He learned Adobe  Illustrator in about 10 minutes, while my other students are still  learning how to use it! This student loves to draw and color using the  computer, and he is very good at it.

His parents and I would really like  to see if he could make this a possible career, and what direction we need  to persuade him to go.

Can you help?

Thanks for your time.
 Scott

Does anyone out there have any information or ideas for Scott? Please leave them in the comments section.

He also sent a link to this video the student created – he’s very talented!

That’s the logo of Paperworks Studio, a “mission-based market-driven social enterprise” that employs people with special needs to make hand-made greeting cards.  About 20% of those artists are autistic, according to an article by Alice G.  Walton in Forbes magazine, “Living Life with Autism: Has Anything Really Changed?”

Owned by Goodwill Industries and based in Traverse City, Michigan, the company has doubled in the past year and is on track to do so again this year.

Each one-of-a-kind card is made by hand from recycled materials, including recycled blue jeans.  There are cards that contain flower petals and ferns and some with coffee, small pieces of upcycled wool or even recycled beer products. They can create customized holiday cards, wedding invitations and cards with your company logo on them.

Through the production of these cards, the members of the production team learn life and work skills, grow in self-esteem and obtain more independence.

“When you give a card, it shows you care. When you give a Paperworks Studio card you are giving cards that change lives.”

The mission of Paperwork Studios is to remove some of the barriers in life of people with disabilities through job skills training and the production of these quality cards.  In their words, “Our profit is people.”

Watch the following video to learn more about Paperwork Studios and the people behind the cards.

The documentary is, in part, a follow-up to the December 2008 “Easter Seals Living with Autism” study, conducted by Harris Interactive and  co-sponsored by MassMutual, that examined the hopes, fears and challenges of parents raising children with autism.

The top concerns of families living with autism, according to the study, include:

- Independence
- Financial well-being
- Quality of life
- Employment
- Housing needs
- Education
- Health
- The child’s longevity

“Autism: Coming of Age” first became available to public television stations in April of 2011. For those who missed the airing, Mass Mutual has received permission to give private screenings to groups and organizations of 25 people or more.

For information on how to request a viewing for your group or organization, click HERE.

Thumbnail image from The Health Journal.

The following video is a preview of “Autism: Coming of Age”.

The film will work to dispel myths or misunderstandings about the disorder, showcase success stories and employment programs around the country, and feature individuals with autism/Asperger’s who have overcome the odds to become valuable assets to companies willing to give them an opportunity in the workplace.

In addition to the successes, the film will also highlight the obstacles that individuals within the autism spectrum may face when looking for a job.

This project is actively searching for interested parties to be involved. These are not limited to, but include:

• Young adults with autism/Asperger’s who are transitioning, or have transitioned to adulthood with employment
• Parents looking for employment options for their autistic/Asperger’s children
• Job coaches / Teachers / Therapists
• Programs set up to support or facilitate employment for individuals within the autism spectrum
• Individuals with successful employment stories
• Individuals with stories of unsuccessful employment outcomes
• Anyone involved with possible legislation that would support this cause

For more information please contact:

Jack Creamer
303.725.6672
jack@creektreefilms.com

~ Robert MacNeil in an interview with Hari Sreenivasan of PBS.

Beginning April 18, PBS NewsHour will air “Autism Today”, a six-part series that takes a comprehensive look at autism and its impact, founded by MacNeil and his producer, Caren Zucker. MacNeil’s 6-year-old grandson and Zucker’s 16-year-old son are both on the spectrum.

After spending a year researching and preparing the stories, McNeil and Zucker spent five months traveling the country producing the reports.

According to MacNeil, the series “is designed to provide viewers with an authoritative, balanced look at the latest scientific research and medical thinking about the disorder. Equally important, it chronicles the growing impact of autism as seen through the eyes of families, children, educators and clinicians.”

To see the complete interview and read more information about the series, click HERE.

Photo courtesy of PBS NewsHour.

It was 2002 and Walgreens was developing a foundation of new systems, machines, and processes to apply to its distribution centers. The new center in Anderson, South Carolina became the model for an innovative inclusive workplace.

In 2007, 40% of its workers had some kind of special need, but because of flexible workstations and touch screens, they were able to work side-by-side with workers who had no disabilities.  The center was 20% more efficient that any other in the company.

Walgreens is expanding the model to its other distribution centers and other companies are taking a look at it.

For more information on the program, click HERE to go to the Walgreen’s site, and also take a look at the video below.

(thumbnail photo from the Walgreens article)