‘LifeWorks at WKU’ is New Residential Program for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

RHONDA MILLER 

Mary Lloyd Moore, executive director of the Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex at WKU, announces the new ‘LifeWorks at WKU’ program.CREDIT RHONDA MILLER

 

An innovative residential program to prepare adults with autism spectrum disorder for transition to the workforce was announced April 12 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.

Mary Lloyd Moore is executive director of the Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex at WKU. She said the project called ‘LifeWorks at WKU’ will begin in the Fall of 2020.

“We plan for it to be a two-year residential program whereby there will be supported living, supported employment, supported community engagement, and education for relationship skills in the community at home and in life,” said Moore.

She said the residence will be apartment living located within a block of the Clinical Education Complex. It will house up to 26 people.

She said state-mandated services for people with disabilities end when they reach 21 and the new program will fill a critical gap.

Because a looming question for parents, really and all of society is, who’s going to care for our loved ones when we are no longer able to do so. And how do we insure that they’re safe and healthy and happy, living to their potential?”

Moore said the innovative program  could become a model for Kentucky and the nation. The program is affiliated with WKU, but is privately funded by community supporters.

The Clinical Education Complex was created in 2006 when the university responded to the community need for trained autism professionals to support families and children from age two through high school. The Kelly Autism Program’s Circle of Support, founded in 2003, serves WKU students with autism. The addtion of LifeWorks at WKU will now serve individuals on the autism spectrum for as long as services are needed.