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Jobs Program Comes To Broadway Mall

Hicksville Illustrated News - 6/14/2017

Eden II's Genesis Programs has announced the launch of "Seasons for a Reason," a new social enterprise that provides meaningful job training opportunities to individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The grand opening will take place in Hicksville on Friday, June 16, at 11 a.m. Eden II's Genesis participants will be selling handmade items from a kiosk located on the first floor near the escalators that go to the food court and IKEA.

"Much of the population that we serve at Eden II is severely impacted by autism making it challenging for them to gain competitive employment," said Dr. Mary McDonald, the associate executive director of Eden II's Genesis Programs. "According to the United States Department of Labor, employment rates for individuals with autism continue to lag very far behind those without disabilities. and we hope to change that for the individuals we serve. There are many opportunities for our participants to be actively engaged in our social enterprise: from design to production to sales and marketing."

The program is the brainchild of Erin Archibald, director of Outreach Programs, and has sponsor support from Autism Speaks, The Fanning Foundation The Local Union no. 3 Sportsmen's Club and the Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society. The profits received at the kiosk will be used to pay kiosk rental costs. The mall would serve as a community-based learning environment for the school program. It would function as a job training site for the individuals and may also support individuals participating in self-determination.

"Seasons for a Reason allows for vocational experiences in our local community, and also gives our participants opportunities to gain social skills, independence, and build relationships with local potential employers," said Dr. Joanne Gerenser, executive director of Eden II's Genesis Programs.

"As the kiosk develops over time, we hope for it to become an employment site for individuals with autism," added McDonald. "We believe that there are limited opportunities for people with autism and feel that it is important to begin creating them."

For questions or sponsorship opportunities, contact Christen Pellegrini at 516-937-1397 ext. 531 or cpellegrini@eden2.org.