Spectrum Innovates Pathway Program: Innovation Hub

Program Description

The Spectrum Innovates Pathway Program (SIPP) was created to "address the autistic community's employment crisis and the forecast[ed] shortage of technicians in the aeronautics industry over the next twenty years." SIPP is a "prototypal transition pathway program for those on the autism spectrum who share a common passion for aeronautics." The primary goals of this program are to prepare students for success in higher education and to enter the workforce in advanced technician roles. This program is a partnership between NPF Nexus and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology. The program runs for 12 months. There is a 6-week orientation, two academic semesters, and a 6-week residency experience.

Collection Description

This collection is composed of documents that cover the SIPP Innovation Hub (IH). "The IH informs and drives the program and methodology. Physically composed of [a] Maker Space, Composite Prototyping Center, and Robotics Lab, with access to Flight Simulators and Air Traffic Control Simulators, the IH provides the space and tools for immersive and experiential learning that reinforce and build upon knowledge acquired and generates new knowledge. In addition to its physical assets the IH is imbued with a professional, collaborative, safe, affirming atmosphere that improves self-regulation and workplace behaviors, and increases productivity." Problem-solving, goal oriented thinking, asking for help, and self-advocacy are key skills addressed through the IH. Students can pursue the following three pathways through the IH: an Innovation Challenges & Maker Laboratory curriculum, a certification pathway, and an SEL integration pathway. The certification pathway enables students to receive associates certificates in Mechanical Design and/or Additive Manufacturing.

Collection Contents

The collection is composed of a general document on the innovation hub, activity plans, competencies, standards, information sheets, articles, notes, master lists, Microsoft PowerPoint slides, frameworks/outlines, and other lists.

The innovation hub document provides an executive summary, the structure of innovation hub pathways, information on the maker laboratory, SEL integration topics, a feedback form, and assessments.

Activity plans contain both learner and instructor goals, the lesson, reflections, educational materials, and other curriculum materials used each week. Topics explored include emotional regulation, relationships, job searches, disability disclosures, healthy living, and more.

Competencies and standards documents provide information on learning outcomes associated with the SIPP and innovation hub. These include SEL skills, C++ programming, and more. Learner scales are provided to assess learning outcomes. Disability service standards are also provided.

Master lists provide a list of activities and practices for different SEL topics. For example, the regulation strategies master list explores practices like meditation, drawing, breathing exercises, and more. Another type of list, such as the academic integration examples document, provides check lists for a growth mindset activity on microcontrollers. Other lists and checklists highlight speakers that addressed SIPP students, orientation topics, course learning outcomes, and student resources. 

The PowerPoint slides provides information on energy regulation, executive functioning, developing a growth mindset, SEL, and life skills. These were used in conjunction with other course materials in this collection. 

Various article and information sheets on SEL, mental health, and more are also included in the collection. 

Notes on a book about navigating college from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network are also provided. 

Frameworks and outlines for SEL activities, instructor professional development, and semester topics are also provided for instructor reference. 

For orientation purposes the Innovation Hub Fall & Spring Semester.pdf is included as a separate attachment and offers a sample of the type of material included in this collection. 

Additional program, semester, Innovation Hub, and SEL resources are available to view separately.

Below is a list of the folders and files contained within the .zip attachment. The size of each folder and number of files is included in parenthesis. Files are listed with their file name and size in parenthesis. 

18Innovation Hub Fall & Spring Semester (8 folders, 42 files, 22.6 MB)

• Innovation Hub Fall & Spring Semester (18Innovation Hub Fall & Spring Semester.pdf 155 KB)
• Fall Weekly Activity Plans SEL (Fall Weekly Activity Plans SEL.pdf 352 KB)
• SEL + Innovation Hub - Academics Integration Examples (SEL + Innovation Hub_Academics Integration Examples.pdf 85 KB)
• SEL Activity Plans (SEL Activity Plans-20220609T194725Z-001.zip 7 folders, 37 files, 10.9 MB)
  • Activity Plan Template SEL (Activity Plan Template SEL_SA.docx 6 KB)
  • Adult Life Fillable (Adult Life Fillable.pdf 473 KB)
  • AMASE mental health info sheet (AMASE-mental-health-info-sheet.pdf 137 KB)
  • Disability Services (2 files, 41 KB)
    • AHEAD Disability Services Standards - Performance Indicators (AHEAD Disability Services Standards _ Performance Indicators.docx 19 KB)
    • Navigating College ASAN Book Notes (Navigating College ASAN Book Notes.docx 10 KB)
  • Executive Functioning Strategies Masterlist (Executive Functioning Strategies Masterlist.docx 11 KB)
  • Framework for SEL Lessons (Framework for SEL Lessons.docx 9 KB)
  • Identity Work Fillable PDF (Identity Work Fillable Pdf.pdf 1.1 MB)
  • Neurodiversity Affirming Versus Ableist Practice with Transition Aged Clients (NeurodiversityAffirmingVersusAbleistPracticewithTransitionAgedClients-1.pdf 332 KB)
  • Orientation SEL Activity Plans (11 files, 5.1 MB)
    • Draft - Week 1 Activity Plans (Draft_Week 1 Activity Plans.docx 146 KB)
    • Energy Regulation (Energy Regulation_.pptx 1.5 MB)
    • Executive Functioning (Executive Functioning.pptx 69 KB)
    • Growth Mindset, Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem, Self-Worth (Growth Mindset, Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem, Self-Worth.pptx 655 KB)
    • Introduction, Interests, Thoughts, Feelings, Behaviors (Introduction, Interests, Thoughts, Feelings, Behaviors.pptx 1.1 MB)
    • Orientation SEL Plan - SA (Orientation SEL Plan_SA.docx 17 KB)
    • Week 1 Orientation Activity Plans (Week 1 Orientation Activity Plans.docx 923 KB)
    • Week 2 Orientation Activity Plans (Week 2 Orientation Activity Plans.docx 91 KB)
    • Week 3 Orientation Activity Plans (Week 3 Orientation Activity Plans.docx 590 KB)
    • Week 4-5 Orientation Activity Plans (Week 4-5 Orientation Activity Plans.docx 27 KB)
    • Week 6 Orientation Activity Plans (Week 6 Orientation Activity Plans_.docx 16 KB)
  • Peer Mentor Program (1 file, 336 KB)
    • Peer Mentorship Review Supporting Autistic Adults in Postsecondary settings (Peer Mentorship Review Supporting Autistic Adults in Postsecondary settings.pdf 329 KB)
  • Professional Development (1 file, 16 KB)
    • Instructor Professional Development Outline (Instructor Professional Development Outline.docx 8 KB)
  • Regulation Strategies Masterlist (Regulation Strategies Masterlist.docx 8 KB)
  • SEL Concepts - Skills (SEL Concepts _ Skills.docx 33 KB)
  • SEL Journal Guide (SEL Journal Guide.docx 7 KB)
  • SEL Orientation Topic List (SEL Orientation Topic List_.docx 8 KB)
  • SEL Units Brainstorm - not finalized (SEL Units Brainstorm - not finalized.docx 8 KB)
  • Semester 1 SEL Activity Plans (3 files, 434 KB)
    • Authentic Self Worksheet - Blank (Authentic Self Worksheet_Blank.docx 282 KB)
    • Fall Semester Topics Outline (Fall Semester Topics Outline.docx 10 KB)
    • Fall Weekly Activity Plans SEL (Fall Weekly Activity Plans SEL.docx 124 KB)
  • Semester 2 SEL Activity Plans (2 files, 53 KB)
    • Spring Topics Outline Brainstorm (Spring Topics Outline Brainstorm.docx 10 KB)
    • Spring Weekly Activity Plans SEL (Spring Weekly Activity Plans SEL.docx 33 KB)
  • Speakers List (Speakers List.docx 293 KB)
  • Student Resources (Student Resources.docx 7 KB)
  • Summer 2 (1 file, 12 KB)
    • Summer 2 Plans (Summer 2 Plans.docx 7 KB)
  • Task Organizer - Kanban Board Template (Task Organizer - Kanban Board Template.docx 7 KB)
  • Visual Schedule Example (Dorm Living) (Visual Schedule Example (Dorm Living).docx 2.5 MB)
• SIPP Competencies Work in Progress (SIPP Competencies Work in Progress.pdf 151 KB)
• Spring Weekly Activity Plans SEL (Spring Weekly Activity Plans SEL.pdf 219 KB)