New Series: Must-Have Educational DVDs on Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Other Hidden Disabilities for Parents and Professionals

EvoLibri Consulting has released its first four DVDs targeted to families and professionals who parent, teach, counsel and treat individuals with autistic spectrum (Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, et al), attention deficit, learning, and pervasive mood disordered teens and young adults. These information-filled presentations offer both rich insight into the individuals with these challenges, as well as practical advice that can be immediately used by families and professionals.

Palo Alto, California (PRWEB) May 4, 2009 -- Two new series of educational DVDs have been released by EvoLibri Consulting to help fill the gap between success and failure for those individuals with hidden disabilities.

The first titles in the Professional Series include "ASD Primer for Mental Health Practitioners" and "Career Counseling with Neurodiverse Clients". The two titles in the Family Series include "Preparing Your Neurodiverse Youth for College" and "Transitioning your Neurodiverse Youth from the Family Home". All four titles are currently available at EvoLibri's website (www.evolibri.com) and at Amazon.com. Other distribution sites with be forthcoming, and EvoLibri plans to produce four additional titles late this summer, including a title on teaching children with hidden disabilities, and parenting neurodiverse teens.

Jan Johnston-Tyler, the presenter in these DVDs, and a Neurodiversity Counselor and principal of EvoLibri Consulting, is no stranger to the challenges parents and professionals face in working with teens and young adults with hidden disabilities -- Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD, learning disorders such as Auditory Processing Disorder, and mood disorders such as Bipolar. Her clients have challenges that are 'hard-wired, not acquired,' and that impact every aspect of the individual's life -- relationships, school, work, and independent living. She also happens to be the mother to a teenaged 'Aspie' -- a young man with Asperger's Syndrome -- and knows first hand the joys and challenges of parenting these children.

"Our Neurodivese youth are our new lost generation, and unnecessarily so," says Johnston-Tyler. "These individuals want to work, want to have lives, and the systems in place -- the Department of Rehabilitation, Regional Centers, and even public high schools, colleges and traditional medicine and therapy -- are utterly failing them. We must change our way of helping this group learn to live in the larger neurotypical world."

According to Johnston-Tyler, these individuals are generally highly intelligent and creative and want to have independent, full lives, but because of pervasive social, executive functioning, or behavior challenges, many find it impossible to manage one or more aspects of adult life. Consequently, this Neurodiverse population has a significantly higher rate of 'failed launches', dropping out of college, and unemployment and underemployment. Additionally, these individuals have a much higher than average rate of anxiety and depression which can lead to even more complicated mental health issues and suicidality.

"Especially with the uptick in autism diagnoses," says Johnston-Tyler, "we are facing a very real crisis as these children become teenagers and then adults. We must find better ways to work with these individuals and help them flourish in the larger society, and we must do it now."

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