In a world that can feel overwhelming for people with autism, My Autism Connection (MAC) is creating space for joy, acceptance, and wellbeing. We recently sat down with Jill Silvester, Program Specialist at MAC, whose passion for helping autistic adults thrive is immediately evident. By integrating Proof Positive’s skills of happiness into everyday programming, Jill and her team at MAC are creating a community where authentic moments of joy occur regularly.
“I started really looking into how to incorporate Proof Positive’s skills and lessons into what we were already doing at MAC for our autistic adult members,” Jill said. “The structured, science-backed approach of positive psychology and the skills of happiness proved to be exactly what we needed to complement our existing programming.”
Many members arrive at MAC with histories of trauma, loneliness, and depression. “By bringing more positivity and joy into our classes and activities, and by keeping happiness a focus at all times at our center, joy looks like people on the spectrum being able to be themselves and express themselves,” said Jill. This safe environment, where members know they are loved and celebrated for their unique strengths and talents, creates the perfect conditions for authentic moments of joy to flourish.
When asked about a standout moment, Jill shared about teaching Gratitude Letter Writing.
“I had all the members write out a gratitude letter to deliver to someone. At the end of the activity, one of our quieter and less verbal members stood up and said, ‘I’m going to deliver my letter to you right now,’ and then he read his gratitude letter thanking me and gave it to me.”
This spontaneous act demonstrated the immediate impact of the gratitude letter writing skill. “The lesson worked! We all saw firsthand how powerful gratitude letter writing actually is, especially once delivered, and everyone left the lesson that day much happier than when they arrived, especially me.”
Another skill that resonates with MAC members is What Went Well. They begin most classes with introductions and an opportunity for members to share something that’s gone well for them that day or week.
“This has really helped participants to stay focused on the progress they’re making and not get too stuck in all the challenges they face in life,” Jill noted. This simple practice helps reorient attention toward growth and accomplishments rather than obstacles and what’s going wrong.
For everyone, especially autistic people, happiness skills aren’t just beneficial–they’re essential. As Jill explains, “My experience is people with autism have a lot of challenges to overcome in life, and long histories of feeling like they are unsuccessful or don’t belong in ‘general society.”
These difficulties often lead to higher rates of depression and other mental health challenges.
“The sooner we can teach autistic individuals on the spectrum how to stay focused on maintaining their own happiness and social wellbeing, the more tools we can give them to manage the challenges in their lives in more successful and productive ways,” she added.
For other autism programs looking to incorporate wellbeing practices, Jill recommends making it an explicit priority. “Just state that positive psychology is part of your program. Acknowledge it. It’s going to guide your development of material.” The time to prioritize wellbeing is now — and the MAC team is leading the way, making it a core part of everything they do. At MAC, they are creating a community where everyone can thrive.
