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Specialists in Autism Diagnosis & Treatment Since 2006
Student Videos
How Music Night Helps Students Build Social Skills While Having Fun
A favorite activity at New Directions is exploring the local music scene, playing music, and reviewing music venues around town. Students and staff come together weakly to learn and play music.  In our student lounge, there are acoustic and bass guitars, drums, keyboard, and other instruments. Basic instruction as well as advanced skills come together weekly to help make this event one of the favorites.  When students are ready, it’s off to open mic night.
How It Started
Though Music Night is organized by NDFYA California’s Assistant Program Director Matt Xavier, it was actually Dr. Rubin’s idea. Dr. Rubin approached Matt about developing a way to take advantage of the nearby music scene. Since our California is in Pleasant Hill, close to San Francisco, there are plenty of options.Why Music Night?
Music Night serves three purposes (well, four, because it IS fun, after all). Music therapy is one of the services offered by NDFYA, so this is a natural extension. But it also builds social skills and a sense of community in our students. By traveling as a group, students find common interests with each other. But those common interests also help them forge friendships with people outside of the program. Many students are even brave enough to try Open Mike Nights (something many of us on the staff won’t even do).Back on Campus
For some students, leaving campus for Music Night might be too much. Or, for students who really connect with music, it’s not enough. So we also offer a music group. Music group officially meets on Thursdays. However, we have a couple of guitars, amps, and drums available in the office, so you’ll often find both students and staff hanging out, building those relationships, and enjoying music. Turns Out Music is Good for You Not sure music is a valuable use of your young adult’s time? Check out some of these studies gathered by Cornell University’s Evidence-Based Living. It turns out that music therapy has a lot of health benefits.A Good Way to Start the Weekend
Next Friday night, don’t try to find us on campus. We’ll be out on the town, checking out the latest in local music. See you there.
How Music Night Helps Students Build Social Skills While Having Fun
A favorite activity at New Directions is exploring the local music scene, playing music, and reviewing music venues around town. Students and staff come together weakly to learn and play music.  In our student lounge, there are acoustic and bass guitars, drums, keyboard, and other instruments. Basic instruction as well as advanced skills come together weekly to help make this event one of the favorites.  When students are ready, it’s off to open mic night.
How It Started
Though Music Night is organized by NDFYA California’s Assistant Program Director Matt Xavier, it was actually Dr. Rubin’s idea. Dr. Rubin approached Matt about developing a way to take advantage of the nearby music scene. Since our California is in Pleasant Hill, close to San Francisco, there are plenty of options.Why Music Night?
Music Night serves three purposes (well, four, because it IS fun, after all). Music therapy is one of the services offered by NDFYA, so this is a natural extension. But it also builds social skills and a sense of community in our students. By traveling as a group, students find common interests with each other. But those common interests also help them forge friendships with people outside of the program. Many students are even brave enough to try Open Mike Nights (something many of us on the staff won’t even do).Back on Campus
For some students, leaving campus for Music Night might be too much. Or, for students who really connect with music, it’s not enough. So we also offer a music group. Music group officially meets on Thursdays. However, we have a couple of guitars, amps, and drums available in the office, so you’ll often find both students and staff hanging out, building those relationships, and enjoying music. Turns Out Music is Good for You Not sure music is a valuable use of your young adult’s time? Check out some of these studies gathered by Cornell University’s Evidence-Based Living. It turns out that music therapy has a lot of health benefits.A Good Way to Start the Weekend
Next Friday night, don’t try to find us on campus. We’ll be out on the town, checking out the latest in local music. See you there.Parents Videos
Choosing a Transition Program for Your Young Adult
You have a lot of concerns as a parent. It has reached the point where you believe a transition program is really the best choice for your young adult.
You know your young adult needs more than you’re able to provide. But you still have a lot of questions:
- Is this the right kind of program?
- Will he or she learn the necessary skills for independent living?
- Does the staff truly care about your young adult’s success?
- Will your young adult make friends and find things to do that he or she enjoys?
Our Staff
We work hard to hire staff members who are qualified for their roles, but also care about the young adults entrusted to us and their progress. Our staff members are not judgmental about the difficulties faced by the students in our program and do what they can to help students overcome those difficulties. At least one member of our staff is available at all hours of the day, seven days a week. If at any point your young adult needs assistance or even just someone to talk to, they can call.Life Skills
Your young adult needs more than an education and a job to thrive on their own. They also must understand the importance of time management, keeping the house clean, and paying bills on time. Participating in classes that teach these skills is an integral part of our program. By assigning roommates, we provide students with an initial connection within the program. At the same time, students have someone else around to remind them to keep up with these chores.Social Activities
Just as life skills are required, so are our social activities. Being able to interact with others is something many of our students struggle with. Being around others who have similar problems will encourage your young adult to develop relationships. With the wide range of students we accept into the program, they will meet people they connect with, and who have different strengths and weaknesses. By making these events required, we also prevent your young adult from falling back into the same behaviors that led to your enrolling them in our program.Have Other Questions?
This post is by no means an exhaustive list of everything parents worry about when it comes to choosing a transition program. Many of your questions will be specific to your young adult’s situation. We always welcome questions from prospective families, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. We hope to hear from you soon!
Choosing a Transition Program for Your Young Adult
You have a lot of concerns as a parent. It has reached the point where you believe a transition program is really the best choice for your young adult. You know your young adult needs more than you’re able to provide. But you still have a lot of questions:
- Is this the right kind of program?
- Will he or she learn the necessary skills for independent living?
- Does the staff truly care about your young adult’s success?
- Will your young adult make friends and find things to do that he or she enjoys?
Our Staff
We work hard to hire staff members who are qualified for their roles, but also care about the young adults entrusted to us and their progress. Our staff members are not judgmental about the difficulties faced by the students in our program and do what they can to help students overcome those difficulties. At least one member of our staff is available at all hours of the day, seven days a week. If at any point your young adult needs assistance or even just someone to talk to, they can call.Life Skills
Your young adult needs more than an education and a job to thrive on their own. They also must understand the importance of time management, keeping the house clean, and paying bills on time. Participating in classes that teach these skills is an integral part of our program. By assigning roommates, we provide students with an initial connection within the program. At the same time, students have someone else around to remind them to keep up with these chores.Social Activities
Just as life skills are required, so are our social activities. Being able to interact with others is something many of our students struggle with. Being around others who have similar problems will encourage your young adult to develop relationships. With the wide range of students we accept into the program, they will meet people they connect with, and who have different strengths and weaknesses. By making these events required, we also prevent your young adult from falling back into the same behaviors that led to your enrolling them in our program.Have Other Questions?
This post is by no means an exhaustive list of everything parents worry about when it comes to choosing a transition program. Many of your questions will be specific to your young adult’s situation. We always welcome questions from prospective families, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. We hope to hear from you soon!From Rehab to Transition Program to Successfully Independent
Her daughter was very dependent.
This mother would receive 25 calls a day. They were all about “ridiculous” things, she says, and were distracting her from her own job.
She dealt with discord between her daughter and her husband. And getting her daughter to attend family events was difficult.
The young woman didn’t know how to drive. She refused to take public transportation. She didn’t budget her money well.
But That’s All Changed
After completing a rehab program, the staff there suggested her daughter come here to NDFYA to transition out of the “lockdown” of life in the rehab program. The young woman especially needed to work on her social and life skills.
It was the first time this young woman had been responsible for herself. The first time she was required to make her own decisions. The idea was scary to her mother, but she also knew her daughter needed “the opportunity to live independently and make the right choices.”
After what her mother describes as a “rocky start,” this young woman began making progress.
Beyond the Program
Now she’s been back home for a few years, where she continues to practice everything she learned at NDFYA.
That young woman who didn’t want to spend time with her family now looks forward to the gatherings. She visited her father every day during his recent extended hospital stay. She’s learned how to drive and takes the bus when she needs to. She saves money.
And she no longer calls her mother 25 times a day.
From Rehab to Transition Program to Successfully Independent
Her daughter was very dependent.
This mother would receive 25 calls a day. They were all about “ridiculous” things, she says, and were distracting her from her own job.
She dealt with discord between her daughter and her husband. And getting her daughter to attend family events was difficult.
The young woman didn’t know how to drive. She refused to take public transportation. She didn’t budget her money well.
But That’s All Changed
After completing a rehab program, the staff there suggested her daughter come here to NDFYA to transition out of the “lockdown” of life in the rehab program. The young woman especially needed to work on her social and life skills.
It was the first time this young woman had been responsible for herself. The first time she was required to make her own decisions. The idea was scary to her mother, but she also knew her daughter needed “the opportunity to live independently and make the right choices.”
After what her mother describes as a “rocky start,” this young woman began making progress.
Beyond the Program
Now she’s been back home for a few years, where she continues to practice everything she learned at NDFYA.
That young woman who didn’t want to spend time with her family now looks forward to the gatherings. She visited her father every day during his recent extended hospital stay. She’s learned how to drive and takes the bus when she needs to. She saves money.
And she no longer calls her mother 25 times a day.
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What Our Clients/Parents Say
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