Navigating the Transition To Adulthood Requires a Compass, Not a Map
In today’s world, we often crave simple answers and definitive solutions. People want the answer, the path, the formula for success. From a professional perspective, possessing what appears to be the “right way” can be a powerful tool, easily leveraged to create the illusion of low-risk, high-reward programs and solutions.
However, as a professional with decades of experience studying and analyzing human behavior, I can tell you with absolute certainty that there are no absolute solutions. True progress comes from the hard work of discovering what works best for each individual, considering their complex array of variables, including their people, places, learning history, environments, communities, family of origin, value systems, rules, resources, and more.
Yet, we still receive frequent calls and emails from prospective clients seeking a “quick consult” to find the “programs” that will quickly solve their problems. Honestly, these are often the most challenging conversations.
The Illusion of the “Program”
“Dear Meaghan, I was wondering if you could provide a quick list of resources and programs in the Atlanta area for children and adults with special needs. Thanks!”
My inbox is flooded with requests like this. I receive so many that it’s become difficult to respond to each one individually—I could easily spend 40 hours a week doing nothing else. It’s disheartening and frustrating that society has cultivated the expectation that a single “program” can address the complex needs of an aging population requiring a personalized approach to workforce development, housing, independence, inclusive educational opportunities, and community.
What would such a program even look like? And how could it possibly function effectively in a city like Atlanta, or even larger metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, Tokyo, or Delhi?
The Myth of the Quick Fix
In human services, specifically Neurodiversity services, many publicly and privately funded organizations claim to be the ultimate solution. I’ve witnessed this throughout my career, and it’s a key reason for Parallel’s founding.
The reality is that no single solution is universally effective. Recently, a client’s parent shared a lead from an allied professional for a job opportunity. The client’s profile included no documented work experience, unreliable transportation, a self-reported lack of motivation, and significant executive functioning deficits. The recommendation was a “Neurodiversity at Work” program at a Fortune 1000 company—a demanding, full-time position requiring motivation, self-direction, and complex task management. The mismatch was obvious. Yet, the recommendation was made simply because the program was labeled “Neurodiversity.”
This issue extends to other areas, such as post-secondary education and housing.
Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) programs are emerging across the United States, and they can be excellent opportunities—for the right individuals (and most IPSE programs clearly define their ideal student profiles; those that don’t are a topic for another blog post).
Quality long-term housing presents a similar challenge. Often, there’s a misconception that you can simply place a person into any group home (a complex issue that varies significantly by state and country, and deserves its own discussion). But it’s not that simple.
The mere existence of a workforce development initiative, an IPSE program, or a housing option doesn’t guarantee it’s the right fit. Determining what is right requires time, intention, and due diligence.
Navigating with a Compass, Not a Map
At Parallel, we emphasize to our clients that we are their co-pilots. We can’t provide a map to their destination. Instead, we work to understand who they are, collaboratively developing a picture of their experiences, abilities, hopes, and dreams. This information serves as our compass, guiding our professional decisions and informing the plan that helps them transition to and through adulthood.
This process is time-intensive. Most of our clients work with us for about six months to create this comprehensive future plan and coordinate the appropriate collaborative team.
It also requires commitment from every member of the support system, including the client, their parents or caregivers, and existing support professionals.
Crucially, it demands due diligence in thoroughly investigating and verifying each team member and resource to ensure it’s the right fit for the client. We meticulously investigate and verify each entity before it becomes part of the solution ecosystem.
Finding Your Way
Deciding what’s right for you can be challenging, and that’s where we can help. Together, we can take the necessary steps to build a roadmap to the people, places, and destinations that align with your needs and goals.
What’s Next?
We’re back from blog hiatus and ready to keep our readers informed. Over the next several months we’ll be discussing resources we love, and the things we think are really important for the transition planning process.
Take The Next Step On Your Journey With Parallel
We work with invested families and inclusive companies. If you are a parent or caregiver of an adolescent or adult child making the transition to and through adulthood, we would love to hear from you about your journey. If you are a company that has or wants to create an inclusive workforce, we would love to work together. Find us on IG, Facebook, LinkedIn, or just send us a note to hello@parallelint.com
Parallel International Consulting is an expert Neurodiversity consulting group that works to create strategic plans for the future for invested families seeking to transition their Neurodivergent child to an adulthood of independence, purpose, and dignity. We are based in the United States and work with individuals and companies all over the world. To find out more about how you can start the journey with us, visit www.parallelintl.com, purchase The RoadMap Lab, or email us at hello@parallelintl.com