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Last updated: Tuesday July 21, 2009, 8:27 AM
High school students with autism will get a taste of college life this fall as part of a new program that aims to make them more independent and employable when they age out of the public education system at 21.
Autism programs are increasingly trying to place autistic students into vocational programs that teach job skills. A 2006 report by Autism New Jersey, an advocacy group, said most students lack job skills at graduation and that adults with autism are chronically unemployed or underemployed.
“When you talk about adults with autism, there’s a huge need,†said Linda Meyer, executive director of Autism New Jersey. “There are very few programs that address the unique needs of adolescents and young adults with autism.â€
One new program attempting to do so would bring three students from the Tri-Valley Academy serving Bergenfield, New Milford and Dumont to Seton Hall University to work with undergraduate mentors at campus jobs.
“They’ll all have opportunities to have job coaching and life skills right in the university setting,†said Bergenfield schools Superintendent Michael Kuchar, who is spearheading the effort.
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