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Life After High School

Life After High School

What Happens When the Bus Stops Coming

Leaving high school is a major milestone, and planning what comes next can feel overwhelming. AutismUp offers guidance, education, and person-centered planning to help individuals and families navigate the transition to adulthood with confidence. Whether you’re exploring career paths, building life skills, or identifying community supports, our team is here to help you plan for the future.

Explore our Full Life Academy
Our Full Life Academy offers programs designed to empower & equip individuals with a full understanding of their abilities, interests, skills and goals, leading to a future where they can reach their full potential.
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Start Your Planning Journey

The AutismUp team, led by Jeanne Ricigliano, Director of the Center for Community Transition, works closely with individuals and their support networks to guide the planning process for life after high school.

This includes:

  • Identifying members of your Circle of Support
  • Facilitating planning meetings
  • Connecting you with helpful resources
  • Documenting progress and action steps along the way

Contact Jeanne Ricigliano for a complimentary conversation about your planning needs.

NextUp Workshops
NextUp Workshops are free monthly virtual sessions designed to help families plan for life after high school and beyond. Hear from experts on topics such as adult services, employment pathways, benefits planning, housing options, and more. Workshops take place September through June and are open to anyone preparing for the transition to adulthood.
View Upcoming Workshops

Person-Centered Planning: Your Life Story

Every individual has their own goals, strengths, and vision for the future. Through Person-Centered Planning, we help individuals and families create a personalized Life Story that outlines hopes, dreams, and the practical steps needed to achieve them.

This process brings together the individual and their Circle of Support—family members, educators, professionals, and others who care about their success—to build a shared plan for the future.

Together, we will:

  • Explore strengths, interests, and personal goals
  • Identify areas where new skills may be needed
  • Develop strategies to overcome barriers
  • Expand community connections and support networks
  • Create actionable steps to move forward
  • Each planning session concludes with a clear Action Plan designed to help turn goals into reality through programs like our Full Life Academy.

Why Planning Matters
Planning ahead helps ensure that individuals and families feel prepared as they move from school-based services to adult life. Person-centered planning can help:

  • Connect families with adult service agencies before leaving high school
  • Strengthen collaboration between families, educators, and professionals
  • Identify community resources and natural supports
  • Align services with personal goals and long-term outcomes
  • Starting early helps create a smoother transition and opens the door to more opportunities.