November 25, 2024 | njfamily.com online article

Many companies throughout the state provide job opps

If you have a child with autism, you know there are so many programs and services for kids in New Jersey. But what happens when children with disabilities grow up to become adults? According to Drexel University, employment rates for those with autism are the lowest among all disabilities and only 58 percent of people in their 20s with autism have ever worked a job. Kids with autism grow up to be adults with autism, so it’s a topic parents should be concerned about even while their children are still young.

STARTING STRONG

Eileen Shaklee, the popular NJ-based “Autism With a Side of Fries” blogger, sought a job for her son on her own. George, age 20, who has autism, works at the Kindness Café on Main in Manasquan. “His job is to open the joint,” she says. “He helps stock all the coffee and tea urns and starts the baking for the day. He gets the tables and chairs sorted and straightened up; restocks the cups, lids, sugars, milk and creamer; and then when it’s open for customers, he’s a runner for orders.”

If a parent hears about a place like Kindness Café, Shaklee suggests getting in touch with them to ask if they’re hiring. She also suggests reaching out to transition coordinators at your local school district. “Speak to them about getting job coaching for your kids,” she suggests.

Aaron Dallman, PhD, assistant professor at Rutgers University and founder of Nexus, a program aimed at fostering self-sufficiency for individuals with autism in the Newark area, says parents should start to think about their child’s transition to adulthood once their child enters adolescence by providing them opportunities to help around the house. “Even simple tasks like helping wash the dishes, making their own bed, helping fold their own laundry or vacuuming are essential skills that might one day help your child find employment.”

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Community Options, headquartered in Princeton, has programs that help individuals with disabilities achieve their career goals. “We assist people with disabilities to develop a customized work plan and prepare them for individual placement in competitive employment,” says managing director Dina Casalaspro. “Employment specialists and job coaches guide participants through a training program based on their individual work plans, helping them to acquire all the necessary skills for a job of their choice.” Individuals learn skills such as marketing, maintenance, filing, data entry, money management, scheduling, administrative duties, computer skills and customer service.

Pride Paws in Medford is a job training program for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities ages 18 to 29 started by parents and special education teachers who didn’t know what their kids would do once they aged out of school. They started baking homemade dog biscuits and the enterprise grew into the retail store Pride Paws.

“We train them on register skills, customer service, baking homemade dog treats, sewing, cutting, and much more,” says manager Erica Richman. Program participants have gone on to get jobs at ShopRite, Hallmark, Murphy’s Market, Wegmans and Evergreen Dairy Bar. Richman is always accepting new participants, and applicants can be put on a wait list if necessary.

AN INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE

Thanks to increased autism awareness, opportunities for adults with disabilities in NJ are increasing. Shaklee says it’s important for parents to really understand their kid’s role. “There’s a good chance some of them might be skills you can work on at home such as cleaning, sorting and organizing.”

At Nexus, Dr. Dallman says members of the program have many different abilities and that there is no “perfect” applicant they are looking for. “Members of Nexus have learned how to cook meals, fold laundry, vacuum, iron clothes, organize cabinets, write resumes, complete interviews and more,” he says.

Community Options also has entrepreneurial businesses, such as the Daily Plan It, Vaseful and Presents of Mind that provide individuals with disabilities an opportunity to work in a real business setting alongside trained professionals. “People with disabilities bring a wealth of skills, perspectives and experiences to the workplace, making them excellent employees,” says Casalaspro.

For Dr. Dallman, the mission is clear. “I want business owners to know that New Jersey has an amazing workforce of autistic adolescents and young adults who want to contribute to our communities,” he says. “I encourage every employer to openly advertise and encourage people with disabilities to apply for positions. Make your business a place where everyone in our community can thrive, and I am confident your business will in turn succeed.”