Search
Resources
Give
Menu
Vista Autism Services was recently featured on Cumulus Media’s “People and Perspectives” radio program, airing Sunday, April 12th across five Central Pennsylvania radio stations.
Alicia Burger, Executive Director of Clinical Services, and Mary Lou Winters, Adult Employment Program Manager, joined host Christine Ricci for a conversation about autism acceptance, Vista’s continuum of services, and the meaningful impact of early intervention and supported employment.
April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to focus on fostering inclusion, celebrating differences, and advocating for support for individuals on the spectrum. During the interview, Alicia shared insights about early signs of autism and the importance of seeking evaluation from experienced professionals who use specific diagnostic tools.
“One of the biggest things for every Vista staff member is we want to ensure that all of the individuals we support lead meaningful lives,” Alicia said. “Meaningful means something different for every individual. Some individuals enjoy going out in the community, whereas other individuals really find employment a meaningful activity.”
The conversation highlighted how Vista has grown from its founding by parents seeking intensive behavioral support for their children into an organization serving individuals across their entire lifespan.
Vista now offers:
• Early Intervention services for young children before school age
• The Vista School, providing both educational and intensive behavioral services under one roof
• Vista classrooms embedded within partner school districts
• Adult Employment Services supporting individuals in finding and maintaining meaningful careers
Mary Lou shared exciting news about Vista’s expansion of Adult Employment Services into York County. The program, which has been supporting individuals since 2014, now serves Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Lancaster, and York counties.
“For the most part, if somebody’s looking for a job, we’ll find them a job,” Mary Lou said, noting the program’s success rate of approximately 92%.
The program takes a customized approach, identifying each individual’s skills and interests and connecting them with employment opportunities that match. Individuals don’t need to have an autism diagnosis to receive services—Vista supports people with a range of developmental disabilities.
Those interested in learning more about Adult Employment Services can visit vistaautismservices.org to submit a referral or contact their county mental health and intellectual disability office or the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to discuss funding.
The complete interview is available as a podcast at omny.fm/shows/central-pa-s-people-and-perspectives-podcast. It can also be found on Spotify and other podcast platforms by searching “Central PA’s People and Perspectives.”
Thank you to Christine Ricci and the Cumulus Radio team for the opportunity to share Vista’s mission with the Central Pennsylvania community.
Vista’s annual Golf Classic fundraiser will take place on June 6th at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course in Harrisburg. Sponsorship opportunities and tournament registration are available at vistaautismservices.org.
Previous post