When considering psychology programs for graduate school, what stood out to California native Sneha Kohli Mathur about the Department of Psychology at GSAS was its openness and flexibility. Sneha found that the GSAS program offered versatility and freedom, as well as the opportunity for more than an average graduate school experience. In addition to her core coursework, she completed an internship at the McCarton School, where she was able to work with Dr. Peter Gerhardt, a pioneer in the research of adults with autism. With his guidance, Sneha conducted her own original research, which she presented at the 2012 Threesis Academic Challenge. “I’m so happy I participated in the Threesis!” she enthused. “It was such good training for what I do now.”
Unsurprisingly, Sneha secured a job in her field soon after graduation, working for Autism Spectrum Therapies in California. She completed 1,500 hours of supervised work, teaching parents and teachers crucial skills for working with children who have autism. After completing her training hours, she took time off to study for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam. Through her work, Sneha noticed a lack of resources for adults with autism. “From ages three through twenty-two, individuals with autism receive state funding for certain services, but right when these young adults are ready to go into the working world, they are dropped out of that system. I began to think about different business ideas that provide quality job training and professional development skills for that specific group.” With this goal in mind, Sneha founded Spectrum Success, LLC. Set to launch in spring 2016, Spectrum Success supports equal employment opportunities by providing job training directly to the individuals who need it. “The aim is to make the program accessible and affordable while also keeping the business afloat. It’s been a challenge, but I’m purposely targeting a group of people with limited resources, because they’re the ones who need it most.”
Like many graduates of GSAS, Sneha is incredibly hard-working and driven. Her long-term plan for the business is to provide programming and training for adults with autism and to offer work opportunities for them in the center itself. “It all started at GSAS. It gave me the opportunity to thoroughly explore my options in psychology, find my niche, and gave me a great network to utilize. I love that the alumni community still reaches out and supports us in these next phases of our lives.”
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