EP258: Gap Years for Neurodiverse Teens: What Parents Need to Know with Jason Sarouhan

Not every student is ready to go straight from high school to college—and that doesn’t mean they are falling behind. In this episode, Jason Sarouhan explains how taking intentional time after high school can help neurodiverse young adults build confidence, resilience, intention, and real-world skills before taking their next step. Tune in to explore a more flexible, growth-centered path for your graduating teen.
 
 

What to expect in this episode:

●     What a gap year really is—and why it is more than just taking time off

●     How intentionality, structure, mentorship, and peer relationships shape a strong gap year experience

●     Why neurodiverse students may need to stretch, not stress, in their next step after high school

●     How experiential learning can reveal both what young adults want—and what they do not want

●     What role parents can take in supporting exploration without forcing their own agenda
 
 

About Jason Sarouhan

Jason Sarouhan is a leader with the Gap Year Association, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting access to meaningful gap-year opportunities that foster personal growth, experiential learning, and global citizenship. Through his work, Jason helps students and families understand how structured gap year experiences, such as travel, service, internships, and independent projects, can build resilience, self-awareness, and real-world skills before entering college or the workforce. He advocates intentional gap-year planning that supports both personal development and long-term educational success.

Connect with Jason

●     Website: Gap Year Association

●     Instagram: @gapyearassociation 

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Connect with Impact Parents:

●     Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents

●     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents

●     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

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