Alissa Brooke, M.S., CRC, PBSF, has worked for the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCU-RRTC) since 2008. Alissa has extensive experience supporting individuals with Autism and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in employment, training them on their jobs, as well as training their colleagues on the best ways to work with them. She has been devoted to developing and honing the skills and techniques required to develop and maintain relationships with employers to result in employment for people with disabilities and disseminating this information to others in the field. Alissa also serves in a leadership role with five Project SEARCH sites in Virginia. She has provided training nationally and internationally to Employment Specialists and other vocational rehabilitation professionals on Supported Employment and Customized Employment.
Publications
Articles:
- Wehman, P., Schall, C., McDonough, J., Graham, C., Brooke, V., Riehle, E., Brooke, A., Ham, W., Lau, S., Allen, J. & Avellone, L. (2017). Effects of an employer-based intervention on employment outcomes for youth with significant support needs due to autism. Autism, 21(3), 276–290.
- Wehman, P., Brooke, V., Brooke, A., Ham, W., Schall, C., McDonough, J., Lau, S., Seward, H. & Avellone, L. (2016). Employment for adults with autism spectrum disorders: A retrospective review of a customized employment approach. Research in Developmental Disabilities, , 61-72.
- Schall, C., Wehman, P., Brooke, V., Graham, C., McDonough, J., Brooke, A., Ham, W., Rounds, R., Lau, S. & Allen, J. (2015). Employment Interventions for Individuals with ASD: The Relative Efficacy of Supported Employment With or Without Prior Project SEARCH Training. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(12), 3990–4001.
- Wehman, P., Schall, C., McDonough, J., Kregel, J., Brooke, V., Brooke, A., Ham, W., Graham, C., Riehle, E., Collins, H. & Thiss, W. (2014). Competitive Employment for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Early Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(3), 487–500.
-
Wehman,
P., Lau,
S., Molinelli,
A., Brooke,
V., Thompson,
K., Moore,
C.
&
West,
M.
(2012).
Supported Employment for Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Preliminary Data.
Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities,
37(3),
1-10.
https://doi.org/10.2511/027494812804153606 -
Schall,
C., McDonough,
J., Molinelli,
A., Riehle,
E., Ham,
W., Thiss,
W.
&
Wehman,
P.
(2012).
Project SEARCH for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Increasing Competitive Employment On Transition from High School.
Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions,
0,
.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300712459760 -
Gentry,
T., Lau,
S., Molinelli,
A.
&
Fallen,
A.
(2012).
The Apple iPod Touch as a vocational support aid for adults with autism: Three case studies.
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation,
37(2),
75–85.
https://doi.org/DOI:10.3233/JVR-2012-0601