The candle making project was so successful at creating employment opportunities for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities that it led to the development of Humboldt Includes.

Humboldt Includes  seeks to partner with businesses of all sizes in Humboldt County in sponsoring  transitional skills development to increase “the diversity that comprises the mainstream community, the quality of life of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities and increase independence…” and in the process,  help to make ground breaking social change.

Agencies provide support staff and as well as contracted employment circumstances to make the whole process as easy as it can be to sponsors.

To read more about Compassionate Integrations and Humboldt Includes, go here: http://www.compassionateintegrations.org

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.

Founded in 1988 as the Association for Persons in Supported Employment, APSE  (http://www.apse.org/) is a national nonprofit membership organization with an exclusive focus on integrated employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Each year they support a national conference focused on the advancement of integrated employment.

This year’s conference will be on June 27-29 in Arlington, Virginia with Dr. Temple Grandin as the opening keynote speaker. (click HERE for more information on the conference.)

APSE HR Connect offers consultation services to help businesses connect with the disability community.  Its largest project is consulting with TIAA-CREF Financial Services (www.tiaa-cref.org) on the “Fruits of Employment” project that focuses on the creation of systems on their agricultural properties to successfully recruit/hire/train/retain employees with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities.

TIAA-CREF believes a systematic outreach to the disability community is a highly strategic way to assist the company in strengthening its labor base specifically related to the agricultural properties they own.

The mission of the project is to create a cutting-edge project in the agricultural industry that creates career opportunities for people with disabilities on TIAA-CREF properties and demonstrates bottom-line impact of recruiting in the disability community.

The “Fruits of Employment” project not only offers jobs, but promotes career advancement for all employees. The goal of the “Fruits of Employment” project is to nurture the career of each employee towards success.

The commitment from TIAA-CREF and APSE is to develop career opportunities in the agricultural field for individuals with autism and other significant disabilities. The project has begun with an apple orchard in Washington and a vineyard in California.

Once successfully established in these two properties, TIAA-CREF intends to facilitate the replication of this project to other agricultural investment properties.

The “Fruits of Employment” project is innovative, exciting and represents the belief that the future of this industry can and will embrace diversity in their workforce to include individuals with disabilities.

The core values (4R’s)  related to what makes a successful worker for the project are listed below:

1. Reliable

•  · Show up to work regularly
• · Show up on time
• · Call in if you can’t make it to work

2. Responsible

• · Learn & follow orchard/vineyard safety rules
• · Give 100% effort to your work
• · Let your team leader know if you are having trouble or have questions

3. Respectful

• · Love of nature & working outdoors (respect the orchard/vineyard & the work)
• · Listen to your team leader
• · Treat co-workers in a positive manner & have fun while working

4. Reach

• · Ability to work at a job that is physical & push yourself to work faster
• · Have a desire to improve everyday
• · Have a vision to advance your career

http://www.apse.org/business/lead.cfm

Thumbnail image from http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/apple_pyo.htm

In 1975 members of the Autism Society of Los Angeles established Jay Nolan Community Services, Inc. (JNCS), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, providing care for people with autism and other disabilities in group settings.

But in 1992, JNCS  closed their group homes. In their place, they began providing individualized support to people, helping them  live in their own homes, have jobs, and participate in other community activities.

Today, the mission of JNCS is to enable individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other Developmental Disabilities to live fulfilling lives as members of the community by providing support services customized to their individual needs.

The leading provider of personalized support services in California,  most of its clients are concentrated in Southern California, particularly Los Angeles, Santa Clara and surrounding counties.

What do they do? They offer…

Supported Employment and Personalized Day Support programs (meant to be a compliment to employment, not a substitute.)  ”Personalized Day Support would provide services around the hours of employment and then assist the person to find volunteer work, attend school, and considering opening up their own business.”

Customized services and tools for each individual, including training and companionship.

Professional webinars and training across a wide spectrum of issues to help people with autism and other disabilities achieve their life goals.

Family support services, geared toward providing the assistance that a family may need, or desire in order to ensure that the family remains together.

For more information about Jay Nolan Community Services, Inc., visit their website: http://jaynolan.org

Besides their many children’s programs, they also offer many individualized programs for adults, including a new, integrated work and community inclusion program.

With a primary goal of promoting independence in their clients…

• HOPe completes an in-depth profile of the individual to determine preferences and appropriateness of placement.
• Clients are provided with career options and assistance in defining recommended job goals.
• Our staff helps the individual with specific training to be able to perform the job consistently and effectively.
• HOPe’s staff continues individual support through job interviewing, procurement and on-site job supervision until our client is satisfactorily confident in his/her position.

Thumbnail photo from their site.