How I Can Help

I’m passionate about helping autistic adults of all ages to live their best lives.

​I also work with family members and loved ones of autistic young adults and adults so that they can better understand their loved one's experiences and thus improve relationships.

I am able to meet with you for just a one-time session or for a longer period of time. I offer a range of services to meet your needs and preferences. These include:

General Autism Coaching: 

• I help adults develop positive and empowered outlooks for their futures. 
• I can help you overcome your fears, doubts, and insecurities and build your confidence and self-esteem
• I mentor adolescents and young adults to improve their sense of self-worth, self acceptance, understanding of autism, and social interactions (matching with their own individual and varying goals for interacting). 
• I can guide you in adjusting to a new autism identification, whether it’s formal or self-diagnosed.
• I can help you understand how autism may affect your life through self-assessment, and guide you in understanding your unique challenges and strengths.  
• I can help you develop strategies and skills to cope with:

​ ✔️ stress 
✔️ anxiety
✔️ sensory issues
✔️ executive functioning
✔️ communication challenges and more

Relationship Coaching: 

I can help you improve your relationships with family, friends, partners, co-workers, and others. I work together with you and/or those important to you to enhance:

​✔️ understanding
✔️ communication
✔️ emotional expression
✔️ boundary setting
✔️ conflict resolution
✔️ building trust and intimacy

Career Coaching:

I can help you find and maintain a fulfilling career that matches your interests, abilities, and values. I can assist you with:

✔️ self-advocacy
✔️ workplace etiquette
✔️ boundary setting
✔️ conflict resolution
✔️ negotiation
✔️ career advancement

I am a Greenwood System™ Counselor, trained in this well-regarded, holistic, thorough approach to finding the career options best suited to you.

Life Coaching: 

I can help you create a vision for your future and set realistic and achievable goals. I support you in pursuing your passions, hobbies, and interests. I also help you with personal issues such as:

​✔️ self-esteem
✔️ identity
✔️ independence
✔️ health
✔️ wellness
✔️ balance

 My Training,  Certifications, and Experience

• In 2022 I earned the Certified Autism Specialist credential through IBCCES, a renowned authority in autism training and certification, and I have taken my training far further since then on my own.

• I am certified in the PEERS Program (both Adolescent and Young Adult modules)  through the University of California, Los Angeles.

• I am a trained practitioner of the Greenwood System™, a comprehensive, holistic assessment process to find a person's best fit career options.

• I have served on the NYC Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders' Advisory Board since 2019, which is part of NYU's Langone Health System. This center provides services to the expansive population of all five boroughs of New York City as well as all of Long Island. 

• My educational background includes an M.Ed. from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from the Honors program at Trinity College (CT), where I was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa society.

• I was a high school teacher and counselor for 28 years at a few well-regarded independent schools in the Northeast.

• I am a member of ION Global (Institute of Neurodiversity) as well as ASAN (Autistic Self-Advocacy Network). I am actively involved in advocating for neurodiversity awareness, acceptance, and the rights of neurodivergent individuals worldwide. I do this through online publications and a busy schedule of public speaking engagements.

How can you reach me?

• You can fill out an inquiry form at the bottom of the Appointments page on this site, linked below at "Appointments."
• You can contact me by email at [email protected].
• You can also follow Lara Schaeffer and/or Autism Discovery's pages on LinkedIn, where I share my thoughts about and experiences as an autistic person. 
• You can also check out my blog here on the Autism Discovery website, where I write about various autism-related topics.
• I look forward to hearing from you and working with you!