Community Support

Support for Adult with Autism

We are looking for a kind, warm, genuinely interested and compassionate individual to support our 34-year-old daughter at her place of employment every Wednesday and Friday. We live one mile North of Oakland University, and her job is in Waterford. (approximately 13 miles from our home)

This position provides you additional experience, as it is at a very sought after and well-established non-profit for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our daughter has worked there for 11 years as an Occupational Therapy Aide, giving light, one-to-one sensory integration support to participants. It is a warm, loving place to staff and participants alike.

Hours are 9am – 12:30pm, picking her up at home and back, after supporting and assisting her.

We require a Driver’s License, Proof of Insurance, background check, etc. We offer excellent pay, mileage from our door both ways - and a quarterly bonus.

Our daughter has ASD and NVLD, which is a little-known condition invisible to the naked eye. It is characterized by visual/spatial challenges, motor difficulties and trouble understanding nonverbal information (still not in the DSM). She is very verbal, has a strong vocabulary, but has difficulty grasping the relationships between things she sees and a clear understanding of where they are. Visual imagery is challenging. She is extremely literal, cannot intuit or read between the lines for meaning. Body language, abstract concepts, metaphors, hyperbole, idioms and facial expressions often cause confusion and anxiety. We and she will teach you how this disability impacts all areas of her life. She is quiet, wants to learn, is interested, kind and needs someone who is too. Her disabilities are invisible, which makes her needs overlooked.

Please contact Kitt at [email protected] or call (248)891-1060. (Posted 2/1/2025)

AAC and Proloquo Support for Autistic Adult
Are you an OU student with experience in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), speech-language pathology, special education, or a related field? We are looking for a patient and knowledgeable individual to help our adult autistic son develop his communication skills using Proloquo on an iPad.

Job Details:

• Role: Assist in setting up and implementing an effective communication approach using Proloquo
• Schedule: 45-minute session once a week, day and time to fit your schedule.
• Location: OU campus; sessions could involve real-life practice, such as ordering food in the cafeteria and making selections using the iPad
• Compensation: Competitive hourly rate
• Requirements:
  • Experience with AAC tools (Proloquo preferred)
  • Understanding of communication strategies for non-verbal or minimally verbal individuals
  • Ability to facilitate real-world practice to strengthen communication skills
  • Patience, enthusiasm, and a desire to make a meaningful impact

This is a great opportunity for students in speech-language pathology, special education, assistive technology, or related fields to gain hands-on experience while supporting a meaningful communication journey.

If interested, please reach out to [email protected]  with your background and availability. (Posted 2/27/25)

Companion for High School Female (ASD) – Afternoons & Evenings
We are seeking a caring, patient, and engaging companion for a 16-year-old girl with social anxiety . She attends high school and this role will provide driving, daily support during the afternoons and the odd evening, twenty hours a week. 

Responsibilities:

• Engage in activities she enjoys, such as drawing, listening to music, and cooking.
• Assist with homework and school assignments, offering guidance and structure.
• Provide companionship and encourage social interaction in a calm and supportive manner.
• Assist with daily routines and light meal preparation if needed.
• Foster a comfortable and structured environment.
• Communicate effectively with parents to ensure her needs and preferences are met.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with individuals with ASD is preferred but not required.
• Kind, patient, and reliable personality.
• Ability to create a supportive and engaging environment.
• Basic cooking skills are a plus.

Schedule:

• Afternoons and evenings (exact hours to be discussed).

If you are compassionate and enjoy meaningful one-on-one interactions, we’d love to hear from you!

Lynne Pellegrom (248) 891-3966 (Posted 4/21/25)