moments of transition to adult independence and help you to navigate some of the tougher moments of home, work or college life.
ASAT is one of the only programs in the country to focus on transitioning adults into independence, regardless of the age at which they come to us.
We have 50 years of experience at the forefront of teaching and supporting adults with social and/or learning challenges and our programs have been designed by international experts in the field.
The world renowned Yale Child Study Center assists with ongoing program evaluation and data collection to help us to constantly refine and measure our approach.
How is ASAT different?
You know the saying: “If you’ve met one person with Aspergers, you’ve met one person with Aspergers.” Understanding this, our program is customizable, not “one size fits all.”
Young adults with Asperger Syndrome and high functioning autism have differing strengths and skills and we would never assume that we know you better than you know yourself. To meet your individual needs more effectively, we have developed a flexible a-la-carte selection of workshops that focus on overcoming specific challenges. This allows you to build the program that best suits you.
ASAT program modules are taught in classrooms but practiced in real world group settings. This unique combination means that lessons learned are fully integrated into your life.
Social communication is the umbrella focus of all that we teach and takes place in all settings by experienced speech-language pathologists.
You can also choose additional one-on-one coaching and supports that assist with key moments of transition to adult independence and help you to navigate some of the tougher moments of home, work or college life.
ASAT is one of the only programs in the country to focus on transitioning adults into independence, regardless of the age at which they come to us.
We have 50 years of experience at the forefront of teaching and supporting adults with social and/or learning challenges and our programs have been designed by international experts in the field.
The world renowned Yale Child Study Center assists with ongoing program evaluation and data collection to help us to constantly refine and measure our approach.
To enrich the lives and the experience of our
ASAT clients, Chapel Haven offers a wide
selection of extra-curricular activities
Additional Services:
Recreation Social Communication Therapy Workshops each quarter on relevant topics Employment services Individualized non-residential supports, including case management, apartment maintenance, budgeting transportation. College supports Individual coaching Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ASAT Day (State Department of Education Approved) Transition Program for IEP students
To enrich the lives and the experience of our ASAT clients, Chapel Haven offers a wide selection of extra-curricular activities
Additional Services:
Recreation Social Communication Therapy Workshops each quarter on relevant topics Employment services Individualized non-residential supports, including case management, apartment maintenance, budgeting transportation. College supports Individual coaching Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ASAT Day (State Department of Education Approved) Transition Program for IEP students