Autism Services in Action
The Shift to Adulthood
At 14, Sam already knew a lot about himself. But he didn’t yet know how to turn that self-knowledge into a plan.
When he joined the Preparing for Adult Life (PAL) program at Norton Children’s Autism Center, Sam found something he hadn’t expected: a virtual room full of peers who got it, and a structured space to start building real goals. He learned about SMART goals- specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound- and something clicked. He started applying that framework everywhere: cutting back on screen time, staying on top of schoolwork, thinking more concretely about his future.
The lesson that stuck most? That learning and changing habits takes time, and that’s not a setback. That’s just how it works.
“Sam realized that learning and changing habits takes time but is beneficial. The use of SMART goals has helped him be more realistic about his future.”
PAL program report, Norton Children's Autism Center
What PAL Provides
Preparing for Adult Life (PAL) is a virtual, six-module group program developed by psychologists at Norton Children’s Autism Center, the only program of its kind in Kentucky. Designed for transitioning youth with ASD ages 17–26, PAL is fully virtual and inclusive, accessible regardless of language or intellectual ability, and offered at no cost to participants across the state. Caregivers participate alongside their adult child to support skill generalization at home. The six modules cover topics such as: transferring from pediatric to adult medical providers, conflict resolution, protection form cyberbullying, and realistic goal setting.
A three-month follow-up after program completion ensures participants stay on track with their goals. Participants who are ready to pursue vocational goals are connected to Zoom Group Inc., a vocational support partner.
Program Reach & Impact
With support from NEXT for AUTISM, PAL served 40 transitioning youth with ASD across urban, rural, and suburban Kentucky during the 2024–2025 grant year. Every participant completed all six modules. Participants reflected the diversity of Kentucky’s autism community:
- 68% were at or below the poverty line
- 18% identified as BIPOC
- 10% identified as LGBTQIA+
- 5% were non-speaking
Norton Children’s Autism Center serves 7,000 individuals with ASD annually across Kentucky, and PAL is now offered year-round as a permanent part of that service continuum.
What Participants Accomplished
Forty participants successfully completed the program, learning skills that will help them in adult health and navigating complex medical systems. The program's post-session evaluation showed consistently high growth, and PAL efficacy data was presented at the American Psychological Association's 2025 annual conference, marking PAL’s first appearance in the national research literature. All six modules and accompanying family resources have been shared with the Kentucky Advisory Council on Autism for free statewide access.
Why This Matters
In Kentucky, more than 45,000 young people with ASD are approaching adulthood and until PAL, there was no comprehensive program to help them navigate it. Vocational supports exist, but the rest of adult life—medical decisions, relationships, finances, safety, self-advocacy has largely been left unaddressed.
PAL fills that gap. And because it’s virtual, free, and inclusive of all communication styles and ability levels, it reaches the young people who need it most: those in rural communities, those from low-income households, those who’ve never had access to a program like this before.
With support from NEXT for AUTISM, PAL is now a permanent program, and a growing body of research evidence proves that when you prepare autistic transitional-aged youth for all of adult life, not just employment, the results follow.
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