Autism workshop at local public library March 19

The Odessa Friends of the Library are sponsoring a workshop on “Autism: Transitioning into Adulthood” by Dr. Steve Becker on Saturday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Odessa Public Library, 21 E First Ave.

Some of the subtopics covered are:

• How should a parent prepare a teenager for living on his/her own?

• What changes happen to parents as their children grow up into adulthood?

• How can parents create a safety net to prevent young adults from “crashing and burning” (getting overwhelmed, failing school, growing depressed, becoming isolated, thinking about suicide, etc.)?

• How can young adults cope with stigmatization and discrimination in training programs, hiring and employment practices?

• What are the latest best practices in parenting young adults, and what resources are available and how do we access them?

Dr. Steve Becker, Ph.D. has been helping persons of all ages with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families for over 30 years. This experience has given him a unique perspective on how to solve tough problems.

After completing his M.A. and Ph.D. in special education and psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1984, Dr. Becker began a parent education and behavior therapy practice in Illinois. He moved to Seattle following a backpacking trip to the Pacific Northwest in 1989.

He offers evaluations, parent education, behavior therapy, parenting workshops, agency staff training, transition programming for young adults and vocational preparation for adults on the autism spectrum.

The public is invited to attend the workshop.