New Focus Academy, a leading therapeutic program dedicated to supporting teens and young adults on the autism spectrum, highlights the unique ways individuals with autism track information and understand the world around them. By researching predictive homeostasis, also known as allostasis, Dr. Park explores how autistic individuals manage uncertainty and adapt to their environments.
Dr. Brandon Park, Founder and Executive Director, explores how certain behaviors, often labeled as "rigidity," are actually adaptive responses to overwhelming environments. This insight is crucial for understanding and empowering autistic teens and young adults.
What is Allostasis?
Allostasis is a biological process where the body predicts future needs and prepares for change. For autistic individuals, a heightened focus on stability and control—often mistaken for rigidity—stems from their unique ways of processing information and adapting to uncertainty.
“Autistic individuals track information differently,” explains Dr. Brandon Park, Founder and Executive Director of New Focus Academy. “From early development, they might focus on subtle details—like the motion of a jaw or an out-of-place strand of hair—rather than conventional social cues. This anomaly detection is an incredible strength in certain fields, but it can also lead to challenges in navigating a predominantly neurotypical world. That’s where we come in.”
New Focus Academy specializes in programs for autistic teens and young adults, ages 12 to 26, designed to foster independence and success. “We help neurodivergent teens and young adults transform challenges into opportunities for independence and personal success,” adds Dr. Park. Highlights of the support programming include:
- Community-Based Support: Helping individuals overcome autism-related challenges through structured, integrative environments.
- Comprehensive Clinical and Academic Support: Autism experts focused on advancing students’ independence and autonomy through evidence-backed approaches.
- Skill Development: Teaching practical tools to manage overwhelm while building confidence and autonomy.
- Strength-Based Approach: Turning unique perceptive abilities into opportunities for growth.
- Allistic: Non-autistic individuals who may experience other neurological differences.
- Neurodivergent: People with cognitive differences like autism, ADHD, or dyslexia.
- Neurotypical: Those whose neurological development aligns with societal norms.